We are pleased to announce GILL® has been selected as the official technical apparel supplier to the Canadian Yachting Association and the Canadian Sailing Team. GILL® will be supplying members of the Canadian Sailing Team with branded podium apparel and technical sailing gear.

In addition to supplying the Canadian Sailing Team, CYA will be providing GILL® apparel to coaches and officials. The CYA's Executive Director, Paddy Boyd says "CYA is delighted to welcome Gill aboard.

The 42 sailors who participated in August's Mobility Cup, held at the Pointe Claire Yacht Club near Montreal, may not have been expecting a galvanizing event. But that's precisely what it was for many of them.

The experience was so motivating for Richard Dionne of Moncton, N.B., for instance, that he's vowed to train for the 2012 Paralympics in London.

What does Ashbridge's Bay Yacht Club in Toronto have in common with the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, Nepean Sailing Club, Britannia Yacht Club and Kelowna Yacht Club? Each has done a fabulous job of hosting the annual CYA Women's National Keelboat Championship. This event occurs annually and is open to yacht clubs across Canada that are willing and able to host the event. This year, from September 11-14, ABYC played host to 27 all-female teams of sailors racing on Sharks. A strong volunteer committee led by Janice Sharpe of ABYC organized this year's event that started off with a day of onshore and offshore training.

Saturday morning finally comes; I have been rolling and tossing all night with much anticipation for the annual Solmar Lake Ontario 300 race. I kiss my family goodbye and head for the club. However, as I near the entrance, I gasp at my first sight of the lake; actually, I gasped because I couldn't even see the lake. Thick fog just sat there; not even a whisper of wind to push it out of the way. As a member of the organizing committee, I start to panic.

Every year for one glorious week in January, sailors from all over the world gather in the laid back town of Florida's Key West. This year the event was host to 260 boats from 18 different countries. There were 16 fleets in total, eight of which were one design fleets with the likes of Farr 40's, Mumm 30's and the largest fleet in the regatta Melges 24's competing. The other classes were the Melges 32, J/105, J/80, Swan 42, and the Corsair 28R. There was also a large number of handicapped racing, as well PHRF fleets 1 through 6 and the IRC 1 and 2 had some fierce competition.

So just what exactly qualifies as "serious fun" you ask?

To truly experience "serious fun" you just have to have encountered it. And with the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, you only need to try it once and you'll be hooked.

Our boat heels and bow waves crash over her. She rides the waves like a rollercoaster gone berserk. Spray like shards of glass glitters in the tropical sunlight.

"High side," yells the skipper, a seaman from Petit Martinique with the evocative name of Emmanuel Bethel.

We scramble to starboard while "Savvy" overtakes another boat. It's stocky instead of graceful, solid instead of sleek. But it, too, slices the sea.

Once in a lifetime, opportunities are sometimes easy to miss. I have been volunteering for Spirit of Canada for several years, so when I got the chance to go to the start of the Vendee Globe, I saw my chance and took it; missing this event wasn't an option.

A tough start to the 30,000-mile round the world race saw CSM's yacht Spartan cross the line in last place, plagued with minor breakages. But CSM, an experienced sailor fresh from leading a crew of 18 in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, has since settled into life at sea, clawing back miles on the rest of the fleet to move into second position.

Sail Parry Sound coaches Andrew Parkes and Stephen Winkworth are the 2010 recipients of the Vic and Hazel Carpenter Award for Sailing Excellence.

The award presented September 18 at Sail Parry Sound's annual general meeting, recognizes the pair's outstanding summer sailing season.

After receiving the award, Parkes and Winkwork then went on to represent Sail Parry Sound at the prestigious CORK Fall Regatta September 25 and 26 in Kingston, where they had an impressive second place finish in the 420 class. They were first in two of the four races held on the Saturday.

Velux 5 Oceans – AND they're off! With the sun shining brightly and a fresh breeze blowing, the five international skippers in the Velux 5 Oceans blasted across the start line beginning a 30,000-mile adventure around the globe.

It was the start of an epic voyage for the ocean racers, during which they will sail their 60ft Eco 60 yachts across five oceans through some of the best – and worst – conditions known to man. Thousands of people flocked to the Velux 5 Oceans race village in La Rochelle, France, to watch the brave men depart on their adventure.

Many of us just dream about sailing the clear, turquoise waters of the Bahamas or Caribbean. Many of this year's speakers have done just that and will share their experiences for seasoned boaters and those who are just starting to dream.

From learning to sail, buying your first boat, taking the cruise, anchoring or heading the boat south for the winter or longer – the Port Credit- In-Water Boat Show 2010 has something for every boater. There are 19 seminars held over the 3 days.

For those of you who are unable to be in Chester for Race Week, be sure to follow the excitement this week, starting tonight at the Rope Loft, in Chester, one of Mike Lovett's favourite bars. It is quiet now,
just a few sailors rehashing last year's judges' decisions. And if you are lucky enough to be in Chester and to be racing here is some advice:

Great wind made for ideal conditions to run a double round robin, comprising 36 races, for the nine skippers competing for the Grade 3 York Cup Match Race at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club on Saturday, August 7th. Hats off to Chris Cook, the PRO, for his expert race management over the weekend with course changes, square lines and perfectly timed races.

This summer the sparkling blue waters of Georgian Bay will come alive with brightly coloured international flags flying from traditional French gigs as Midland welcomes the world to its shores for Atlantic Challenge Canada's (ACC) International Contest of Seamanship July 24-31.

Centred in Southern Georgian Bay since 1992 this unique experiential education program has been teaching kids leadership and teamwork skills using the 38-foot boats.

Perfect conditions greeted the start of World Cruising Club's transatlantic sailing rally ARC Europe yesterday, as the fleet crossed the start line just off Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola, at midday local time.