Lee Parkhill: Sail Canada Sailor of the Month

Sail Canada’s Sailor of the Month award acknowledges sailing achievements by Canadians involved or associated with the sport in all its forms. Here is the July report…

Touted as the performance of his career, Lee Parkhill captured the bronze medal at the 2015 Pan Am Games, the first Laser medal for Canada at a Major Games since its inception as an Olympic class in 1996.

“I like the lighter winds and definitely played in my favour,” noted Parkhill. “This event was by far my most consistent performance of the year. I fed off the energy of the hometown crowds and hung on to secure the bronze.”

While the Pan Am fleets are smaller in size, there was no shortage of talent amongst the group with gold medalist Juan Mageli (GUA), silver medalist and sailing mogul Robert Scheidt (BRA) and Charlie Buckingham of USA in 4th position.

“Lee illustrated that he can joust with the best in the world,” reflects National Team coach Steve Mitchell. “To be within striking distance of the gold before the medal race was our game plan heading into Toronto 2015. The Major Games racing experience will be invaluable as we head to Rio for the Olympic Test event.”

Canada added two more medals to the collection in the Pan Am fleets. Luke Ramsay sailed to a silver medal finish in the Sunfish while Terry McLaughlin led his crew David Jarvis, David Ogden and Sandy Andrews to the silver medal in the J/24.

CORK Kingston hosted hundreds of sailors at the Laser World Championships and Laser Masters Worlds. 2013 Sailor of the Year finalist Al Clark captured the Radial Grand Master title with fellow Canuck Robert Britten in 3rd place overall. Kingston’s own, Erika Vines was crowned champion in the Radial Apprentice division while Johan Van Rossen took 2nd place in the ’75 and over’ fleet. Andy Roy clinched the silver medal in the Laser Standard Grand Master Division. Roy was Sailor of the Year finalist in 2014.

Heading a bit further east to the Nation’s capital, the Nepean Sailing Club hosted the 2.4mR North Americans with 15 boats from across the country. 2008 Paralympic sailor Bruce Millar celebrated a regatta win with Allan Leibel taking second place.

CST alumni Greg Douglas, Billy Gooderham teamed up with Canadian Richard Reid on Zingara to win the Melges 24 Canadian Championships at the Windsor Yacht Club.

Laser sailor Robert Davis sealed the deal at the Laser US Nationals with a first place finish amongst the 56-boat fleet at Brant Beach Yacht Club.

The 2,800 nm Transatlantic Race included the 100-foot Comanche with 5-time Canadian Olympian Richard Clarke among the crew. “It was some of the most intense, terrifying and cool sailing I’ve ever done,” admitted Clarke. “Driving that thing in the pitch black overcast night sitting on 27-34 kts of boat speed with 25-40 degrees of heel, plowing through waves is not something I’ll soon forget.”

At approx. 1300 nm into the Atlantic, the conditions were ripe for a 24-hour record attempt, which the Comanche team successfully accomplished on July 10-11 when covering a distance of 618.01 miles (avg speed of 25.75kts).

It was a record setting month for Canadian sailing performances and Sail Canada applauds all the outstanding sailors for their achievements including our Sailor of the Month – July – Lee Parkhill!

Sail Canada encourages the submission of noteworthy Canadian sailing activities to sailorofthemonth@sailing.ca.