Actually “Living the Dream“

Living The Dream

Nov 23, 2016

Living the dream may sound like an overused phrase but at this time in my life it is absolutely true. My earliest and fondest childhood memories are not about time at the family cottage or playing with friends in the backyard; they all are connected to sailing. I was fortunate enough to have wonderful parents that were very active at Ashbridges Bay Yacht Club in the east end of Toronto. Their years of involvement in all aspects of the club activities paved the way for me to try and follow their lead.

Working my way up through the ranks of the junior sailing program then instructing for several years was very satisfying and went a long way in developing my social and sailing skills. When I made the leap to keel boat racing I was fortunate enough to be asked to crew aboard Majisti with Chuck Bentley and his dedicated crew from National Yacht Club. I got seriously sidetracked from the Toronto racing scene when I signed on with the Ontario Provincial Police for 30 years, but my dreams persisted. I bought my first windsurfer, did some cruising on Lake Superior in the Nipigon area and built my first home in my spare time back in the 80’s.

Then fast forward 35 years. I’m currently on board Faraway, a Beneteau 50, in Tanger Morocco and heading to Las Palmas for the start of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers.

For more details of this sailor’s dreams be sure to catch the first editions of CYOnboard in 2017!

 

Video Gallery

Neptunus 650F Review

Neptunus 650F 400

By Andy Adams

Over the years Canadian Yachting has had the pleasure of doing several boat review articles on new Neptunus models and we are familiar with the qualities that Neptunus is famous for. They have all been exceptional yachts, but this is the one I would most want to own myself. It’s a personal choice and a matter of taste as to whether you would prefer to have a sedan express model or a flybridge but in my opinion, the flybridge layout offers some wonderful attributes.

We met with Neptunus Managing Director Jan Willem De Jong this past fall to take the new Neptunus 650F out in Lake Ontario. 

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Destinations

The Other Virgin Islands

Sunset off St John

By Mark Stevens

I was first seduced by the United States Virgin Islands during a ferry ride from St. Thomas to Tortola to begin one of our earliest British Virgin Islands charters nearly twenty years ago.

A perfect sunset off St. John with St. Thomas views for backdrop.

Clearing Pillsbury Sound, surrounded by voluptuous emerald mountains as the ferry sliced through royal blue waters, I was struck by the unspoiled ambiance of St. John, the island gliding past our starboard beam and the irresistible charm of a village called Cruz Bay visible from our quarter stern.

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Lifestyle