Team Tingley: Sail Canada Sailor of the Month

At the peak of its sailing season, Canada did not disappoint with a full calendar of events including three successful Sail Canada championships and the pinnacle World championships for disabled sailors.

A record number of young sailors swarmed the limestone city to compete amongst the best in the country (U19). CORK Kingston hosted a very breezy Sail Canada Youth Championships from August 10-14. The Laser Youth Champ was Max Gallant (BC), while Matti Muru (ON) captured the win in the Radial fleet. Stephane and Sophie-Andrée Vinet (QC) took home gold in the 29er fleet and Patrick Wilson and Arie Moffat (NS) captured the Club 420 title.

The Sail Canada Senior Championships were hosted at the same venue only a few days following the Youth event with several of the country’s top sailors vying for the class crown. There was stiff competition among many of the fleets including the skiffs with David Mori and Justin Barnes (RCYC) placing 1st and Arielle Morgan and Heather Myatt (RSTLYC) winning the FX title. Brenda Bowskill (RCYC) triumphed in the Radial division and Robert Davis (KYC/RCYC), took 2nd in the Laser fleet. The Finn gents scrapped it out all week with Greg Douglas (RCYC) edging out Martin Robitaille (RCYC/CVL) on the final day of racing.

The Sail Canada Women’s Keelboat Championships were held at Point Claire Yacht Club with Jinnie Gordon’s team ‘Red Dwarf’ winning the title ahead of Marion Lemarchand’s boat ‘Chimere’.

Last but certainly not least, the IFDS World Championships were held at RNSYS with the top Paralympic sailors competing for the title of World Champion and country berths for 2016. Canada boasted one of its most successful events to date securing berths for RIO in all three events. Great Britain and Australia were the only other countries among this distinguished group to lock down qualification at this early stage.

Canadian SKUD team John McRoberts and Jackie Gay (RVicYC) placed 4th, and Bruce Millar (RVicYC) placed 8th both netting race wins on the final day. Canadian team Paul Tingley (RNSYS) Logan Campbell (SSC) and Scott Lutes (PCYC) demonstrated their prowess in a very competitive and experienced Sonar fleet. The final day of racing was set up for a gold medal gun fight against FRA and AUS with CAN in 2nd place position. Sailors waited patiently on the course for the start of war but the wind did not cooperate and the Sonar stallions headed home with a Canadian silver medal!

Sail Canada applauds the outstanding performances of the entire Paralympic team at the IFDS World Championships and celebrate the medal achievements of the Canadian Sonar team. Congratulations Paul Tingley, Logan Campbell and Scott Lutes for being named as Sail Canada’s Sailors of the Month for August.

Sail Canada’s Sailor of the Month award acknowledges sailing achievements by Canadians involved or associated with the sport in all its forms. Sail Canada encourages the submission of noteworthy Canadian sailing activities to sailorofthemonth@sailing.ca.