Editor’s Note: The ‘off’ season is back ON

Feb 23, 2023

It’s nearly March and the optimists among us view that as nearly spring. Even as the snowdrifts melt, boats and boating are definitely in the news as this CYOB issue illustrates.

Seemingly out of nowhere, Ontario Place boaters have been temporarily evicted and are reacting unhappily. According to TV reports part of their malaise comes from their problems finding alternate accommodation for their boats – marinas and boat clubs in the GTA, like waterfront activity across the country, are enjoying booming demand thanks to the many new boaters who found a new passion during Covid.

Meanwhile, in the sailing world, there’s a newsflash every week. This month, the Canadian Sail GP team launched a brand new boat only to have it sidelined a few days later by a freak storm in Sydney, Australia (yikes!) Out of nowhere, new player Canada Ocean Racing is showing up in the winners’ circle in international offshore racing. And just a couple of days ago, we got news that Royal Vancouver is behind a new Canadian campaign to compete for the America’s Cup Women’s and Youth Championship. Fantastic.

A special note: This online digest, Canadian Yachting OnBoard, is just one of the publications we produce here at Canadian Yachting Media. You, of course, are familiar with Canadian Yachting magazine where it all began, but you may not yet know about Sailing in Canada. SinC is our performance-oriented all sail digest published in partnership with Sail Canada, the body that governs the sport in Canada, sends athletes to the Olympics, sets instructional standards and much more. Like CYOB, you can subscribe right now to Sailing in Canada here or via this QR code at no charge and it will come your way twice a month. Our next SinC will take you behind the scenes on the CAN Sail GP boat to learn how Flight controller, Toronto’s Billy Gooderham, keeps the F50 flying on its foils – quite a complex task!

We are done with hibernation. On foils, travel lifts and launch cranes across the country, boats are in the air!

John Morris
Online Editor