Canadian Sailing in 2012 Olympics

Canada qualified boats for the 2012 London Summer Olympics in the classes it entered at the at the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Perth, Australia in which they entered boats: RS:X (women's windsurfing), Radial (women's one-person dinghy), Finn (men's one-man dinghy /heavyweight) and 470 (men's two-man dinghy). The sailors chosen to represent Canada next summer is still to be determined.

Richard Clarke and Tyler Bjorn have qualified Canada and themselves in Star class at the world sailing championships off Fremantle, Australia.

The eleven Olympic sailing events are: Neilpride RX:S men and women, Laser Men, Laser Radial women, Finn men, 470 men, 470 women, 49er, Star & Women's Match Racing. The Paralympic events are the Sonar and 2.4m and SKUD-18.

Hatfield takes 3rd in Velux 5 Oceans

Derek Hatfield, Canada's top solo sailor, took third place in the 30,000-mile 2010/11 Velux 5 Oceans solo round the world yacht race. The 58-year-old sailed the 60-foot Active House across the finish line at 0707 UTC on May 29 in La Rochelle, France. Derek sailed a total of 32,216 miles which took 130 days, 17 hours, 42 minutes. Derek edged out Chris Stanmore-Major for 3rd place overall by only 3 points in the world's toughest sailing race.

Derek is the only Canadian to have sailed solo around the world twice. In the 2002/3 Velux 5 Oceans, his yacht was capsized and the mast lost rounding Cape Horn, but he managed to repair the boat and finished the race. In 2008 he raced in the Vendée Globe but he had to retire when his yacht's rig was damaged.

Derek said, "This was a huge project, two years in preparation and then nine months of sailing and to get it all done is amazing. The sense of accomplishment is huge. It will sink in a bit later when we're tied to the dock and able to relax a bit, but right now it feels good. ... It's my third race round the world, and my second complete circumnavigation. It feels good to be representing Canada and the flag, and that's what it's all about for us."

Canada loves you too Derek!
[www.velux5oceans.com]

2 Canadian Golds at ISAF Sailing World Cup

Canada got reward from its star performers with top-10 ranked Michael Leigh (Royal Vancouver Yacht Club) collecting first in Laser class. Paul Tingley (Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron) showed why he’s the reigning Paralympic Champion with a hard-fought win in the 2.4mR event. [www.sailing.org]

Tingley wins Bronze in 2.4-metre Worlds

Halifax sailor Paul Tingley, will return to Canada with a bronze from the 2.4-metre world championships, which ended Friday in Florida. Tingley who won gold at the 2008 Paralympics in China, sails out of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.

Canadians excel in 2008 Paralympics

Canada's athletes have won 50 medals at the Paralympic Games in Beijing, China - with 19 gold, 10 silver, and 21 bronze. Canada rated 7th in gold and tenth overall out of 148 countries.

The Sailing team won 3 medals. Paul Tingley (Halifax NS) won gold in 1P keelboat (2.4mR), the first sailing gold in a Paralympic games. John Scott McRoberts (Victoria, BC) and Stacie Louttit (Victoria, BC) won bronze in 2P keelboat.

The Swimming team won 21 medals. In Women's 200m individual medley, Chelsey Gotell (Antigonish, NS) won gold with a new world record with 5 medals overall. Kirby Cote (Winnipeg, MB) and Valerie Grand'Maison (Montreal, QC), with 5 medals, were second and third. The three won again in the women's 100m butterfly, but in a different order. Stephanie Dixon (Victoria, BC) with 4 medals, won gold in the women's 100-metre backstroke and broke her own world record. Benoit Huo won 3 medals, and Anne Polinario won a gold. [2008 Paralympics | Canada - 2008 Paralympics ]

Canadian Sailor enters SolOceans Race

Phil Paxton has officially announced he will enter the first ever SolOceans® solo around-the-world sailing competition. The race will begin on October 25, 2009 and feature competitors from around the world. What makes the SolOceans race unique is that all competitors race using Veolia Oceans® one-design Bostik 16-metre sailboats with identical sails and equipment. Paxton is currently seeking sponsors, including a title sponsor to name the boat.

Phil Paxton has made several solo oceanic voyages starting in 1979. He's crossed every ocean at least once, and spent two years cruising the South Pacific with his family. This will be the first time Paxton has attempted to sail solo around the world – a venture requiring skill and endurance. Paxton just sailed from France to New York aboard the first boat built for the race, identical to the vessel he will be sailing.
[www.soloceans.com | www.globalsails.ca]

Canadian Sailing Team for Olympics

The Canadian Yachting Association (CYA) announced its sailing team of 14 for 8 events in the Summer Beijing Olympics Games (sailing events will be held at Qingdao, China). Several are favoured to win medals. Chris Cook has four consecutive top 10 finishes in the finn worlds and is ranked 10th by the International Sailing Federation: Olympics. Mike Leigh won the 2008 Semaine Olympique Francais and is ranked fifth in the world. Oskar Johansson and Kevin Stittle were second at the Tornado World Championships and are currently ranked seventh. Members of the Canadian Olympic sailing team are:

• Finn: Chris Cook, Toronto
  
• Laser: Mike Leigh, Vancouver
• Tornado: Oskar Johansson, Toronto - Kevin Stittle, Orangeville, Ont.
• 49er: Gordon Cook , Toronto - Ben Remocker, Vancouver
  
• Radial: Lisa Ross, Halifax
  
• Windsurfing: Zac Plavsic - Nikola Girke, Vancouver;
  
• 470: Stephane Locas , Montreal - Oliver Bone, Beaconsfield, Que.
  
• yngling: Jen Provan, Toronto - Martha Henderson, Toronto - Katie Abbott, Sarnia, Ont.