Canada competes at the 6th World University Match Racing Championship

by Landon Gardner on 15 Sep 2012 CICSA selected two teams for the first time Canadian representation at the World University Match Racing Championship in Nice, France. Skippers were Lance Fraser of Queen’s University Match Racing, with his Queen’s Crew: Roby Douglas, Clifton Kartner and Oliver Neal; and Landon Gardner skippering Canada II (McMaster University), and combined school crew of Jason Hearst (University of Toronto), Michael Hasko (University of Guelph) and Nick Kroeger (Algonquin College).

Both teams have worked extremely hard over the past eight months. First there were team applications, and then came the training plan and regatta schedule; fundraising, execution of the training and regatta schedule, gear orders, logistic management and finally the attendance at the WUC which finished up last Saturday (September 8). The teams have really put an incredible amount into this.

The group performed impressively over the summer, collectively attending ten North American Match Racing events, and were able to balance the demands required of a student-athlete which are challenging due to full-time work and part-time sailing.

Queen’s Match Racing (Fraser) finished 11th and Canada II (Gardner) finished 17th. The results were not as good as the teams hoped; nonetheless the athletes should be quite proud for what they have accomplished, considering all the obstacles which were overcome over the last eight months and the huge amount they have taken from this experience. CICSA is incredibly impressed with your representation of Canada and we look forward to seeing you at the National Championships this year!

Special thanks are needed for the support provided by Annie Mitchell from National Yacht Club, and Jordan Saints from Bermuda, both acted as team leaders throughout the campaign. This would not have been possible without you, thanks!