Georgian Bay Regatta 30th Anniversary-July 2015

The Georgian Bay Regatta (GBR) is celebrating its 30th year of success in the last week of July, 2015. An anticipated fleet of 40 to 50 boats will again participate in a four-day sailing adventure of racing and cruising the various anchorages and ports of Southern Georgian Bay. 

The itinerary of the GBR encompasses a combination of daily distance races, course races, nightly anchorages and visits to the various ports-of-call on the shores of Georgian Bay. Organized by the Georgian Bay Sailing Association, our goal is to promote the sport of sailing to both resident sailors of Georgian Bay as well as those who wish to join us from outside the area. 

Each year the regatta changes its schedule and route. This allows the participants, both new and returning, the opportunity to visit the full extent of Southern Georgian Bay’s sailing areas, anchorages and ports.  

Whether we are course racing in a specific area of Georgian Bay or travelling from port-to-port, the emphasis is an atmosphere of friendly competition and the chance to spend a week with fellow sailors that share similar interests. Many of our participating crews are families that have chosen to spend part of their summer vacation participating in this annual event. You don’t have to be a racer to join us. We encourage and have accepted many “cruisers” over the past 30 years that wish to be a part of the daily festivities and travel along with the rest of the GBR fleet. 

Based on the feedback from past participants and recommendations to better accommodate younger families and crew members with limited summer vacation time, this year will see the Georgian Bay Regatta shortened from seven to four days of racing. The regatta will commence at the Midland Bay Sailing Club with the official registration and a Practice Race on Wednesday, July 29th.  After four days of both distance races and course racing, we will dock at the Collingwood Yacht Club for the annual Awards Dinner on Sunday, August 2nd.  

For further details and information pertaining to this year’s regatta, please visit our website at http://www.ontariosailing.ca/Racing/Georgian_Bay_Regatta.php   We look forward to presenting another regatta of exciting sailing and your chance to be a part of this unique summer adventure on Georgian Bay.

Written by:  Peter Hayden     Past President, Georgian Bay Sailing Association   (June 2015)