Please select your home edition
Edition
North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Paralympic sailing coach Cindy Sheppard (Hardie) has passed away

by Sail Canada 4 Aug 2022 18:31 PDT
Cindy Sheppard (Hardie) © Sail Canada

It is with great sadness that Sail Canada shares with the Canadian sailing community the passing of Paralympic sailing coach Cindy Sheppard (Hardie). She was 51 years of age.

Cindy Sheppard (Hardie) was one of the coaches for the Canadian Paralympic Sailing teams at the 1996 and 2000 Games. In 1996 in Atlanta, she coached the Sonar team comprised of David Cook, Kirk Westergaard and Kenneth Kelly, which won the silver medal. She also worked with that same crew from 1999 to 2004 at two World Championships, several Miami Olympic Classes Regattas (OCR) and many other North American Championships and local events.

At the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia, she coached Danny McCoy in 2.4mR as he took the 11th spot.

She also coached the British Columbia team at the 1997 Canada Games and sailed in the 1996 Olympic trials in the Europe class.

Growing up in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Cindy Sheppard (Hardie) spent her summers at Sea Cadet camps in Gimli, MB, where she learned to sail. She then took part in provincial and national competitions before enrolling at the National Coaching Institute and becoming the Competitive Sailing Director at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club.

"Cindy was a tireless worker, she always had a big smile, made everyone feel welcome and was part of the action," said Sail Canada National Performance Coach Ken Dool, who worked with Cindy at the 1996 and 2000 Paralympic Games. "On behalf of Sail Canada and the entire community, I would like to express our sincere condolences to her family, including her husband Alistair Hardie and daughters Marina, Fiona and Sophie, as well as her friends."

"Cindy was incredibly well-respected and welcomed wherever we went," remembered Ken Kelly and Kirk Westergaard. "She was smart and had a stabilizing influence, and her knowledge of the sport, the boats, sail trim and team dynamics combined with her fabulous personality were unmatched in our 15 years with Sail Canada."

"Cindy had a big influence on me as a new paraplegic person on the scene," added Danny McCoy. "She worked tirelessly with me to get ready for Sydney when I travelled to Finland, Miami and Australia to train. Unfortunately, I broke my mast at the Games, but she assisted me greatly with getting past my disappointment."

You can read her obituary at www.discovermoosejaw.com/articles/cindy-florence-hardie.

Related Articles

Youth and 49er/49erFX Senior Championships preview
Sail Canada's event will be hosted by CORK/Sail Kingston Top sailing athletes from across the country are in Kingston to compete this weekend, August 21-24, at Sail Canada 2025 Youth Championships in ILCA 4, ILCA 6 and 29er, as well as 49er and 49erFX Senior Championships. Posted on 20 Aug
Canadian sailor James Huynh wins bronze
At Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games James Huynh from Brossard, QC, won a bronze medal at the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games, finishing third in the men's Formula Kite event which ended on Sunday as part of the sailing competition. Posted on 18 Aug
Formula Kite in action in Kingston for Sail Canada
The Senior Championships will be held August 8-10 Formula Kite, a new event which made its Olympic debut in Paris last summer, will be showcased in Kingston, August 8-10, during the Sail Canada 2025 Formula Kite Senior Championships. Posted on 7 Aug
Sail Canada's Youth Fest preview
More than 260 sailors in Kingston for the comeback event More than 260 sailors will gather in Kingston, August 1-5, for the comeback of Sail Canada's Youth Fest, presented simultaneously with Sail Canada 2025 Club 420 Youth Championship. Posted on 30 Jul
Antonia & Georgia Lewin-LaFrance 1pt from podium
In the 49er FX class at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance from Chester, N.S., took the fourth position in 49erFX at the fourth and next-to-last event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series, the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta. Posted on 21 Jul
Sail Canada Regional Championships Preview
More than 300 young Canadian sailors in action this weekend across the country More than 300 young Canadian sailors will be in action this weekend as Sail Canada will present its three regional championships: Sail East at St. Margaret Sailing Club, Sail Central at Hudson Yacht Club and Sail West at Gimli Yacht Club. Posted on 16 Jul
20 Canadians set for Long Beach Grand Slam Event
The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta will be held July 12-20 20 Canadian sailors will take part in the fourth and next-to-last event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series, the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta, to be held July 12-20 at one of the two Olympic venues for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Posted on 10 Jul
Sail Canada introduces Canadian Sailing Team
21 athletes were selected based on the Canadian Sailing Team Sport Canada Carding Criteria Sail Canada is pleased to announce the list of sailors who will be part of the 2025-2026 Canadian Sailing Team. Posted on 26 Jun
Gold medal for Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance
The sisters from Nova Scotia win 49erFX Europeans Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance from Chester, N.S., won the gold medal in 49erFX at the 2025 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships which ended on Sunday in Thessaloniki, GRE. Posted on 9 Jun
Canadians set at 49er, 49erFX & Nacra 17 Europeans
Racing will take place June 3-8 in Thessaloniki, Greece A total of six Canadian sailors will take part in the 2025 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships, to be held June 3-8 in Thessaloniki, Greece. Posted on 30 May
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMVaikobi Custom Teamwear