Canadian Women's Championship - Shaw wins

by J/Boats on 5 Sep 2013 The Sail Canada Women's Keelboat Championships are held annually at member clubs. The venue rotates around the country and is selected based on availability of a fleet of one design keelboats for use by competitors. For 2013, the regatta was co-hosted by Bedford Basin Yacht Club and the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.

The three day Championship - sailed in J/22s - saw forty women participate from Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Ontario and Manitoba. From a historical perspective, it has been the most successful Women's Canadian Keelboat championships held to date.

J/22 women's sailing team- at Sail Canada nationalsThe regatta saw many top women's teams from across Canada participate with everyone having an equal chance at the overall championship due to the regatta format. Everyone had a chance to sail different, equalized, boats each day to make it fun and challenging for all whom participated.

The results were close after the first two days of racing in Herring Cove with fabulous suPenguin hopping out of the waternny days with fairly steady winds from the north 10-15 knots. At the time, first place was Michele Cimon from NYC with 7.0 points, second was Cathy Shaw from RNSYS 7.0 pts and third Karen Fowler from BBYC with 14 pts. Then, the teams all looked forward to a Saturday evening celebration.

Saturday night was considered 'The Night' for most teams. The famously fun 'Hopping Penguins' dance and celebration on the deck of the Royal Nova Scotia Cathy Shaw's winning J/22 Canadian women's team Yacht quadron's deck was off the charts-- plus it was free!

Light breeze and sunny skies on Sunday saw the last of nine races with the top three on the podium going to Cathy Shaw and team from RNSYS-- crowned as the new Canadian Women's Champion, second place to Michele Cimon of Nepean Yacht Club and third to Karen Fowler from BBYC.