January 17, 2023
The Rules Guy: Hails That Are Not Required
During my summer judging, I have heard some strange things about the hails people expect to hear. Last issue I discussed the three hails, “room to tack”, “you tack” and “protest” that are required in the Racing Rules of Sailing. This issue I will continue with other hails that are not required.
January 17, 2023
Keven Talks Sails: Preparing for Bad Weather – Part 2
Most sailors just don’t have practice sailing in really windy conditions. Club racers don’t go out if it is more than 25 knots (nor will the race committee). When doing a long-distance cruise or race, you don’t have much option if a squall runs at you.
January 17, 2023
Speed & Smarts: MORE Starting Strategy & Tactics – Part 3
A good start is all about getting what you want and not letting other boats stand in your way. In the ideal world you want to start in the position you choose on the line, carve out a certain amount of space around you, and then come off the line with clear air and speed.
January 16, 2023
Does Club Racing Have a Future?
By definition, a club is an association or organization dedicated to a particular interest or activity be it a baseball club, a rowing club, or a sailing club. Members, particularly competitive ones, are the beating heart of the club.
January 10, 2023
Sail Replacement and Purchasing Process (Part 1 of 2)
For many sailors north of the snow belt, haulout means getting the boat ready for winter, which inevitably involves removing the sails. Oddly enough, winter is often the first time we really take a close look at them as we spread them out, flake and fold them. This is when we can closely inspect and spot some troublesome areas.
January 3, 2023
Keven Talks Sails: Dealing with Squalls – To Reef or Not to Reef
If you sail on the Great Lakes long enough, you are going to need to deal with summertime squalls. Because of the landlocked humid continental climate, we see very hot summer temperatures that lead to convective weather events.
January 3, 2023
It Takes More Than Good Intentions and a Good Breeze
With the start of the new year, Sailing in Canada begins a series that impacts the largest number of racers in the country, Club Racing. Roger Renaud, who has prepared the series has been racing at the club, regional and national level since…well, a long time.
January 3, 2023
Feedback: A Loaner Shark
Hi SinC. I read the article on the Lightning Grant program and have followed it for years. I think the concept is great. I am an avid Shark sailor and have been in the fleet for 34 years.
January 2, 2023
Sail Canada Joins Abuse-Free Sport on March 1
Sail Canada will join Abuse-Free Sport following the official signing of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) agreement with the new independent agency to prevent and address maltreatment in sport, which will come into effect no later than March 1, 2023, following a transition period.
January 2, 2023
Speed & Smarts: Starting Strategy & Tactics Part 2 (of several)
As a general rule of thumb, if you like the left side of the first beat you should start on the left side of the line. If you like the right side of the course, start on the right of the line. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s amazing how many boats do not follow this basic principle.
December 20, 2022
Keven Talks Sails: Winter Voyage Preparation
This is the time of year for planning next season’s special voyage. This may be a trip up the coast, across the lake, or multi week sail to the islands or a favorite anchorage.
December 12, 2022
70+ Melges Registered
The 2023 Melges 15 Winter Series gets underway January 7 in Jensen Beach, FL. More than 70 Melges 15s have registered for the first event of the 2023 Winter Series making it the largest class event to date.
December 12, 2022
Planning Sail Canada Long Term Development
More than 20 leaders representing disciplines of sailing across Canada gathered in Toronto, Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 5 and 6, to pursue the revision of Sail Canada Long Term Development in sailing framework.
December 12, 2022
Beneteau, Torqeedo Team Up for 2 More Electric Boats
Beneteau keeps adding to its line of electric powered boats with the announcement at the Salon Nautic de Paris this week that the Oceanis 30.1 and the First 44 sailing yachts will now be available with electric propulsion.
December 12, 2022
Apply for the Boat Grant Program
The International Lightning Class Association is proud to announce another season of our wildly successful Boat Grant Program. This program is designed to fund young sailors who want to experience the high level of competition offered by the ILCA.
December 12, 2022
Speed & Smarts: Starting Strategy & Tactics
The start of any sailboat race is a critical moment that will have a big effect on your potential success in that event. If you get off the line cleanly with clear air and good speed, heading toward the favored side, you’ve made a great first step.
December 8, 2022
Which Caribbean Regatta is for You? Les Voile de St Barths April 16 – 22 – Part 3
Boat eye candy abounds! This is the event to be at if you want to see stunning boats flying around bays and high caliber shoreside activity. St Barth’s lives up to all the hype. Different than their Bucket Regatta, which is for big boats, the Voile is accessible to all sailors.
December 8, 2022
Which Caribbean Regatta is for You? STIR and BVI SR – Part 2
Like the Bits and Bites commercial, every handful is different. Racing the Caribbean Sailing Association winter series is like that. Based on positive feedback from the Hitchhikers Guide I thought I’d highlight the events based on my experience. Last issue we considered Grenada, RORC 600 and The Heineken in St Maarten.
December 7, 2022
The Rules Guy: Required Hails
During my summer judging, I have heard some strange things about the hails people expect to hear. I thought that I should look at the rulebook, and see which hails are required.
November 29, 2022
Speed & Smarts: Headstay Sag – Control Power with Luff Sag
One of the most critical factors for any jib or genoa trimmer is the amount of sag in the headstay. Your forestay almost never forms a straight line between the bow and the mast – due to wind pressure it always sags aft and to leeward at least a little bit.
November 28, 2022
McRoberts/Lutes 6th at RS Venture Connect World Championship
2022 Canadian Sailing Team member John McRoberts, (Victoria – RvicYC) and Scott Lutes took the 4th place overall on 26 sailors in the para fleet of the RS Venture Connect World Championships held last week in Oman.
November 28, 2022
Vancouver Salish Sisters Heading to BVI Spring Regatta
By way of background, my Caribbean regatta journey began when I twisted the rubber arms of five female sailing friends from the West Vancouver Yacht Club in British Columbia and convinced them that we should race in the 2017 Heineken Regatta.
November 28, 2022
Sail Canada WestJet Biz Portal
Sail Canada is pleased to add a benefit to its members, friends and supporters through Sail Canada’s WestJet Biz online portal, enabling the entire Canadian sailing community to earn rewards faster and enjoy discounts on their next flight reservations.
November 28, 2022
Sail Canada and Canada SailGP Team Align for the Future
Last week, Sail Canada and Canada SailGP Team announced an official partnership between the two organizations to further promote and develop the sport nationwide, including developing foiling talent across the country.
November 28, 2022
Which Caribbean Regatta is for You? The Choices are Hard – Part 1
Like the Bits and Bites commercial, every handful is different. Racing the Caribbean Sailing Association winter series is like that. Based on positive feedback from the Hitchhikers Guide, I thought I’d highlight the events based on my experience.
November 28, 2022
CBC Podcast Summary for Girls in Sailing
Recently, the CBC podcast Sports Talk with John Hancock, interviewed Olympian hopeful Clara Gravely and Vice Commodore Marjolyn van der Hart, about the inaugural Girl’s Sailing Camp held this past summer at Ashbridge’s Bay Yacht Club in Toronto.
November 28, 2022
Sarah Douglas Finishes 6th Overall at the 2022 ILCA 6 Sailing European Championship
Canadian sailor Sarah Douglas from Toronto took the 6th spot overall at the 2022 ILCA 6 European Championship which ended last Monday in Hyères, France.
November 24, 2022
Electric Yacht Conversion – Part II
This project started off in a way that many of us can relate to: Matt Bera and his family chose a boat that is perfect for them.
November 15, 2022
Keven Talks Sails: A Balanced Life
A balanced boat is key to performance and as the season winds down, let’s take a look at why and how. It’s that time of the year that we put our boats to bed and clean up the sailing locker.
November 15, 2022
11-Sailor Canadian Team at ILCA 6 and 7 European Championships
Eleven sailors will represent Canada at the 2022 EurILCA Senior European Championships, to be held November 16-21 in Hyères, France, including Tokyo 2020 Olympian Sarah Douglas from Toronto.
November 14, 2022
Bruce Millar: Top Canadian at the 2022 2.4mR World Championship
Bruce Millar was the best Canadian amongst the 13 who took part in the 2022 2.4mR World Championship held last week in Tampa, Florida, with a sixth position overall, while Delani Hulme-Lawrence was named Top Junior Sailor at the event.
November 14, 2022
Canada Wins Race 1 in Dubai, Then Stalls
It started well, with a Canadian win in Race 1. Hot out of the blocks, Phil Robertson and the Canada SailGP Team had an excellent start, were first at mark one and from there the team just extended their lead to put the first points on the leaderboard in Dubai.
November 14, 2022
Speed & Smarts: Searching for the Best Lead Position
Jib lead position works like the main outhaul. Moving the jib/genoa lead fore and aft affects foot depth, much like the outhaul controls foot depth on a mainsail.
November 14, 2022
Balasubramanian and Latka Top Canadian Youth Sailors for 2020-2021
On November 9, Annie Balasubramanian and Nathan Latka, both from Toronto, won the 2020-2021 Bill Burk Memorial Youth Elite Award, which recognizes sailors who are 18 years old and under.
November 14, 2022
Hitchhikers Guide to the Caribbean Circuit
If you’ve done it; you get it, if you haven’t; I’m betting you’ve spent a little (or a lot) of time dreaming of living the barefoot, lime in your beer lifestyle. Azure waters of the Caribbean calls us like the sirens of the sea.
October 31, 2022
Performance Daysailer – J/9
Although the J/9 is not a sport boat, it is designed like any other J/Boat for sailing first and foremost. After all, they have won over 20 awards for their sailboat designs featuring a second-generation family-run business since 1988.
October 31, 2022
Osoyoos Regatta 2022
After a two year break the Osoyoos club re-introduced their late summer regatta. The weather was near perfect with a variety of wind conditions and 13 races overall.
October 31, 2022
Speed & Smarts: Tips for the Windward Mark
Except for the starting line, the windward mark is usually the most congested part of the course. It’s the first point in the race where all the boats come together again, and for this reason it presents many potential pitfalls.
October 31, 2022
Sail Canada Announces Latest Award Winners for 2020 and 2021, Including Volunteers of the Year
Sail Canada is pleased to announce the winners of its 2020 and 2021 Volunteers of the Year, City of Kingston Regatta of the Year and Recreation Event Awards, as well as William Abbott Senior Trophy.