Ontario Sailing News and Events

Queen’s Sailing Team – October 2007

At the end of October, seven former Ontario Sailing Team Members will have the opportunity to represent Queen’s University and Canada at the 2007 Student Yachting World Cup.

The regatta will present Queen’s Sailing Team, nicknamed ‘Golden Gael I’, with the world’s best students, as 20 countries are expected to compete for the Student World Championship. Held in La Rochelle France , the 27^th Student Yachting World Cup will provide an interesting challenge for these Young Canadian Sailors. Competition will be fierce against Defending Champion Ireland (Trinity College), and other great yachting nation’s like England (South Hampton), Australia (Queensland University), Denmark, the United States (University of Rhode Island), Norway, Switzerland to name a few. To say the least, the event promises to provide world class fleet racing. This year it will feature a 60 nautical mile ocean night race, a chance for yesterday’s dinghy racers to learn modern day GPS and old school chart navigational techniques.

Although the regatta has been in existence for several years, this is the first year a Canadian University has attended the World Cup. It is anticipated the conditions will be tasking as ocean sailing is accompanied by strong winds, high waves and unfamiliar weather patterns. They will be racing a French designed boat called the Grand Surprise. The keel boat measures 9.5 meters in length and sails with a crew of 7.

Team ‘Golden Gael I’ is comprised of: Madeline Godard, Cameron Mason, Landon Gardner, Jackie Allen, Barbara Kaars Sijpesteijn, Will Gyles, Dirk McLaughlin, Ethan Holtzer, Seth Whitmore and Robyn Ross. As a team, we have collective experience racing in all types of boats from Lasers, and Bytes to J24’s, J105’s and 8 meters. Each member is unique in his/her sailing experience and will undoubtedly prove an asset to the team.

As we all know, sailing is a very expensive endeavor. Money does not come easy; especially not for students and the team is still seeking support and sponsorship for competition in La Rochelle . If you would like more information regarding sponsorship please click on the QST Sponsorship Package link or contact sponsorship manager Cam Mason cameron_mason@hotmail.com .