July 3, 2023
The Rules Guy: How to Finish With a Shortened Course
In the last article I discussed how to finish. Things get a little more confusing if there is a shortened course. I am going to illustrate some of the scenarios. The definition of finish says, “A boat finishes when after starting, any part of her hull crosses the finishing line from the course side.”
July 3, 2023
Paul McDonald Race Rescheduled to July 16
As all ABYC members know who have raced in the last 30 odd years, Paul McDonald served Ashbridges Bay Yacht Club on the Sailing Committee as PHRF Rep and as Chair of the committee. It is hard to imagine a volunteer position that elicits more complaints than the guy handing out PHRF ratings.
July 3, 2023
Dirty Dog Reports Bowen Island Race
I felt quite lucky to have the opportunity to drive Dirty Dog with excellent crew Connie Leung spinnaker trim and Paul Watson foredeck and tactics for the Round Bowen race as owner Matt Collingwood was out of town. At the start things seemed relatively normal despite a steady drizzle and 12 C temperatures.
July 3, 2023
Keven Talks Sails: Sailing in Waves
When the wind builds waves also build creating large choppy waves and gradually increasing swells. These waves slow down your boat when you are trying to make windward progress. Every wave is like climbing a hill or punching through a wall, especially when the wind gets over 25 knots.
July 3, 2023
Large Fleets for Susan Hood and LOSHRS 2 and 3
LOOR is very pleased to report that this year’s LOOR race series presented by driveHG is off to a great start. You couldn’t ask for any better and we had more racers participate in both the Susan Hood and LOSHRS races then in each of the prior three years!
July 3, 2023
How Do We Change the Inequity in Sailing?
Have you ever wondered where the girls are when you are when dropping off your child at Junior Sailing School, or volunteering as a parent for the race team at your local club, or if you volunteer for Race Committee?
July 3, 2023
Chester Race Week Hosts World Class Racing August 16 to 19
Helly Hansen Chester Race Week 2023 will take place in scenic Chester, Nova Scotia from August 16 to 19 and organizers expect that the event will be bigger and better than ever. Billed as the largest fixed keel regatta in Eastern Canada, Chester Race Week offers an unsurpassed racing venue.
July 2, 2023
Canadian James Fair to Morocco for U21 Worlds
James Fair has been selected to represent Canada at the U21 sailing world championships next October in Morocco. Only two Canadians have qualified, Fair and Daniel Connors. This will be Fair’s 4th world championship and 1st in the ILCA 7 Olympic Class.
July 2, 2023
Arie Moffat And Ryan Woods – First Canadians to Qualify for a Medal Race in a 49er Event
Arie Moffat (Kingston – KYC) and Ryan Wood (Vancouver – RVYC) became the first Canadians ever to qualify and compete in the medal race of a 49er event at a major international competition when they did so on Wednesday, June 21, at the Kiel Week competition in Germany.
June 13, 2023
Lee Parkhill Wins Tiebreaker in Sunfish to Qualify to be Nominated for Santiago 2023 Pan American Games
Lee Parkhill from the Oakville Yacht Squadron, qualified to be nominated on Canada’s Santiago 2023 Pan American Games sailing team in the Sunfish class after a thrilling last day of competition.
June 12, 2023
Susan Hood in Short Sleeves
The Susan Hood Trophy Race presented by driveHG, known as the Coolest Race, became the Hottest Race on the Lake with just under 80 boats at the startline and shirt sleeve weather for much of the ride.
June 12, 2023
Katie Nicoll Receives President’s Trophy
On Saturday June 10th during the Sail Past Ceremony at the Port Credit Yacht Club Glenn Lethbridge, Executive Director of Ontario Sailing, presented Katie Coleman Nicoll with the President’s Trophy.
June 12, 2023
Youngstown CanAm Regatta Channels 50th Level Regatta
The Youngstown Yacht Club is set to hold its 10th annual CanAm Challenge and Great Lakes PHRF Fest on July 28-30, for two days of hosting competitors from all over the U.S. and Canada. With the end of COVID border crossing restrictions, the Youngstown tradition can resume.
June 12, 2023
Keven Talks Sails: Sail Care for the Sailor
At the sail loft, we are always busy repairing and maintaining sails. Much of the damage we are fixing can be prevented with some simple sail handling tips.
June 12, 2023
Speed & Smarts: Take Control of Your Headsail
The mainsail may be the biggest sail on most boats, but the jib provides a relatively large share of the boat’s driving force, for two reasons. First, the jib is not sitting behind a mast, so it sails in clear air with minimal turbulence.
May 30, 2023
LORC Lives!
The Lake Ontario Racing Council (LORC) was formed back in the mid 1980’s when the Metro Yacht Racing Council (MYRC) and the Canadian Yacht Racing Association (CYRA) joined together. A constitution was written and eight clubs in the greater Toronto area were the players at the table.
May 30, 2023
Reid Distilleries ABYC Open – Much Ado, Not Much Wind
The Lake Ontario Racing Circuit kicked off the 2023 season at Ashbridge’s Bay Yacht Club at the east end of the city of Toronto. The weather forecast looked spectacular with sunny skies and warm temperatures expected.
May 30, 2023
St. Margaret’s SC Hosts Spring Fling
The St. Margaret’s Sailing Club hosted some 25 athletes competing in the Olympic ILCA classes from Canada, USA and Mexico for the Spring Fling Regatta May 20-21, part of Sail Canada Canadian Sailing Team (CST) and Canadian Sailing Development Squad (CSDS) Integration Camp.
May 30, 2023
The Year of The Rabbit?
When September rolls around and teacher tasks you to write an essay on “how I spent my summer vacation,” you need some good stories! What better way to generate those than enter in the Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race.
May 30, 2023
Steerers’ Invitational, Four Sisters Open + 420 Canadians
Port Credit Yacht Club announces the 64th Annual PCYC Steerers’ Invitational and the 22nd Annual PCYC Four Sisters Open events will be held July 20-21, and July 22-23, respectively, with lead sponsor DriveHG.ca.
May 30, 2023
Lake Ontario Offshore Racing Events Start Friday!
Friday June 2nd is the start of our 2023 season with the Susan Hood Trophy Race (SHTR) presented by driveHG. Running since 1955 and fondly referred to as the ‘Coolest Race on the Lake’, the Susan Hood Trophy Race is a 75 nautical mile overnight race that kicks off the racing season.
May 30, 2023
Speed & Smarts: Familiar Layline Dilemmas – Part 2
A layline seems like such a simple thing – a dotted pathway on the water that leads you straight to the next mark. But dealing with laylines while you are racing is not always so straightforward.
May 30, 2023
CICSA 2022-2023 Season Recap – Queen’s Wins
It was a dramatic season of racing this year in the Canadian Collegiate Sailing Circuit (CICSA), filled with tight racing, every wind and weather condition imaginable, camaraderie, and the overall national title being decided in the final regatta. The season follows the school year, wrapping up in spring.
May 15, 2023
Pursuit of Happiness: 5 Tips for Reverse PHRF Racing
Every dog has its day, and pursuit racing is an excellent way to make all competitors feel like they have skin in the game. Pursuit racing, commonly called reverse handicap racing, is a variant of PHRF racing where boats start in reverse order, with their start times pre-determined by their ratings and the course length.
May 15, 2023
Speed & Smarts: Familiar Layline Dilemmas
There are certain scenarios that always seem to play out when you get near a layline. Somebody tacks on you or you have the chance to tack on somebody. The wind shifts so you are no longer on the layline. You have to make a choice about whether to do two more tacks or sail straight, but slowly, toward the mark.
May 15, 2023
May is National Sun Awareness Month
The Canadian Dermatology Association’s National Sun Awareness Month is in May, urging Canadians to learn about the causes and early warning signs of skin cancer. Check out some important sun awareness messages and resources, including steps to conduct a self-examination and preventative actions.
May 15, 2023
Safe Sport: More Questions and Answers
Since Sail Canada joined Abuse-Free Sport on March 1, we have received many questions from the sailing community. Check out our new Questions and Answers section on our website where you may find the information you are looking for or send us your question.
May 15, 2023
Royal Van May One Design Series
The May One Design Series Regatta was held at Royal Vancouver Yacht Club on the May 6/7 weekend. Fleets included a mixed collection, old and new: Dragon, Elliott 6 SuperSport, 6mR, Star, Martin242 and VX-1.
May 15, 2023
Scott Shawyer and Ryan Barkey Finish Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race
On May 12 at 16:32:25, co-skippers of Canada Ocean Racing Shawyer and Barkey crossed the finish line in Brest, France with an elapsed time of 5 days, 2 hours, 35 minutes and 25 seconds.
May 15, 2023
Six Canadians at the 2023 Optimist African Championships
The 2023 Optimist African Championship featuring 89 young sailors from 18 countries representing six continents. Six Canadians took part in the 2023 Optimist African Championships which ended Monday, May 8, in M’DIQ in Morocco.
May 15, 2023
Red Deer Sea Cadet Ranks Top 10
A Red Deer sea cadet has been given a prestigious award for ranking in the top 10 of over 700 sea cadets province wide. At the Cormack Armoury, Cadet Hannah Bennett, now ranked Chief Petty Officer Second Class (CPO2), was given the Navy League of Canada Cadet Medal of Excellence.
May 15, 2023
Sail Canada Introduces the 2023-2024 Canadian Sailing Youth Squad
Sail Canada announces the list of sailors who will be part of the 2023-2024 Canadian Sailing Youth Squad (CSYS). This year 25 athletes have been selected into the 2023-2024 CSYS following their participation and evaluation at the 2023 CSYS Trials Camp held last January.
May 1, 2023
Cruel Jane 2.0 Takes 4th at Etchells Worlds
I have been really fortunate to be able to sail on and with some great sailing teams. Actually just got back from the Viper 640 worlds with another Canadian team of friends.
May 1, 2023
2023 Shark World Championship Aug 18 – 25 Update
With just under 4 months until the Worlds come home to Niagara, the organizing committee is working hard to make this a memorable event on and off the water.
May 1, 2023
Speed & Smarts: Part 3 – Six Ways to Identify a Layline
Before you round any mark you have to get to the layline, so it helps a lot to know where the layline is. To avoid overstanding or understanding (and losing time or distance), find a good method for making consistently accurate layline calls. Here are some tips.
May 1, 2023
Safe Sport: Questions and Answers
Since Sail Canada joined Abuse-Free Sport on March 1, we have received many questions from the sailing community. Check out our new questions and answers section on our website where you may find the information you are looking for or send us your question.
May 1, 2023
Sarah Douglas Beats Tokyo 2020 and 2022 Champion to Win Gold
Sarah Douglas from Toronto (ABYC) won the gold medal in ILCA 6 at the French Olympic Week sailing competition which ended Saturday in Hyères, France.
April 30, 2023
Lake Erie’s 2023 Mills Trophy Race – The 99th Edition
Originally started in 1907 as a test of sailing and navigational skills, the Mills Cup Race has evolved into a premier sailing race event on Lake Erie. This annual race in the west-end of Lake Erie, is unique in that the race is held at night.
April 30, 2023
Canadian Teams Shine at EDHEC
Two Canadian teams finished 1st and 2nd at the EDHEC Sailing Cup held in Brest, France, April 14-24, the leading student sporting event in Europe and the world’s biggest intercollegiate offshore regattas.