The 2011 MLA Sailing Regatta was hosted by Beaumaris Yacht Club (BYC) on Lake Muskoka on Sunday July 31st, where over 60 sailors participated in the day, racing in 36 sailboats.

A strong audience of race coaches, instructors, parents and other observers watched the racing action. Race day began with a noon Skippers meeting, followed by 3 races for 7 classes of sailboats. New this year was the Laser Pico class, a relatively new youth boat for kids ages 10-13 who have mastered the Pram or Opti and are getting ready for the transition to the Club 420.

The largest keel boat regatta in Canada, hosted by the Chester Yacht Club, hits the starting line at noon on Wednesday, August 10th. The official opening ceremonies will commence in front of the Club at 9:00 am. The chair of Chester Race Week, Dr. John Curry will officiate. Gerald Keddy MP for South Shore-St. Margaret’s will bring greetings from the federal government as will dignitaries from local governments. As the club burgee is hoisted to the yardarm by the commodore Don McAlpine, the very loud starting cannon will declare CRW 2011 launched.

Dr. Curry stated 'with a fleet of over 132 yachts already pre-registered this regatta may well be one of the largest ever.

Nine teams complete for coveted York/Stolz Cup Match Race held at RCYC August 6-7 on the waters of Toronto Harbour.

Held in Sonars, these nine teams from Canada and the US completed a full round robin of 36 races on Saturday August 6th. Event organizer David Jarvis, provided excellent racing, equipment, and hospitality with Chris Cook rounding out the team as the Principal Race Officer.

Moving into Sunday Peter Wickwire lead the group with a flawless 8 wins, followed by Steve Lowry, and then a three way tie for third with Terry McLaughlin, Magnus Sandberg,

With the 2012 London Olympic games right around the corner, the Third Annual Buddy Melges Challenge has taken on even greater importance. Hosted by Sail Sheboygan, one of four US Sailing Centers, the Challenge is expected to draw teams from around the world to the shores of Lake Michigan, August 22nd through the 27th.

The Buddy Melges Challenge is one of just four ISAF Grade 1 women’s match racing events in the country. Contested using the new Olympic-designated Elliott 6m boats, most of the international field of competitors will use this regatta as a springboard to potential Olympic success.

The national unveiling of two stamps Monday, commemorating the three-peat Harmsworth Trophy win by Miss Supertest III, capped off a very successful celebratory weekend in Picton.

The Canadian hydroplane Miss Supertest III captured her third Harmsworth Trophy just kilometres away from the 50th anniversary show site of Loch Sloy Holdings (the former Camp Picton) which donated a hangar for the event.

Dignitaries in attendance included MP Prince Edward Hastings Daryl Kramp, MPP Prince Edward-Hastings Leona Dombrowsky, Prince Edward County Mayor Peter Mertens and members of county council.

Brant Beach, NJ was home to the 2011 Laser and Laser Radial North American Championships, July 12th -15th, and also home for several Canadian athletes during this event. Ontario was well represented, having 15 athletes competing in the Laser class and 11 athletes competing in the Laser Radial class.
 
The venue consisted of extremely shallow waters with several weedy patches patches for the athletes to avoid across the race course. Day 1 consisted of three races for both the fleets and included moderate breeze from the West, South West with fairly large shifts and immobile patches of pressure spread across the course.

The Chicago Yacht Club's 103rd Race to Mackinac, presented by Veuve Clicquot—Hearing that it’s windy and rainy is one thing. Hearing that water is vaporizing all around you is a completely different tale of horror.

Tim Prophit, owner and co-skipper of Fast Tango, an North American 40 out of the Bayview Yacht Club, and his crew have seen the other side. In fact, their descriptions of the 'strobing' lightning and 'white water everywhere' are on an entirely different level than anything that racing sailors in North America have seen in many, many decades.

Having completed notifications of the next of kin, as well as debriefing immediate family members regarding the details of the search, the Coast Guard is officially releasing the names of those boaters who died and those who were rescued this morning in Lake Michigan.

Deceased are: Suzanne Bickel, age 41; and Mark Morley, 51, both of Saginaw, Mich.

Rescued were: Christopher Cummings, age 16; John Dent, 50; Stan Dent, 51; Peter Morley, 47; Stewart Morley, 15; and Lee Purcell, 46.

YachtWorld.com, the world’s largest Internet yacht brokerage portal and a division of Dominion Enterprises, is partnering with the Yacht Broker Association of America to co-present two more Yacht Brokerage Universities (YBU): Mississauga, Ontario on August 4 and Seabrook, TX on August 11. Canadian Yachting and Boating Ontario are also providing industry support for the Yacht Brokerage University in Ontario.

Preparations for the 2011 Lake Ontario 300 are well underway as boats continue to register for this challenging and exciting race. Last year the fleet was hit with severe storms early on forcing many to retire. Most of these boats are returning this year to complete the course and 'deal with unfinished business'.

The race begins on Saturday July 16th and the participants will race in a range of categories including, single handed, double handed and fully crewed divisions. Boats competing vary from fast, sleek 40 foot sleds to more traditional racer-cruisers and multi-hulls.

Boating for the Cure is a daylong family style poker run around the Muskoka Lakes raising funds
equally for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and Prostate Cancer Canada.

In November of 2010 we set a goal of raising $100 000 in the 2011 event. With a lot of hard work from
many sponsors, participants and donors we were able to reach our goal and raise just over $102 000.
We started the fundraising off with a boat auction in January raising over $38 000 and kept the ball
rolling with help from our sponsors.

Through on air advertisements, an auction and PSAs the Evanov Radio Group raised over $21 000.

LADIES ONLY! This is an opportunity to learn how to be comfortable behind the helm of your boat.

Join us at the second annual LADIES AT THE HELM and spend some time learning the basic handling skills that will make you more able at the helm and give you a better understanding of how to manoeuvre a pleasure boat.

Our expert instructors, on beautiful Sea Ray boats – both single engine and twin engine with Axius – Joystick technology, will make docking and general operation a much less daunting task and, with some practice, there’s no reason for you not to feel comfortable in taking your friends out for an afternoon on the water.

Skyline Marina's Aquapalooza 2011 event is fast approaching!!! On July 23, from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM please join the Skyline Team for an ON-WATER PARTY at Papoose Bay, located on the southern end of Beausoleil Island, Georgian Bay. Water Access Only Coordinates 44.847563N 79.858332W

AQUAPALOOZA is an invitation to ALL boaters and promises to be a fun-filled family day on the water with water activities for the kids and fantastic prize giveaways.

Nels Moxness, President, Velux Canada and avid supporter and dear friend officially welcomed Derek back to Canada yesterday after he successfully finished the 2010/2011 Velux 5 Oceans Race. Unlike Derek's competitors, Derek's Spirit of Canada Campaign has raised the funds to support this campaign one kilometer, one supporting name on deck and one dollar at a time. Although amazing donations consistently flowed in from friends of the Spirit of Canada Campaign, the significant contribution from Active House made Derek's latest entry possible. (Active House is a vision of buildings that create healthier and more comfortable lives for their occupants without negative impact on the climate – moving us towards a cleaner, healthier and safer world.)

Just a quick reminder to everyone that this Saturday, June 11th, is Dealer Day and Flea Market at Bay Port.

The tables will be set up at 8:00am in the parking lot.

Come and see what new gadgets and products our suppliers have this year and bring all of your treasures to sell and trade.

The Archives and Collections Society announces its summer exhibition The History of Yachting from June 11 – August 4, 2011. This year's exhibition will be showcasing the art of famous yacht designers and illustrating how their designs evolved. Paintings by members of the Canadian Society of Marine Artists, together with numerous prints and photographs will be displayed, highlighting some of the famous and important sailing yachts that were innovative over the last one hundred years.