Eight Bells: William Alexander Abbott

One of the best yacht builders worldwide and past member of the Canadian sailing team, William “Bill” Alexander Abbott has passed away on November 15, 2024, at the age of 98. Bill was born to Laurence and Bertha Abbott on June 2, 1926, in Capreol, Ontario, where he grew up adventuring in the woods with his dog team, fishing, picking blueberries and learning to hunt. Bill’s appreciation of nature and his passion for outdoor activities stayed with him for his entire life.

William Alexander Abbott, who was also known as “Chief”, was born in Capreol, Ontario, before moving to Sarnia, and was recognized as one of Canada’s best yacht builders.

After serving in the navy during World War II, he returned to Sarnia to open Abbott Boat Works with his father, where they earned a reputation for building boats according to high standards.

In the first decade of the company, he built and raced wooden power boats and then, over the years, he transitioned into building many sailboat classes that included the Dragon, Folk Boat, Soling, Finn, Wayfarer and Banshee, but also an Abbott Line of boats: the Abbott 22, 27, 28, 33, 36, and Waverbreaker, Fisherman 22 fishing boats and canoes.

On the competitive side, he was named to the Team Canada Sailing Team for the 1980 Olympic Games, which Canada boycotted. He represented Canada at the 1983 Pan American Games, and won gold at the Soling North American Championships.

His contribution to Canadian sailing will be remembered forever as his name is associated with a Sail Canada Award. In 1991, the Sarnia Yacht Club, where he was a lifetime member, donated the William Abbott Senior Trophy to be given out to the Sail Training Program of the Year.

The award recognizes the many fine programs run by dedicated volunteers throughout Canada that also share information among clubs for the improvement of their sail training programs. More information about the William Abbott Senior Trophy is available at https://www.sailing.ca/william-abbott-past-winners/.

William Alexander Abbott was also named a “Legend of Sailing” by Ontario Sailing in 2017.

“On behalf of the Sail Canada community, I would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of William Alexander Abbott,” said the Chair of Sail Canada’s Board of Directors, Kate MacLennan. “His work as a boat builder has contributed in putting Canada amongst the top sailing nations in the world, as he also did while representing the country in international competition, including that missed opportunity at the 1980 Olympic Games.”

Community members can read his obituary at https://smithfuneralhome.ca/memorial/william-bill-alexander-abbott-0.

Source: Sail Canada