Spring Thaw Luncheon Blooms Again

April 5, 2023

Spring Thaw Luncheon speaker was CAN Sail GP’s Billy Gooderham

The Spring Thaw Luncheon had been a part of the season for GTA boaters for many years until the passing of its founder and key organizer, Marjorie Patterson. The Luncheon’s goal was to celebrate boating and importantly as a fundraiser for boating causes including Toronto Brigantine and OSA’s BOOM Program.

Just before Covid, Broad Reach Canada undertook to resurrect the tradition and the Spring Thaw Luncheon was held at its traditional venue, Toronto’s Boulevard Club overlooking Lake Ontario. That event was followed by another lockdown hiatus, bringing us to Friday March 31 when a very successful Spring Thaw Luncheon was held.

The attendees were impressed by Billy’s presentation

Once again, the Boulevard Club was the site of the event with CAN Sail GP’s flight controller, Billy Gooderham, as the star guest speaker. Gooderham presented the nearly 200 boaters on hand a complete close-up of the Sail GP campaign, introducing the program, and the Canadian crew and boat. His presentation then included a visit inside his “office” with an explanation of just what his role as flight controller entails. The room was in awe of this impressive inside look at high tech, high speed international catamaran racing. There was a lot of applause and Gooderham was generous with his time to answer questions and take photos with the group.

Broad Reach Canada President, Charles Waterman received donations right at the event

The motivation for the event was to restore it to the annual calendar as well as to build awareness for Broad Reach Canada, an organization dedicated to inspiring youth through sailing. Through its efforts, the foundation undertakes to share experiences with thousands of youth across the country and act on our collective responsibility to our oceans, lakes and rivers.

Broad Reach also took the opportunity to thank the community organizations that assist by providing support in various ways including National Yacht Club, which has been its base for many years, Toronto are clubs that help including Ashbridges Bay YC, Mimico Cruising Club, Queen City YC, Port Credit YC, Boulevard Club as well as Outer Harbour Marina and Canadian Yachting Media, which have also contributed.

Thanks to this Broad Reach initiative, the Spring Thaw Luncheon will continue as an annual beginning of the season tradition.

Billy Gooderham took time for photo ops with supporters!