As many of you know the ABYC Opti Race Team is celebrating 5 years this season. Our team has had tremendous growth since we began in 2010 and now we have over twenty athletes and three coaches representing ABYC at regattas.  For our fifth season we are raising money for a new coach boat to accommodate our expanding team.  Our goal is to raise $20,000 for a new boat and trailer that can take some of our Optimists to regattas.

We are raising money with various methods.  We are selling limited edition hats and t-shirts featuring a special 5 year logo.  Please come to the Junior Club and support our team.  We have sizes for kids and adults, priced at $25 and $14 respectively (HST included). If you can't make it to the Junior Club during camp hours, please contact me directly and I can arrange to meet you at another time.

We have also partnered with SailCanada so that ABYC, through SailCanada, may issue tax receipts for donations over $25 for this cause.  Below is a link to a one page form which can be filled out sent to Roxanne at admin@abyc.on.ca.  Donations can be made by both cheque and credit card.  Copies of this form will also be available with Roxanne in the office.  Please be sure to state "ABYC Opti Race Team" as the name of the specific program.  If this field is left blank, SailCanada will be able to put the funds towards other causes.

http://www.sailing.ca/files/Form_1__Donation_Form_Fillable.pdf   

Finally, we are looking for sponsors for this project.  If you or anyone you know is willing to sponsor, we have various recognition opportunities available.  Please let me know if you can help!

Thank you all in advance for your support of our programme!

Mike Goldfarb

Coach

ABYC Opti Race Team

416-709-9054 

mikeg@ajsportsworld.com

The ABYC Archive Committee, led by Mel Trottier, is actively cataloguing and digitizing a good portion of the records, reports, and photos in the Club archive.  Periodically, the Committee will seek to enlighten members who are unclear about our distinguished history by reproducing choice bits from the archive in

"Once there was a man named Jon who had a vision and this vision began with an apparently innocent thought that ABYC should become a full member of the Lake Yacht Racing Association.  Those of you who sailed away and came back after it was all over may be able to believe that it never really happened, only the charred remains of a picnic table remain as mute testimony to some arcane rite of victory.  I don't know how you will ever grasp the enormity of LYRA.  Some worthy cruisers, displaced by the regatta, reported being quite unexpectedly overwhelmed by effusive praise, with drinks pressed upon them for this amazing event that had just occurred somewhere over the northern horizon, barely a day after it ended.  It will be analyzed for years to come for the essence of its success.  It attracted the largest attendance ever for the Freeman Cup, the Day racing, and the Centennial.  The success has to rest on the planning and those interminable meetings with "Two for one Lennie" and "Have I got a deal for you Ron" and "Shut your trap and listen to me Roger V. Flack.  Orders for regalia are still pouring in; we couldn't keep up with the demand, and to have a LYRA 87 shirt may yet prove to be the dress item for years to come."

Cam Cochrane, Commodore (The Leeshore Update, Sept. 1987)

"LYRA Update '97 - A Success All Around!  One hundred and seventy-five boats and eights after the start of this wild week, everyone was still standing but somewhat exhausted and very pleased.  One of our most important goals was to increase the participation of to previous levels.  LYRA has traditionally been a big boat handicap event.  The organizing committee's goal was to have an increased focus on one-design racing for several reasons: 1) the participation numbers are there - more racers are leaning toward one-design fleets; 2) LYRA needs to grow and seek some untapped markets.  The efforts paid off as can be seen in the overall number of boats attending and the fact that eight out of eighteen fleets were just shy of qualifying for their own fleet.  Some great footage of the races and post race activities was caught on camera by some very capable videographers from Centennial College.  An edited version of the video is on sale for $25."

Diane Flanagan (The Leeshore Update, Sept. 1997)

Anyone who has a copy of the videotape mentioned in Diane Flanagan's article is urged to get in touch by sending an e-mail message to archives@abyc.on.ca.

ABYC Archive Quiz: At LYRA 1997, five ABYC boats placed first in their respective divisions.  Two of those boats are still at ABYC. The first person to correctly identify those two boats will receive a free beverage courtesy of the Archive Committee.  Send your answers to archives@abyc.on.ca.

Over the weekend, members of the Junior and Senior Race Team attended the Fogh Boorman Regatta at Royal Hamilton Yacht Club.  The conditions varied from being light and shifty to having gusts over 20 knots.   Despite these conditions, the RHYC Race Committee ran a great regatta and it was an excellent experience for all participants.  

On the Opti Championship Fleet course there were 34 boats and 10 ABYC sailors. Jack Peabody was the top ABYC sailor and came 8th overall. Hunter Dejean was awarded the third female in the Opti Fleet and placed 16th overall. Paul Staadecker, Quinten Beelik, Martain Staadecker and Bridget Latka placed 11th, 12th, 13th and 20th overall.  Hunter and Quinten also each had a bullet this regatta. Kate Evans, Annabel Gravely, Danny Assimakopoulos and Nathan Latka sailed their first regattas in Championship Fleet and made an excellent transition.  Danny even placed third in White Fleet.

Ainsley Doell, of the Senior Team, sailed very well on the Laser Radial course and placed 12th overall, out of 22 boats.

All of our athletes sailed very well and had a lot of fun!  Next week, the Junior Race Team, Senior Race Team and CANSail 3,4 program will be going to Port Credit Yacht Club for The Steerers Regatta followed by the Four Sisters Regatta.  

Photos - Alison Wardman

The model boats used in protest hearings are missing in action.  The kit looks similar to the one pictured.  If you have them or know where it is located please return it to the office or contact:   

Protest Coordinator - Drew Robertson 

- Brian Chapman, Chair, Sailing Committee  

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In the past many years the AHMEN Race Series, has been steadily building and on any given day, attracts +/- 30 boats.  As a series, arguably supports the highest levels of participation for fall interclub racing locally. Hopes are that more ABYC boats will discover these events.  

The series consists of 6 individual races spread thru August and September.  Historically only Gypsy the R Class Boat from ABYC (the R Class targets this series) has competed.  But the series does include various White Sail and Spinnaker PHRF classes.  Courses are a mix of upwind, downwind and reaching legs.  Starts are to the west of Toronto Island (Humber Bay) and races expand over the west using the fixed EYC/MCC marks and Leslie Street Spit to the east.  Typically races last 2 to 3 hours.  You are invited to participate in the whole series or individual dates ... whatever fits your schedule.

As a bonus, please note there is no entrance fee for these races ... just a request to register before the first race, August 9th.

Please visit the AHMEN website at www.ahmen.ca for further details.

If I can be of any service please don't hesitate to drop me a note at brian@uksailmakers.com

Thru the generous support of Sue Bosley and Skinny Legs, please join the Sailing Committee in extending best wishes to the ABYC team of David Holmes and Mike Hren.  Fingers are crossed that this event works well and in future years becomes a major target in the racing calendar.

Brian your Sailing Committee Chair.

PS; with mid season being present (or quickly approaching, depending on who you speak with), I extend an open invitation to you in sending me a note at brian@uksailmakers.com with any thoughts or comments you may have on the clubs sailing activities.  These events are there for you and it's the Sailing Committee's mission to best understand and deliver to your needs.