24  Cruise to National Yacht Club
  31  Cruise to Oakville Yacht Squadron

  01 - 02 Cruise to Oakville Yacht Squadron
 

___________________________________________________________________________________

This summer the Adult Keelboat Program had a record number of students.  Fifty one people learned to sail through our successful partnership with Humber College.  The students' participation in the program also included an Introductory Associate membership and we look forward to their continued involvement with ABYC.

A survey of the students showed that that many of them learned about the program from ABYC members, as well as our website and strategic advertising.  We would like to thank those members who sent their friends to the program.  Your referrals are invaluable!  Keep up the good work.

Diane Schulman and Peter Woodall
Adult Keelboat Learn-to-Sail Program Chairs
 

- Cindy Sampson, VC-Member Services

_____________________________________________

 

Need work hours?  At ABYC we are continuously looking to improve our visibility.  Our regalia are an important part of our marketing strategy.  If you are interested in joining the committee please contact Cindy Sampson at 416-238-7597  or email at vcmember@abyc.on.ca.
 

______________________________________________________

Sadly, we are well into the racing season and getting ready for the wonderful fall racing program.  Sadly, because for me, the opening of the Ex means summer is almost over. As that Rasta singer said on the weekend at the Beneteau Great Lakes Challenge, "I am Canadian; I know that when the CNE opens, next boots and parkas will be needed".

And speaking of the GLC, congratulations to Calum Semple and the crew of Sona for their first place finish in the 10R division and to crew Mike Macdonald who helmed on Sunday when Calum had family commitments.

Although no ABYC boats competed in the 36.7 division, the division was won by First Today, or First Everyday, as I like to call it.  Gary Tisdale, skipper, was, as always, an extremely gracious victor and as he received his first place award, stated that ABYC was one of his favourite clubs at which to race.  Richard Reid aboard Zingara was second (another big supporter of ABYC) while Jeffrey Long was third on Shane Returns with ABYC crew in the form of Richard Weld and Derek Vandermeer (who plays in both the Weathered Legs and is lead of the Primitive Mudmen of New Guinea).

Congratulations to Roger Van Vlack for putting together an excellent event and Kudos to Paul Brennan and his race committee who are to be commended for getting in all seven races in light air.

Before I move on, I would like to give a special shout out to the sponsors of the last two weekends, without whom it would not be possible for ABYC to run financially successful regattas.  Fogh Marine is always a big supporter of any dinghy events, as they were with the Masters.  Bristol Marine, Skippers' Plan Insurance and Steamwhistle Brewery sponsored both regattas, while Muskoka Ale, Andrews Yacht Sales were sponsors of the GLC.  Thank you to all, and we should support our sponsors as they support us.

Also happening on the weekend was the Lake Ontario Offshore Racing (LOOR - formerly LOSHRS) 100 mile race.  A HUGE congratulations to Stephen Trevitt and his crew (Al Sauder) aboard Crime Scene, who not only won their division but placed first overall in IRC by a considerable margin!  Umi Taka, sailed by Dennis Dice and crew (Simon Bright) (sans Roger, who was too busy running a regatta) was also first in their division (9th overall), and Murray Gainer and his mate Winnie on Lively were second in division and 11th overall.  A BIG shout out to all three ABYC boats on their victories.


On the Junior circuit, ABYC has had some good results at CORK.  In the standard rig Laser division, congratulations are due to Brian Gillies, who placed 10th! and to Kyle Harvey for his 16th place finish. Ainsley Doell was 22nd in the silver fleet while Jake Peabody was our sole representative in the Optis, finishing 55th in the 99 boat fleet.

So far, this week in the OCR, Matt Sherar is 22nd in the Standard rig fleet.

Our Optis are off to the Nationals at Royal St. Laurence YC in Quebec (an event I personally would LOVE to see ABYC host sometime).  Sailing under our burgee are Huner DeJean, Quentin Beelik, Jake Peabody and Rowland Goddard.  Good luck to all!

Wendy Loat

Next weekend, EYC is hosting their open regatta.  As ABYC owes payback for their support of our Open Regatta, we will be sending a mark boat for which we are still seeking volunteers.

_______________________________________________________

 

p.s. Etobicoke helped us out with our regatta; we rely on them, and in turn, we need to ensure they can count on us.  Without this cooperation between clubs, none of us could run our Open Regattas.  If you can drive a mark boat, or help with setting marks, please get back to Calum ASAP.  

Paul Brennan, Rear Commodore

 

- Kevin Armstrong

_____________________________________________________________________ 

 

Twenty five competitors from across the province descended on ABYC the weekend of August 10 & 11 for the Ontario Laser Masters championship.  For those of you not familiar with Laser Masters sailing, it is open to competitors 35 and older.  All competitors race in one fleet however they are subject to an aged based handicapping system to determine the overall winner.  The regatta was setting up to be very competitive, with the entry list featuring former national team members as well as current and former Canadian Masters champions.

 

A total of 6 races were sailed in conditions ranging from 6 to 16 knots over the two days.  The first race started in a puffy northwesterly with big shifts making for very tricky sailing.  The race was won by Nigel Heath of WRSC followed by Ray Davies also of WRSC.  This would be the only race in which Ray was bested, as he went on to sweep the next 5 races in a row.  After a series of general recalls the second race got off in the same northwest breeze, however the wind soon died as a new breeze out of the southwest began to move in.  The two breezes battled creating a dead zone in the middle of the course followed by a 100 degree wind shift and the race was abandoned.

  

After a wait of about half hour while the new breeze settled in and the race committee moved the course, racing got going again in a fantastic southwest breeze in the 12 to 15 knot range.  The higher winds made for fast downwind sailing and the occasional capsize.   The 3rd. and final race of the day was sailed in the same southwest breeze but at a slightly higher velocity making for some pretty tired sailors by the end. Back on shore the competitors were treated to a great meal and some free beer provided by Steam Whistle brewery of Ontario.

    

Sunday's sailing began in another southwest breeze albeit slight lower in velocity at around 10 - 12 knots. The second race of the day was sailed in similar conditions and turned out to be the best race of the regatta for ABYC boats, as the club placed six boats in the top ten.  By the start of the3rd. race the wind had dropped into the 5 to 6 knot range and the race committee wisely reduced the course length to compensate. As mentioned earlier Ray Davies won 5 of 6 races however after adjusting for handicaps ended up 2nd. to Rob Koci the reigning Canadian Masters Champion, finishing in 3rd. overall was Nigel Heath.  ABYC placed 3 boats in the top ten led by David Holmes in 7th., Kevin Armstrong in 9th. and Julie Hughes in 10th.

 

Special thanks go out to Dave Steenbergen and his race committee,   they did an outstanding job and the competitors noticed.  As Rob Koci mentioned they made all the right moves from abandoning the 2nd. race on Saturday, to adjusting the course length to suit the conditions on Sunday.  Finally all the competitors would like to give a big round of applause to Grant Dietrich the regatta organizer.  Grant put in a lot of hours and did a fantastic job in making this regatta an overwhelming success.   

   

 

                                                                                                                                            Photo - BCaron