May 23, 2019The Bajan TP52 Zingara (Conviction) set it sails on April 27th for the Peters & May Round Antigua Race chartered by Canadian Richard Reid (National Yacht Club, Toronto), alongside 15 sailors including 11 Canadians.
Competing in a 53-mile race in CSA – Racing 1 against 33 boats, the team was ambitious to get to Antigua to prepare their charter boat and get a feel for the environment. The crew of Zingara arrived for two days of practice before the race.
With winds ranging from 14-16 knots, the sailors were ready to start their journey. Little did they know what was about to happen, Richard comments on the beginning of the race:
“We used a port approach, made our final tack on to starboard several boat length back of the line with about 1:30 until gun, pulled the trigger about 45 seconds out on a nice layline for the starboard side start mark rumbling at roughly 8 knots.
Before we had turned to starboard we knew the Scallywag was well above our line and several lengths back, so when Richard Clarke started talking (okay shouting) to Scallywag still holding a line higher than us but absolutely reaching in at a speed that suggested they had plans. I did not luff up, in fact, I started to steer off but it was too late with about five seconds to go we got covered in their wind shadow, our boat stood up with our crane gaffing their mainsail and then snagging their leeward runner. This became interesting as we were first pulled up hard to starboard and then released as Scallywag’s runner finally failed.”
Once everything settled down, the crew of Zingara continued their race with their rig perfectly intact but driving blind as their masthead fly and wind instruments were gone. Continuing the race with only their knowledge and an iPad, the team finished 1st in their fleet, Line Honours and 1st Overall.
Sail Canada’s Sailor of the Month award acknowledges sailing achievements by Canadians involved or associated with the sport in all its forms. Sail Canada encourages the submission of noteworthy Canadian sailing activities to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Related Articles

Sail-In Cinema™ Movies Announced For August 2013
Wednesday, 07 August 2013 11:42Canada's floating movie experience, Sail-In Cinema™ is back at the water's edge with a line up of 1980s favourites chosen by the public; the theme for this year's movies is 'Heroes of the Silver...

Boat-Shopping at the Shows
Tuesday, 21 January 2014 09:35If you are new to boating, how do you start searching for the right boat at boat shows? We put the question to yacht brokers east and west.The benefit of the boat shows is that they allow buyers to...

A Summer’s Day on the Credit
Tuesday, 20 August 2013 15:10Three boys, a homebuilt raft and a slow-moving river, launch a lifelong love of boats and the water. After owning our Spencer 35 sailboat for almost 30 years, Anne and I recently sold her with the...

World’s First Two-Sided Floating Movie Experience Returns
Thursday, 29 May 2014 12:46Toronto Port Authority Transforms Sugar Beach into City’s Largest Outdoor Theatre.

Call for Nominations to the Sail Canada Board of Directors
Thursday, 08 May 2014 11:49The Nominating Committee of Sail Canada is calling for nominations from interested individuals who are prepared to help shape the future of the sport of Sailing in Canada. Candidates for election to...

Sail-In Cinema™ Movies Announced For August 2013
Wednesday, 07 August 2013 11:42Canada's floating movie experience, Sail-In Cinema™ is back at the water's edge with a line up of 1980s favourites chosen by the public; the theme for this year's movies is 'Heroes of the Silver...
Boat Reviews
Video Gallery
X Shore EELEX 8000
By Andy Adams
100% Electric performance available now
When we arranged to interview the designer and manufacturer to write a profile of the X Shore Eelex 8000 for the June 2021 issue of Canadian Yachting magazine, it was on the understanding that we always prefer to actually drive and experience the boats we write about, and we were especially keen to drive the X Shore when BCI Marine here in Canada, got their first boat from Sweden.
There has been a lot of media attention around everything electric lately, especially electric vehicles, but so far, most electric boats are a concept, not yet a reality. The X Shore Eelex 8000 is a reality and a very impressive one at that.
Beneteau Oceanis 34.1
By Zuzana Prochazka
Boats have been in high demand for the past two years and there’s no sign of this easing. Sailboats, that can move with the power of the wind, have made an especially significant comeback probably because of the high prices of fuel.
Even more interesting is the increased interest in smaller models that have been doing well at recent boat shows. These compact cruisers have definitely held their own even among the 50-foot behemoths at the docks. A good example of this is Beneteau’s new Oceanis 34.1, the second smallest in the line.
Destinations
Cowichan Bay—A Slow-Living Escape to Marine Heritage, Food and Local Artisanry
Text and Photos by Marianne Scott
Cowichan Bay is a waterfront village with a row of shops, artisan products, marine supplies and a variety of places to eat. It also has a delightful Maritime Centre. You can easily spend a day or more here at one of three marinas hosting transient moorage. The place feels like an old-fashioned fishing village.
We arrived at this quaint hamlet on a calm day when the sun burned off twists of mist and created undulating oval diamonds on the wavelets. From the water, the village looks enticing with its dense jumble of colourful character buildings, float homes and houses-on-stilts lining the coast.
Lifestyle
By Sarah Hurst
Photo: Nadine Bastien | Instagram: @ravensfeatherphotography
Last month, Canadian Country Singer Brian John Hardwood, released his new single “Rich”, featuring fellow Canadian artists Alli Walker and Chris Labelle. Brian describes his new single as a 2022 Summer Anthem for everyone- including those who also daydream about getting “rich”! He said in our interview, “You know, I should be rich by now but I’m not, and life is still great.”
We were especially excited to hear that Brian who directed the music video with AJ Astle, decided to film at Centre Island on a luxurious Pilot House Carver 59’, which he rented from a local charter in Toronto.
Read More
DIY & How to
Choosing a Marine Surveyor
Story and photos by Timothy J.S. Martin
It seems like everyone has their “guy”, usually a marine surveyor they either know personally or have been referred to by another boater (or someone in the marine or insurance industries). Marine surveyors are often hired based on this type of referral, rather than on the merits of their qualifications and skills.
I often hear boaters express their displeasure about an experience where a marine surveyor “condemned” a boat, or the surveyor was viewed as unreasonable in relation to their recommendations. As a result, surveyors known to be less thorough and less detailed in their work tend to be favoured by boaters, especially for insurance surveys.
Marine Products
SeaKits now available in Canada via Canadian Yachting Ecommerce Store
Don’t let offshore emergencies turn into disasters. SeaKits help to prepare you for emergencies at sea so you can take on the challenge with confidence.
There are three SeaKits available at www.canadianyachting.ca/store:
• SeaKits Expedition - Offshore emergency damage control and repair kit. Be prepared to save your boat - SeaKits Expedition gives you the tools to fight the battle. Each kit comes with more than two dozen emergency tools in a waterproof PelicanTM 1500 case. Retail - $1399.99
News
SailGP, the international racing series featuring high speed F50 wingsailed catamarans, is partnering with RS Electric Boats – sister brand of sailboat manufacturer RS Sailing – to use the Pulse 63 electric RIB as chase, coach and support boats.
RS Electric Boats will supply SailGP with four Pulse 63s, which were designed to be electric boats from the outset. The unique aerodynamic hull form is designed to support the weight of the batteries while allowing rapid acceleration, functional speeds up to 23 knots and ample range.