2023 Shark World Championships win two Sail Canada awards

2023 Shark World Championships win two Sail Canada awards © Sail Canada

Sail Canada announced today that the 2023 Shark World Championships received the Sail Canada City of Kingston Regatta of the Year as well as the Chisholm Trophy for Excellence in Race Management awards for 2023.

The City of Kingston Regatta of the Year Award recognizes a provincial, national or international regatta whereupon all aspects of race management have resulted in an overall organizational success. Key criteria are overall achievement of the event objectives, the level of community involvement and positive feedback from participants, including sailors, coaches and officials.

The Chisholm Trophy for Excellence in Race Management Award recognizes the club or association responsible for the regatta with the best-managed races during the time frame of the award year. The winner is selected on the basis of the quality of race management.

In order to be eligible for these awards clubs or associations must be members in good standing with Sail Canada.

Nominations were evaluated based on a time period ranging from January 1 to December 31, 2023.

The 56th Shark World Championships were hosted by the Niagara-on-the-Lake Sailing Club (NOLSC) August 18-25, 2023. A total of 48 crews from Austria, Germany, the U.S.A. and across Canada competed in 10 races over six days of competition. Rod Gardner was the regatta Chairperson while Richard Hinterhoeller was the principal Race Officer.

Moreover, the Shark World Championships followed the Sailor for the Sea Clean Regatta protocols and achieved the Gold Standard. Through the seven days of the event, only two bags of garbage were created with four meals being served to 200 people and a full bar being offered every evening as everything was reusable, compostable, or recyclable. Also, all participants and volunteers were given a refillable beverage cup for hot and cold drinks to use throughout the week and the Niagara Region provided their Water Wagon. All participants were advised in advance of the plan to be a Clean Regatta and made an effort to follow the procedures.

"It is a great honour for Richard Hinterhoeller and I to receive the Sail Canada City of Kingston Regatta of the Year Award as well as the Chisholm Trophy for Excellence in Race Management Award on behalf of the many volunteers at NOLSC that supported the 2023 Shark Worlds," said 2023 Shark World Championships Regatta Chairperson, Rod Gardner. "I also want to acknowledge and thank all the sailors and volunteers for following the Sailor for the Sea protocols, allowing us to achieve the Gold status."

"This was a great regatta that put all the elements together in one package, with great organization, great racing, great food and great friends," said the International Shark Class President, John D. Brunt. "It was also a Gold Level certified clean regatta, which was a first for the Shark Class."

From the nomination form: "The 2023 Shark Worlds was an extremely well-organized event, and loads of fun to participate in. Right through from registration, check-in and measurement, through to the on- and off-water activities all week, and then to the haul-out and closing banquet, it was truly an exceptional event. This volunteer-based Club at NOLSC really stepped up to run a very professional regatta."

More information on the City of Kingston Regatta of the Year Award is available at www.sailing.ca/city-of-kingston-regatta-of-the-year-award-past-winners, and on the Chisholm Trophy for Excellence in Race Management Award at www.sailing.ca/chisholm-trophy-for-excellence-in-race-management-past-winners.