Please select your home edition
Edition
Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS Leaderboard

Toronto International Boat Show - SailFest Review

by Guy Perrin on 11 Jan 2010
Archambault display at the 2010 Toronto International Boat Show Guy Perrin http://sail-world.com
While the sun is shining in Toronto this week-end, a quick look at the windchill factor of -12 C provides a welcome excuse to spend some indoor time at the Toronto International Boat Show. The show caters to all forms of on-water activities, whether you are cottager shopping for a new ski boat for the family, an avid angler hoping to acquire a faster bass boat or a retired couple considering cruising the Trent-Severn Waterway, the show has a vessel to suit your taste. Kids will also enjoy the largest indoor lake complete with wakeboarding demonstrations and Duma, the waterskiing Jack Russell Terrier.


This first review will focus on the SailFest area, catering to all sailors. Those who know me will attest to the fact I am usually attracted to performance sailing vessels first; I was very pleased to the introduction of new names to the Canadian sailing scenes at TIBS. Competition Yachts is the new local dealer for French Archambault manufacturer; they are proudly displaying the powerful IRC winner A40 RC, the popular A35 and the new A31. All Archmbault are advertised as the future generation of sailboats, powerful boats with spacious interiors. The 40 and 35 footer have been dominating the european racing scene for the past few years and are slowly gaining popularity in North America. Also new this year is the introduction of the Viper 640 by Ottawa's Advantage Boating; the Viper 640 is a modern design and construction 21’ sportsboat; it combines the stiffness of a keelboat with the acceleration and planing ability usually associated with dinghies. This boat will appeal to a very wide audience, from families to hard-core one-design racers.



Other performance vessels on display include the Jeanneau SunFast 3200; this yacht will appeal to short-handed racers with it’s ergonomic cockpit and dual rudder design. The C&C 115 is also available for viewing; there is already a small fleet of these scattered throughout yacht clubs in the Greater Toronto Area. The J/80 class association also has a boat on display. Those who don’t mind getting wet will find an amazing assortment of dinghies ranging from family dayboats, including vessels like the Norseboat, that are reminiscent of a bygone era to olympic class racers to plastic entry level dinghies for kids. The array of sail and hull colors in the dinghy zone is fascinating!


The SailFest area is also host to Derek Hatfield’s Spirit of Canada and Diane Reid’s One Girl ocean Challenge campaigns. While Derek has his sight set on the next VELUX 5 Oceans race with some new team gear and news of the ECO 60 Class, Diane is mounting a campaign to participate in the 2011 Mini Transat race. In addition to being in the booth, Derek will be doing presentations about the Vendee Globe and VELUX 5 Oceans Race 2010 on Wednesday at 7pm, Thursday at 2pm, Saturday the 16th at 2pm and Sunday the 17th at 4pm. Diane is attracting a lot of attention with a fully rigged, 21 foot, ocean-going Mini 6.5 yacht in the display area.


Families are also lining up to visit many other sailboats ranging from the mid-twenty to high forty feet; the usual big brands are all there: Hunter, Catalina, Tartan, Hanse, Jeanneau and Beneteau. The SailFest area is also the perfect place if you are in the market for new sails; I don’t recall ever seeing so many different sail makers at the same show.

Keep an eye out for more reviews and comments throughout the week.

sMRT AIS Man Overboard Beacons AUS / NZBarton Marine Pipe GlandsSydney Boat Show 2025 - Apply to Exhibit

Related Articles

Meet the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Commentary Team
Olympian Lisa Darmanin and Rolex Sydney Hobart Winner Jack Macartney to lead live broadcast The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is pleased to confirm Olympian Darmanin and 2022 & 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart winner Macartney as the lead commentators for the live broadcast of the 2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.
Posted today at 6:46 pm
IMOCAs in the Rolex Fastnet Race
Ocean racing's state of the art One of the most historic and eternally ground-breaking oceanic racing yacht classes is the IMOCA. These 60 footers are the world's most advanced offshore racing monohulls, the class used in the Vendée Globe since its inception in 1989/90.
Posted today at 6:27 pm
18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona summary
Yachts from over 10 countries and around 400 sailors competed off the coast of Barcelona Barcelona's prestigious regatta for Classic and Vintage yachts, the Puig Vela Clàssica, celebrated its 18th edition, further strengthening its position as one of the premier international events for classic sailing in the Mediterranean.
Posted today at 6:06 pm
SailGP - Fresh breezes predicted
Fresh breezes are forecast the first day of racing in SailGP and the Admirals Cup. With two days remaining to the start of racing in SailGP Portsmouth, the forecast is for fresh breezes on both racedays, which should make for exciting racing.
Posted today at 5:36 pm
Nominations open for World Sailing Awards 2025
Presentation to be held at the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire on 5th November Many of the sport's biggest names will be in attendance at the World Sailing Awards 2025, held on Wednesday 5 November at a gala ceremony at the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland.
Posted today at 4:12 pm
Mackay Bieker BM-V3 dominates at 2025 Moth Worlds
Innovation was on display at the just concluded Moth Worlds across nearly every area of the boat. The 2025 Moth World Championships in Lake Garda delivered thrilling racing across a wide range of conditions, featuring an elite lineup of Olympic champions, America's Cup helmsmen, SailGP stars, and the next group of up-and-coming youth.
Posted today at 3:07 pm
OK Dinghy World Ranking July 2025
Patric Mure is the new World No.1 Patric Mure has become only the 11th person to reach the top of the OK Dinghy World Ranking list as he takes over the No.1 spot from Australia's Roger Blasse, who drops to fourth. Britain's Andy Davis and Nick Craig move up to second and third.
Posted today at 2:07 pm
Double Podium For Team Allen
Enzo Ballanger sailed fully equipped with Allen hardware to a Moth Worlds victory Representing Team Allen through its French distributor, XPO, Enzo Ballanger sailed fully equipped with Allen hardware to a dominant victory at the 2025 International Moth World Championship.
Posted today at 11:00 am
New concept & programme for the Yacht Racing Forum
An updated concept designed to reflect our delegates' expectations This year, we will merge the conference on the Management and Business of the sport and the Design & Technology Symposium, enabling all participants to attend the entire event.
Posted today at 10:50 am
Blind Sailor's solo Round the Island Challenge
Dani A. Pich is aiming to navigate his Patí Català catamaran around the Isle of Wight next week A truly remarkable challenge is underway on the Solent, with blind sailor Dani A. Pich aiming to sail solo around the Isle of Wight in a catamaran dinghy that has no rudder, no centreboard, no boom and is steered by the use of balance and body weight.
Posted today at 9:06 am