Sailing Shorts: November 15 2023
Nov 15, 2023
• Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance from Chester, N.S., came up with their best performance this season by finishing 10th overall in the 49erFX class at the 2023 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships which ended on Monday in Vilamoura, Portugal. A total of 110 athletes took part in the 49erFX event including seven of the nine teams that medalled at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the 2022 49erFX World Championship and/or the 2023 Sailing World Championships.
• The Wichard Group, which specializes in the design, manufacture and distribution of products for the marine OEM, aftermarket and industrial markets, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Ronstan, a leading Australian manufacturer of high-quality sailing equipment founded in 1953 and headquartered in Braeside, Victoria. Ronstan is renowned for its expertise in the design and manufacture of blocks, winches, track systems and other essential equipment for sailing, boating and water sports.
The Wichard Group owns prestigious brands (Wichard, Profurl, Sparcraft, Facnor, Lorima, Peguet/Maillon Rapid and Courant), enabling it to offer a wide range of products: aluminium and carbon masts, marine and industrial fittings, sail furling systems, ropes and PPE, customized parts for industry.
• Wanted: Bruce Jeffries
A production crew is trying to find a Canadian Sailor named Bruce Jeffries. He appears in the film The Pacific Challenge which was made in 1973. The film is about a group of raftsmen who cross the pacific, and Bruce and his wife and four children briefly encounter the rafts at sea in their boat named The Seeker. If you have any contact information for the Bruce Jeffries family, please contact communications@sailing.ca.
• LORC will host its annual Awards Reception and Sailing Season Celebration on November 23 at 7:00 pm in the Model Room at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club. Register here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/rcyc1/lorcawardsreception
• Congratulations to coach Steve McBride, one of the 94 coaches who receive the 2023 Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Awards. These awards spotlight coaches who have supported their athletes to a medal-winning performance at a world championships event, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, or the Special Olympics World Games. For Steve, this award if for his work with John McRoberts and Scott Lutes’ silver medal at the 2023 Sailing World Championships. More details: https://coach.ca/top-national-coaching-honors-awarded-gerry-peckham-and-nathalie-brochu-2023-petro-canada-sport
