September 8, 2021
Celebration pays tribute to Canadian performance sailors
Last Friday, the first ever Canada’s Celebration of Sailing honoured the season for Sailing in Canada with our nation’s high-performance sailors of past, present, and future.
September 7, 2021
Sarah Douglas named Rolex Sailor of the Year for second time
Repeating last year’s honour, last Friday Sarah Douglas was named Sail Canada’s Rolex Sailor of the Year for 2020-2021.
September 2, 2021
Chester Race Week: Fog and restrictions don’t stop the action
Helly Hansen Chester Race Week wrapped up for 2021 with fewer boats, more restrictions thanks to COVID-19, and some fog each day, but overall the event was four days of success for racers and organizers.
August 25, 2021
Douglas wins inaugural J105 Ontario Women’s Championships
On Saturday August 21 the strength of women’s sailing was on full display in the inaugural J105 Ontario Women’s Championships at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club on Lake Ontario, Canada.
August 25, 2021
Keven Talks Sails: Headsail UV Covers
Did I ever mention how much I like headsail furling? I’ve been club racing our 30’ cruising boat lately, and it has been easily the equal to two more crew members on board. When you are double handing with a now 14 year old, with a spinnaker (Asymmetric in a Sock), the headsail furling is the only thing that keeps us from sailing off the course to handle sails.
August 25, 2021
POTW: You’re ALL over early
This week’s POTW comes from internationally famous Hamilton, ON photographer, Sharon Green, who you know from her fabulous Ultimate Sailing Calendar. This month, Sharon covered the J/70 Worlds California Yacht Club and took this great shot.
August 25, 2021
AQVA Regatta raises $65K
The 9th annual Regatta for AQVA was held in Montreal’s West Island on Saturday August 21st 2021 and raised over $65,000 for the adapted sailing program run by l’Association québécoise de voile adaptée (AQVA).
August 13, 2021
Sunrise wins the 49th Rolex Fastnet Race
Tom Kneen’s JPK 11.80 Sunrise has been crowned overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race.
August 11, 2021
Canadian sailors achieve in Tokyo
“We are all proud of our athletes and coaches who have dedicated themselves to push Canadian sailing forward. We look forward to continuing our improvements leading up to the 2024 Olympic Games in three years as the future looks bright for Canadian sailing toward Paris”
August 11, 2021
Rebel wins Bluenose Maritime Championship
The history of the Bluenose Class sloop begins in 1946 when naval architect William J. Roué designed the wooden one design for a group of sailors from the Armdale Yacht Club. The first Bluenose class sloops set sail in Nova Scotia water in the spring of 1946.
July 20, 2021
Keven Talks Sails: Windy Day Upwind Sailing
It has been remarkably windy lately, so I figured I should share some windy day techniques to make your sailing easier and faster. I’ve been club racing with my 13 year old son driving lately, so I figured I should share with you what I shared with him.
July 20, 2021
Back to the races at Helly Hansen Chester Race Week
Randy Stevens started racing at Chester Race Week in the early 1970s and for about 20 of those years, he raced in a C&C 39. He sold that boat a few years ago, unofficially retired from racing, and bought a power boat instead.
July 7, 2021
Fun, Fast and Affordable Racing!
The Regional M242 Class has top racers in Canada and the USA including past National Sailing Team members, National and North American champions in various Classes, and top PHRF competitors.
July 7, 2021
Book locker: Rules rule
With racing opening up after a while, perhaps it’s time to get back in gear with a re-visit to the rules. And btw, the rules have been updated so perhaps what you remember is out of date anyhow!
June 22, 2021
D. Danger in Europe: At the Alicante Ocean Race
I’m not sure where to start. Having recently bought a camper van, we set off on an adventure to Alicante for the start of leg three of The Ocean Race Europe. We rolled into Alicante in the afternoon.
June 22, 2021
Keven Talks Sails: Boat Tips from a Sailmaker
At the start of the season, many boat owners tend to do some things the hard way. Here are some tips to get you sailing in less time, and with better outcomes. Furling Lines – Furling system rope that squishes flat, tends to bury itself in the spooled up drum if you are sailing reefed.
June 22, 2021
Technology: Michelin develops giant inflatable sails
French multinational Michelin has announced its Wing Sail Mobility project (WISAMO) solution – an automated, telescopic, inflatable wing that can be fitted on all types of vessels, including cargo ships and pleasure craft.
June 22, 2021
America’s Cup News: AC defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, drives initiative in marine industry with Hydrogen chase boats
This month, Emirates Team New Zealand have committed to drive Hydrogen innovation in the marine industry by developing Hydrogen powered chase boats for the 37th America’s Cup.
June 8, 2021
Boats: The hot First 18 SE
An 18-foot fast one-design, Beneteau’s First 18 SE delivers a dinghy-like sailing experience but on a more stable and safer platform, thanks to the wide and flat hull shape and deep-ballasted swinging keel.
May 26, 2021
Keven Talks Sails: Headstay Sag
Every boat with a jib attached to a stay has headstay sag. If every boat has it, what does it do, and how do you control it.
May 25, 2021
Editor’s blog: Arthur Beale’s is shutting down
It was surprising how disappointed I was to read that the historical Arthur Beale nautical store in London England was shutting down.
May 25, 2021
Meanwhile in the UK, Rolex Fastnet has record registration
While in Canada, sail racing is largely on hold thanks to various stay at home regulations, activity is bustling on the other side of the pond.
May 25, 2021
Sunshine Coast: The Gibsons Regatta 2021
The Gibsons Regatta was a regular event on the Sea Cavalcade weekend. After a hiatus of a number of years the club revived it, having its first regatta on Saturday July 27th. 2019.
May 11, 2021
Meet our Olympians
Tom started sailing lessons when he was eight years old at the Stony Lake Yacht Club, near his family’s “broken down” (his words) cottage. He began in the SLYC junior sailing program as a way to meet new friends around the lake.
May 11, 2021
Sail Canada: Meet the Teams
Earlier this month, Sail Canada announced the members of the 2021-2022 Canadian Sailing Team and Canadian Sailing Development Squad. The 29 sailors were selected based on the Canadian Sailing Team Sport Canada Carding Criteria as well as on their overall performance during the 2019-2020 and 2020-21 seasons.
April 21, 2021
Nova Scotia 2022: 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Sailing Championships
Nova Scotia will host a 400-strong field of the world’s best sailors from over 35 countries when the World Championships for three Olympic classes, the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17, will be held August 31 – September 5, 2022. Taking place in Canada for the first time in its history, the competition will be held on St. Margaret’s Bay during the six-day event.
April 21, 2021
Keven Talks Sails: Mast Bend explained
Everyone is always talking about mast bend; what is it, and what does it do? There are two types of mast bend. Fore and aft bend, and sideways bend. Sideways bend, in the below photo, is the least common type of bend that sailors talk about, unless they are in some particular racing classes where it can help tune the sails.
April 21, 2021
The Rules Guy: New Rule Changes IV
This month, we continue our exploration of changes included in the 2021-2024 edition of the Racing Rules of Sailing. This edition brings a lot of changes, but few affect the way we sail on the course.
April 7, 2021
Meet our Olympians: Nikola Girke – RS:X
West Vancouver’s Nikola Girke is the first Canadian sailor to ever compete in three different boat classes at the Olympic Games. After debuting in the 470 (two-handed dinghy) at Athens 2004 with skipper Jen Provan, she switched to the RS:X (windsurfer) in 2005, qualifying for Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
April 7, 2021
Keven talks sails: Sail Handling of Modern Asymmetric Spinnakers
Everyone who is ordering a new Asymmetric Spinnaker always ask about how they should handle it. What are the available methods these days? Nothing, Retrieval Lines, Snuffers, Bottom Up Furling, Top Down Furling, Luff Loaded Top Down Furling.
April 6, 2021
The Remarkable History of the Legendary Red Jacket, a Canadian Sailing Icon
Last night, April 7, Rob Mazza presented the remarkable history of the legendary Red Jacket, a Canadian Sailing Icon. Naturally, this was a virtual event with an admission of $5 benefitting the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston.
March 24, 2021
Helly Hansen Chester Race Week 2021 fires up
While things likely will be a little different, we welcome you back to the waters of Chester, Nova Scotia to participate in this one-of-a-kind event from August 11-14, 2021.
March 24, 2021
Canada lowers the boom at Edge Midwinters
Talent will eventually reveal itself. Bruce Millar, a Canadian Paralympics sailor has been working with Edge Sailing on a new jib boom and jib configuration. This month it seemed to hit a new level. Bruce took his modified 2.4 meter with a jib boom out and won the Edge Midwinters. His scoreline was impressive, he threw out a second place finish.
March 24, 2021
The rules guy: New Rule Changes III
This month, we continue our exploration of changes included in the 2021-2024 edition of the Racing Rules of Sailing. The next right-of-way rule that appears to have several changes is one that has changes every time a new rulebook comes out. rule 18, Mark-Room.
March 24, 2021
Canadian Olympic Team ready to go
Last week, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Sail Canada announced the nine-member team nominated to represent Team Canada in sailing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games this summer. The sailors come from across Canada and belong to many sailing clubs.
March 17, 2021
Emirates Team New Zealand Win the 36th America’s Cup
Once again Emirates Team New Zealand has entered the history books and won the America’s Cup for New Zealand for the fourth time.
March 10, 2021
America’s Cup: Tie after Day 1
Day one of the 36th America’s Cup didn’t disappoint with the defender Emirates Team New Zealand and the challenger Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sitting on a tie after two races. Pretty even performances between the two boats confirmed that there is no space for mistakes
March 10, 2021
New Rule Book now available!
As the Rules Guy has been explaining, there are changes to the rules that are important to understand. 2021 brings the new Racing Rules of Sailing to take us through to 2024!
March 8, 2021
Sarah Douglas wins Laser Radial MidWinters
Last week, Canadian Sailing Team member Sarah Douglas scored an impressive first place at the Laser Midwinters East hosted by Key Biscayne Yacht Club in Florida over the weekend.