Team Mandate wins Women’s J/105 Ontario Champs

Toronto, ONT (August 19, 2023) – The Royal Canadian Yacht Club in Toronto held the third annual J105 Ontario Women’s Championship. Jen Provan Paterson on Mandate won first place, Julie Mitchell on Kernel finished second, and Kathy Pask skippered Full Tilt Boogie to third place. One hundred women, 13 boats and one day of excellent wind and highly competitive racing.

The race committee squeezed four races into one day of winds up to 12 knots, with picture-perfect weather. After the first start, all were sailed under the U flag, and racing was intense with close finishes throughout the fleet and leads changing frequently.

Michelle Skutelsky, Regatta Chair, said “This has been a great experience for all levels, bringing Olympic sailors, new sailors, long-term racers, and friends old and new into a fun and competitive regatta experience.”

The regatta included women new to the fleet, embodying the intent of the event to bring more women into racing on Lake Ontario, and more sailors to the J105 fleet. The Toronto-based J105 Women’s event in 2021 was the first of what has become a popular boat and format for women’s keelboat championships throughout North America the last couple of years.

This year saw familiar competitors from around the lake. Heather McCann from Port Credit Yacht Club brought NagaDragon; Anne Marie Shewfelt led Endeavour from Mimico; Julie Mitchell skippered Jan Heisey’s Kernel from Royal Canadian Yacht Club; and Rhonda Joyce led the Trident team from Port Credit Yacht Club. This event also saw the debut of a team from Broad Reach racing on Another Hazard, skippered by Canada Games gold medalist in 2.4m para mix sailing, Siobhan MacDonald.

The theme this year was Retro Summer Haze, to celebrate decades of women in competitive sailing. Crews stepped up with retro-themed outfits throughout throughout the day, from tie-dyed team shirts on the water, to coordinated team outfits for decades from the 50s through 90s at the celebratory dinner in the Rose Garden at sunset.

“We’re happy we were able to have so many boats on the water,” said Kathy Pask, returning regatta organizer and J105 fleet representative. “Owners were generous in donating their boats for use in the event, and women were eager to sign up as skippers and crew. We’re already planning for next year and looking forward to welcoming new competitors.”

Event Details – Results – Facebook

Source: Kirsty Clarke