March 14, 2023
Laser 28s Coming to Golden Horseshoe
The summer regatta schedule for the coveted (if homemade) Laser Cup is Royal Hamilton Open July 1, NOLSC’s Niagara cup July 15 and then Cornucopia at DYC Sept 2. We will race to class rules, and we will likely have our own starts!
March 8, 2023
Serious Fun at the 43rd St. Maarten Heineken Regatta
Serious Fun! The motto of the 43rd St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. Canadian Yachting had the chance to attend this bucket list event to capture all of the action over the course of four days of world class racing. And world class partying!
February 27, 2023
The Rules Guy: How To Finish
Last summer I observed several boats getting confused about where to finish. I am going to illustrate some of the scenarios. The rules are actually quite simple, but the application can sometimes confuse sailors.
February 26, 2023
Speed & Smarts: Planning for 2023 – Tips 9 to 15
Last issue we began a series on the little things and the big things that make a difference in your performance. We continue with more of Dave’s series of tips to make you smarter and faster for racing in 2023. Now is the time to get set up for the season ahead.
February 14, 2023
LOOR Registration for 2023 Racing is Open
The ground is still frozen, but the days are getting longer and, just like us, we bet you are dreaming about sailing. Rates & Dates have been set, NOR’s are published, and logistics are well in hand. Registration links are below or on loor.ca.
February 13, 2023
Speed & Smarts: Planning for 2023 – Tips 1 to 8
It’s the little things. And the big things. Dave offers a series of tips to make you smarter and faster for racing in 2023. Now is the time to get set up for the season ahead.
February 13, 2023
Officials are Critical to the Sport
Officials play a key role in any sailing race or regatta! Sail Canada Race Officer, Judge and Umpire programs provide training and certification from the Club to National level, with World Sailing providing International Certification.
January 30, 2023
Speed & Smarts: MORE Starting Strategy & Tactics – Part 4
When the starting signal goes off, every boat would like to have a large space to leeward so they can put their bow down without the fear of being pinched off. But this doesn’t mean you want to have such a big hole to leeward throughout the starting sequence.
January 30, 2023
Does Club Racing Have a Future? (Part B)
Part A of this article summarized the many hundred replies to the survey on the topic of whether Club Racing will survive. It addressed the importance of an active club culture, and a governance model that supports the club’s primary mission.
January 17, 2023
PHRF POV: Friends Let Friends Race PHRF
Welcome to 2023. Hopefully your New Year’s Resolution includes to race your sailboat this season. The good news – PHRF LO Racing is on the upswing.
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
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 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 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 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
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
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 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
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
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 30, 2022
Winter Race Reading
Now that the boat is away, and you’ve read Sailing in Canada’s lates issue, it’s time to head to the bookshelf and get primed for next season’s battles. Here are some titles from the Nautical Mind Bookstore on Toronto’s waterfront to keep the juices flowing.
October 18, 2022
LOOR Announces Dates for 2023 Season
For all those long-long distance racers, the LO600 returns in 2023. The Lake Ontario 600 Challenge occurs every other year and 2023 will mark the FIFTH opportunity for you to circumnavigate the lake twice – giving your fly swatter a really good work out!
October 16, 2022
Speed & Smarts: Mark-Rounding Principles Part 3 – Slow Down to Round the Mark Faster
In most situations, faster is better because the goal of racing is to get to the finish line as quickly as possible and beat the other boats. But once in a while you need to slow down.
October 2, 2022
Speed & Smarts: Mark-Rounding Principles Part 2 – Before Rounding Each Mark, Have a Plan for the Next Leg
Almost every sailor realizes the importance of making a strategic plan for the first leg before they start the race. But how many of those sailors also develop a strategy for every other leg in the race?
October 2, 2022
The Rules Guy: Penalties and Sportsmanship
The rules of the game are pretty clear, if you break a rule, you need to take the appropriate penalty. This is listed very early in the rule book before any of the numbered rules under the title “Basic Principles – Sportsmanship and the Rules”.
September 12, 2022
Speed & Smarts: Mark-Rounding Principles Part 1 – Avoid Mark Rounding Madness!
The marks of the course are often critical in determining how boats cross the finish line. That’s because mark roundings bring the entire fleet together into one small, congested spot.
September 6, 2022
Canada-USA racing: Match Race Experience and Tactics Win the 26th Canada’s Cup
US Team Zing’s increased boat speed and improved crew work were no match for the extraordinary crew work of Team Defiant and the 40 years of match race experience Terry McLaughlin has gained through racing the America’s Cup, Knickerbocker Cup, Congressional Cup, Bermuda Gold Cup and three previous Canada’s Cups.
August 29, 2022
2022 English Bay Scramble Report
Tiddly Cove’s annual English Bay Scramble, the most interesting and popular sailboat race in Vancouver, and perhaps in the world due to its pure, unadulterated racing conundrums!
August 27, 2022
Speed & Smarts: Approaching the Windward Mark
The windward mark is the first point where all the boats come back together after the start. It’s usually crowded and contentious and can have a significant impact on the outcome of the race.
August 23, 2022
Giving Back: Regatta for AQVA raises $70K for sailors with disabilities
On Saturday August 20, 2022, the 10th annual Regatta for AQVA (Association québécoise de voile adaptée ) supporting sailors with disabilities and hosted by the Royal St-Lawrence Yacht Club in Dorval QC, attracted boats from six yacht clubs and raised $70,000.
August 14, 2022
Speed & Smarts: Light and Heavy Air Differences – Part 3: Boathandling Maneuvers in Light Air vs. Heavy Air
One of the big differences between racing in light air versus heavy air is that it’s usually a lot more difficult to execute good boathandling maneuvers when it’s breezy. This is not surprising. More wind means boats go faster and bounce around a lot more (because there are usually bigger waves).
August 14, 2022
Canadians Get Their Share at Sodus Bay
LYRA 2022 was held at the end of July at Sodus Yacht Club on the US side of Lake Ontario. Course racing began on Thursday with the 8 Metre North American Championship.