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Pace Inflatable Boats—From Sailing Dads to Sail Canada Partnership

Pursuit 500

June 12, 2025

By Mathew Channer

Canadian company Pace Inflatable Boats was founded just four years ago when co-owners John Doucette and D’Arcy Craig met through their daughters’ sailing team.

Pursuit 580

The company produces both commercial and recreational rigid aluminum-hulled Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) and have 40 vessels currently being assembled at their Ottawa factory. Last month Pace announced a new partnership with Sail Canada and Yamaha Motor Canada to become the official coach boat of the National Sailing Team.

Pace will supply Sail Canada with an all-new Pace Arrow 580 RHIB, powered by Yamaha, and Pace trailer to support the high-performance coaching of Canada’s top sailors. Doucette says they are very excited by the new partnership and proud to support the Canadian National Sailing Team. “We’ve been working directly with (Sail Canada’s) lead coach to give them input on the boat,” he said.

When they’re not building boats, Doucette and D’Arcy can be found at various sailing events across Ontario. Pace Inflatable Boats has supported several regattas, including Canada Olympic Regattas Kingston (CORK), either financially or by providing support vessels. 

“That’s part of why we enjoy the business as much as we do because it allows us to go out and test boats and work with sailing clubs and be part of the community,” Doucette said.

Doucette says serving the Canadian market is a big focus for the company.

“More than anything right now we need to support our economy and local businesses,” he said.

“We’re out at sailing events and at the boat shows learning what Canadian boaters want in a boat that’s unique to Canada.”

Learn more about Pace Inflatable Boats

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