Final Preparations Underway for 25th Anniversary Georgian Bay Regatta

by Alberto Zanchetta on 2 Jul 2010 Welcome to the 25th ANNUAL GEORGIAN BAY REGATTA!

July 25th – 31st, 2010


That's right, for 25 years sailors on Georgian Bay have been gathering for a week long competition and camaraderie during the last week of July.

In conjunction with Ontario Sailing, the Regatta continues a tradition of friendly competition that began in 1986 with the Georgian Bay International Challenge Cup. The regatta is now organized by the Georgian Bay Sailing Association, a non-profit Corporation founded in 1989 to promote the sport of sailing on Georgian Bay to both resident sailors and those who travel from outside the area. The beautiful waters of Georgian Bay support our racing plans every year and we will be returning to the western shore where statuesque rocky shorelines and evergreen forests create a fantastic backdrop to our daily adventures.

The Regatta has always included daily racing from port to port and features anchorages among the most beautiful in all of the Great Lakes. The western shore boasts deep water for safe navigation but requires all of us to watch our charts for the occasional shoal well off shore.

The wonderful part of this regatta is the traditional camaraderie at the end of every sailing day. Socials, dinners and relaxing evenings are all featured in our itinerary around The Bay. This year we will be looking for your participation in story telling about your experiences over the last 25 regattas. Sharing your experience is the best way to keep the traditions and energy of this fantastic event growing stronger with every year.

We begin in Lions Head for Registration on Sunday July 25th. Monday July 26th the racing begins with a sail up the shoreline past Cape Chin to Wingfield Basin for our first evening 'on the hook.' There will be a dinner on shore at the Lighthouse and the sailing yarns will begin. Tuesday the 27th we head south into the protected waters of Melville Sound to find a quiet anchorage at Hope Bay or MacGregor Harbour. Wednesday July 28th we return to Wiarton, a favourite harbour at the end of Colpoy's Bay. We will find time to relax, replenish supplys and gather near the docks to share tales from the previous three days of racing at the social inside the Clubhouse. Thursday July 29th we will race amongst the islands finishing up at White Cloud for a peaceful night at anchor selecting the best shore line for the prevailing winds.

One of the most challenging sails of the week will await us on Friday July 30th. We cross the top of Owen Sound and race past the tank range into Meaford where the winds always seem to blow right on the nose! Our last day, Saturday July 31st, we will be racing to Thornbury, the traditional finish of many previous regattas, including the first. Thornbury Marina has always treated us well and we look forward to winding up a fantastic week back home. At 4:00pm please join us for the Annual General Meeting of the Georgian Bay Sailing Association where we begin plans for the 2011 regatta and the selection of a new Regatta Organizing Committee. We want your ideas and participation!

Bridges Tavern will host our annual Awards Dinner and it will be a real feast fit for the 25th celebration!

A fantastic week of sailing awaits you and we are glad you're here!

Paul Woodhouse
President, Georgian Bay Sailing Association