Its been no vacation for our Paralympic Sailors this weekend. All three fleets have completed a 6 of 11 races already.  The event started on Saturday and they now have three days of racing completed with three more to go. 2.4M – Our Gold Medalist for Beijing – Paul Tingley – has shown some flashes of brilliance but has really been having a tough event.  His is sitting in 5th overall with 5 races to go.  With 30 points, he is only 10 points out of 3rd but it will not be an easy margin to make up.  So far his finishes have been 6, 7, 2, 10,9, and 6.

The London 2012 Paralympic Games are set to get underway tomorrow. Over the past few days, the Canadian Paralympic Sailing team has had training, measuring, opening ceremonies and now a practice race under their belts. It has been a very busy week and year for sure but the preparation is now done! There were a variety of conditions for practice racing with the SKUD and 2.4's sailing in the morning race. Winds ranged from very light, three knots up to 8-10kts with 90 degrees of compass change. The team looked strong on the water today helping them get rid of the jitters before tomorrow.

The Canadian Yachting Association is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Cook to the new position of Development Team Manager. Chris is a high performing Finn sailor who finished 5th in the 2008 Olympic Games and had numerous , podium finishes at International and North American based championships including a recent Bronze Medal finish at the World Cup Event in Palma in 2012. Chris was on target to compete in his 2nd games this year until struck by illness in the final trial. His immediate support for his fellow Finn sailor, Greg Douglas, who benefitted most from Chris’s withdrawal, was a display of his high quality sportsmanship.

Paul Tingley isn't in London to "defend" his Paralympic Games sailing title. Make no mistake about it – the 42-year-old from Halifax believes he's more than capable of repeating as the champion of the 2.4mR class he mastered in 2008 in Beijing. He's done everything possible to get ready for his fourth Paralympic competition, including training with Swedish coach Stellan Berlin in waters off the English coast to prepare himself for the conditions he'll face in the days to come. But defence doesn't seem to be in the playbook of the sailor nicknamed The Gambler in some circles for his penchant for taking risks – many of which tend to pay off in a big way.

“The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” When he spoke these words, Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin, recognized as the founder of the modern Olympic Games, could not have envisaged that the initial event with nine sports and 14 nations would grow to include 33 sports, 200 nations, and 13,000 athletes. Nor could he have foreseen the multi-million dollar industry that the Olympics would become or that the triumph would become more important than the struggle – at least in the eyes of those who provide the majority of funding.

Only 2 days before the Paralympics kick off and the Canadians are well prepared! The sailing Canadian Paralympic Sailors team have arrived in Weymouth and had a few days to practice with their competition to get their boats completely tuned and ready to race. Team Leader Brian Todd sends in a report as of Sunday.

The rain stopped and the sun came out in Weymouth today, which set up for an excellent day of training. The Sonar, Skud and 2.4 all spent a full day on the water in one of the few remaining days to get the boat and rig tuned and ready for the Games.

Chester Race Week ended with glorious sun and good wind. The competitors were happy with the race management and the evening parties, which didn't start until 9:30 and were extremely well attended with 3 great local bands and wonderful Dark 'n Stormies at the bar. Sound like fun? Why not put it on your calendar for next year and come on down to Nova Scotia to enjoy the saltwater, great seafood, wonderful hospitality, and fabulous racing in Mahone Bay… a heck of a lot of sailors already do!

Two years ago, I interviewed Amy Minnikin and her mom, Paula, as they had just taken possession of a Ranger 28 that they named Ry’n Sun. They were given this boat by a friend and it was in pretty rough shape. After a lot of hard work and elbow grease, they boat started to come back to life, and the mom/daughter duo started to race together. Today, Amy has started to sail without mom, and has her own crew of dedicated, bright, young women (all between the ages of 15-17) who have banded together as a team to sail Ry’n Sun.

Heading into the last day here at Chester Race Week, there are some very exciting races for first place in both Distance Divisions and the Bravo 1 Division. Yesterday’s weather brought in cloud and sun, but very light winds, which some of the fleet found to be very challenging. However, the leaders always seem to rise to the top. Results heading in the final day of racing have many boats vying neck and neck for trophies and bragging rights.

Chester Race Week made a special announcement to the racers amassed in front of the Chester Yacht Club during the post race debriefing; competing in this year’s regatta were 10 Olympians and one Olympic coach. A loud yell of support and recognition was given by the competitors as the Olympians had their pictures taken in front of CYC. Many of the Olympians were at Chester organizing this big event and many were out there competing.

The 1976 Olympic Soling Team of Andreas Josenhans, Glen Dexter, and Sandy Macmillan, were well represented with Andreas as the Principal Race Officer, Sandy racing on Brilliance (J120), and Glen racing on Odyssey (Swan 57).

Day 2 at Chester Race week saw a nice 10-15 knot breeze in the morning and early afternoon. By the middle of the afternoon, a typical Nova Scotia weather system moved into place with fierce wind and torrential rain. However, the sailors took it all in stride and “weathered” the storm, albeit, coming into the clubhouse a little wet. Most race courses were able to get in at least one race and some three.

This regatta, brings generations of sailors and families together for the week. It is not uncommon to see 2 or 2 generations of sailors on the same boat with junior taking the helm.

Chester, Nova Scotia is once again home to the famous Chester Race Week, being held August 15-18. This race has been in existence for over 100 years, starting originally with fishermen’s sailboats. This year’s registrations are at a healthy 143 boats with the addition of another race course. In sailing circles Chester Race Week is one of the great regattas, full on racing, great parties and the prettiest scenery anywhere! Race Chairman John Curry opened the regatta proclaiming the early morning fog would clear and sure to his word the skies turned blue and a great day of racing took place. ”Conditions couldn’t have been better” said Curry who was on the alpha course, “after a very short delay a fresh southerly breeze came in and delivered a full day of racing”.

We had stronger winds today at 20-25 knots from the SW. Perfect sailing conditions. There was even a little sun 🙂 The courses further from shore have quite large waves in the afternoon as the current from the tide was opposing the wind direction. This made from some fantastic rides for the 470, Finn and Star racing. Tomorrow should be back to the typical 10-15 knot range with possible gusts to 18. The Laser and Radial fleets had a day off today.

CORK/Sail Kingston has been selected to host the 2013 Laser, Laser Radial and Laser 4.7 North American Championships, July 24-28, 2013. The Laser, a Canadian designed dinghy, is the largest dinghy class in the world, with more than 200,000 boats built. Furthermore, both the men’s Laser and the women’s Laser Radial are Olympic class events. The event will attract sailors from all over North America, from youth participants in the Radial and 4.7 to members of the Canadian National Sailing Team. The event is also open to competitors from outside North America.

It's been a long time since Doug Hood, a member of the Port Credit Yacht Club in Mississauga (although Mississauga didn't even exist back then…) offered to dedicate a trophy for an offshore race rating based on a new rating. The year was 1955 and the trophy was named after his baby daughter Susan; the Susan Hood Trophy Race was born. Susan was at PCYC yesterday for a short visit and actually participated not too long ago.

Many of the trophies associated with this great event are older than the yachts and racers who line up on the start line; that is the beauty of sail boat racing.

As a now Honorary but long term member of ABYC, Patrick Lymburner was asked to say something about Jack Cameron, at the christening of the new mark/pin boat named in his honour. Pat was quick to point it that, 'It is not hard to think of the many whose lives were touched by this man, as his contribution to the Sport of Sailing is legendary.'

Jack was an International Judge whose career spanned many years and many World Championships. He was known for his great understanding of the rules and for his strict adherence to proper procedure.