Juniors on TV

Coralie and Justin Vittecoq featured here on an episode of VRAK TV shot at HYC.  Some great footage and an impressive story!

Follow the link, put up with the commercial, and then go to position 12:30 on the time-line.

http://www.vrak.tv/webtele/the-wanted-saison-4-34-19178/


Congrats C&J!

Learn from Home: North U Webinars

Want to brush up on your sail trim or racing tactics?  North U offers great seminars that many HYC members have attended over the years.  But now you can...

...Keep your slippers on and take a seminar from home.           

                         

Brand New this year!

North U Webinars feature the latest in sailing and racing technique presented in a full multi-media format by outstanding instructors. But now you can attend on-line, from anywhere.

Webinars are scheduled for Racing TRIM, Weather for Sailors, Performance Instruments & Expedition Software, and Bermuda Race Strategy. Learn all about it at NorthU.com

HYC Race Team Delivers Strong Performances at Opti Canadians

by Diane Coté

The HYC Opti race team returned home this week after a very busy two week schedule on the road that started in historic Kingston and ended in picturesque Lunenburg.

The 2011 Canadian Optimist Championships were last week at the Lunenburg Yacht Club. 84 Championship and 10 Green Fleet sailors from across Canada and Bermuda descended on beautiful Lunenburg, Nova Scotia to take part in 6 days of activities on and off the water.

Taylor Grant, who made the long trek with his HYC sailors: Jack Marten CAN1360, Chantal Bourque CAN1445, and Thomas Coté CAN 1401, was joined by Philippe Pasquin CAN1012 (CNDM), Heidi Timmons USA15050 (PCYC), Vincent Nalecz (PCYC) CAN1373 and John Thomas Kelly (PCYC) CAN1098 who needed support on the water.

Coaches Briefing

Taylor’s Championship fleet of seven sailors met up each morning after picking up their lunches and set out for open waters off Backmans Island approximately 2.5nm from the club.  Our sailors navigated the range of Atlantic weather from warm and sunny to torrential rain and wild wind conditions reaching 32 knots on Monday. On Tuesday blue skies delivered winds of 10-15 knots.

Wednesday was a lay day but there was Team racing for those who couldn’t get enough of being on the water. Sailors organized themselves into 2 HYC teams (recruiting extra talent from the Royal St. Lawrence Club) and headed off in light wind just off the LYC grounds for an afternoon of racing where the HYC team of Thomas, Philippe, Julien, Nick made it through the 4th elimination (out of 14 teams).

Fog in the morning on Thursday burned off before the teams set out but the high winds had returned. Friday and the last day of racing brought lighter wind conditions.

The organizing committee treated the sailors and parents to warm east coast hospitality. Despite an active schedule, we took a quick walk about Lunenburg (established in 1753 and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995) and were able to see the traditional boat building technique used to create the Bluenose (1921), the world famous fishing schooner. The Bluenose II (1963) is currently being restored in Lunenburg.

All Taylor’s sailors turned out terrific performances:

Chantal Bourque finished 30th overall and brought home hardware for being the 5^th top Canadian female sailor. Philippe Pasquin placed 15^th  and in spite of injuring his elbow before racing started, Thomas Cote finished 35^th, and Heidi Timmons was 47^th.  Jack Marten, competing in his first Canadian Championship ranked 48^th, Vincent Nalecz was 60^th and John Thomas Kelly was 73^rd.  HYC was also represented by Justin Vittecoq who came 1st and Coralie Vittecoq who came 4th overall and was top female sailor.

This event was an exceptional experience for our young sailors who forged new friendships and enjoyed camaraderie with many competitors from other area clubs.

The next sailing event is the Quebec Championships at CVL September 10th and 11^th.

For more full results, visit:

http://www.opti2011.ca/results/championship.htm

For Articles and photos, check out:

http://www.seabreeze.com.au/News/Cruising/Canadian-Optimist-Championship-Leaders-switch-after-day-3-of-racing_5198347.aspx

http://www.sail-world.com/Canada/Nearly-100-young-sailors-participate-in-2011-Canadian-Optimist-Champs/87715

Justin and Coralie Vittecoq 2011 campaign reach peak at Opti Canadians in Lunenburg

You may have seen Justin (now 11 yrs old) and Coralie (now 13) running around at Hudson Yacht Club a few years ago. This is where they started sailing in the summer of 2006. Sarah and Hannah Kennel first stimulated their interest in learning then competing the year after for the first time in the Green Fleet at Fruitbowl. Then Nicole Bastet took over in 2008 for their first real season in the championship fleet. At that point, they could not have enough learning to train and race so their season got extended after CORK by an impromptu trip to Lunenburg Nova Scotia for their first Canadian Championship experience. There they met challenging conditions resulting in a 63d (Coralie) and 87th (Justin).

Corali moving up to a Laser Radial

In 2009 and 2010 they had extensive campaigns with the objectives to improve their national ranking and earn spots on the Canadian Optimist Teams attending International IODA events around the world. With the help of many coaches (Lauren Laventure, Carmen Denis, Fran Bellocchio, Osvaldo Padron) at club racing programs, training regattas or clinics, and always proudly bearing the colors of Hudson Yacht Club, they went on and achieved their objectives. This year they participated in no less than 6 International Regattas of 90 boats or more, each time improving their year/year results showing constant progression. This lead them to go to Algarrobo (Chile), Los Angeles, Buffalo, Boston, Kingston and back to Lunenburg again.

There they met similar conditions as in 2008 but the results were different. Justin sailed a very consistent top ten finish in every conditions from light to heavy air, combined with excellent race management over the week (staying in 3d or 2nd position all week with different leaders) scooping the victory in the 11th race and consolidating his lead in the last race. Coralie scored 2 bullets and was a constant top ten finisher as well but drew more attention from umpires leading to a Rule 42 retirement on the last day. However this was not enough to put her out of the prizes round where Coralie gathered trophies for 3d Red Fleet (under 16 years old), 4th overall, and First Canadian Female. Justin won 1st overall, 1st Blue (Under 13) and 1st Canadian Male.

What is next? They are both qualified to represent Canada at next year's World's Championships in Dominican Republic, as well as the South American Championships in Argentina and North Americans in Mexico. 2012 will be a transition year for Coralie as she considers sailing a Laser Radial. She got a taste of it this summer participating in the wonderful Fruitbowl clinic where coach Rosie Chapman stimulated her appetite for this Female Olympic Class.

Justin in his Opti

Justin still has 3 more years in the Opti Class, depending on his growth rate (Opti racers need to stay under 120 lbs to be competitive). His next stop is the Junior Gold Cup in Bermuda next October where he will meet 15 of the World's National Champions and the Bermuda National Team in an invitational regatta during the prestigious Bermuda Gold Cup of Professional Match Racing where Canada will be represented by past Olympic Medalist skipper Terry McLaughlin.

While they are associated with different teams and coaches as they travel around, they always remember where it all started, in beautiful Hudson Yacht Club, and always feel at home when they come back.

Cyrille (Proud Opti Dad)

Opti Race Team at CORK 2011

by Jenny Marten

The 6 member team lead by coach Taylor Grant competed in the annual CORK regatta in Kingston, Ontario.  They had 5 team members racing in the championship fleet and one in the green fleet. 

Well done Jamie Kondejewski racing in his first big regatta finishing 8th overall in Opti green.

Congratulations to Joey Marten for finishing 2nd in the opti white division. 

Chantal Bourque was top HYC racer finishing 17th. Jack Marten was 32nd, Thomas Cote 40th and Matthew Kondejewski 41st out of 86 competitors.

Click here for full results

The team gets one full rest day (!) before heading out to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia for the Opti Canadian Championship.  Good Luck, go team!

HYC wins at CYA's SailEast 2011 in Shediac New Brunswick

HYC Junior Race Team's Chantal Bourque (CAN 1445) took top podium spot in the Opti Fleet at CYA's SailEast in Shediac on August 7. Six competitors from Saint-Pierre & Miquelon representing France were not able to slow her down. Click here for full Results


Chantal was also  interviewed by Radio-Canada satellite mobile unit and her interview was broadcast nation-wide on RDI's French Television network.  http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/atlantique/2011/08/04/004-regate-voile-shediac.shtml

HYC Canadian Champions

HYC can be proud of the achievements of its sailors both young and, umm, well more mature.  Recently two teams have secured top spot in Canadian championship events, both at Kingston.

29er
Lauren Laventure and Emily Tang took top spot at the Canadian 29er championship sailed out of Kingston Yacht Club July 23 and 24, beating a very competitive fleet of 27 boats.  For full results click here.

J/22
Ron Harris, Pete Amos and John Marten won the J/22 Canadians sailed at CORK on July 9 and 10th.  HYC was there in strength with 7 boats. A very fun weekend was had by all. For full results, click here.

Junior Sailing Awards Banquet - Come Support our Young Sailors

WHEN: August 25th, 2011 at 1800hrs
WHERE: HYC Club House

MENU: Home made burritos, garlic bread, caesar salad, chips and salsa as well as desert and coffee. All for only 8$

HOW: Call Margaret at the office and book your tickets today.
450-458-5326

James Campbell
Junior Sailing Director

Fruitbowl 2011 - Final Results & Surprise Announcement

Closing ceremonies for 2011 Mini Mont Royal Fruitbowl Regatta…and a surprise announcement for the 2012 Event.

Light winds - three to five knots - did not ease the challenge for the last day of sailing. The Bravo RC set an impressive course layout allowing spectators from the fireworks pier to the harbour pier to have front row seating for Sunday's Optimist races and to observe competitor's abilities to read wind conditions and compete for podium space. Sailors returned to attend the award ceremonies after four days of excellent sailing in challenging conditions.

The podium was occupied by the following stars:

Optimist Green Fleet

1. ☆ Marion Lafrance Berger - Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club
2. ☆ Philippe Bouffard - Club Nautique Deux-Montagne
3. ☆ Anna Morineau - École de Voile de l'Outaouias

Optimist Overall Championship Fleet

1. ☆ Justin Vittecoq - Hudson Yacht Club
2. ☆ Julien Brunet - Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club
3. ☆ Chantal Bourque - Hudson Yacht Club

Optimist Red Fleet

1. ☆ Julien Brunet - Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club
2. ☆ Chantal Bourque - Hudson Yacht Club
3. ☆ Justin Robichaud - École de Voile de l'Outaouias

Optimist Blue Fleet

1. ☆ Justin Vittecoq - Hudson Yacht Club
2. ☆ Jonathan Stranix - Pointe Claire Yacht Club
3. ☆ Robert-Junior Mochi - École de Voile de l'Outaouias

Optimist White Fleet

1. ☆ Joey Marten - Hudson Yacht Club
2. ☆ Liam Parnell -  Pointe Claire Yacht Club

420 Fleet

1. ☆ Nathan Lafrance-Berger/Antoine Pacarar - Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club
2. ☆ Veronique Fortier/ Julien Landry - Beaconfield Yacht Club
3. ☆ Tristan Khannizadeh/Nicholas Duschenes-Best - Pointe Claire Yacht Club

Laser 4.7 Fleet

1. ☆ Katherine Malette-Besner - Club Nautique Deux-Montagnes
2. ☆ Christophe Landry Bergeron - Baie de Beauport
3. ☆ Cal Gray - Gatineau River Yacht Club

Laser Radial Fleet

1. ☆ Rae-Anne Norwood - NSC
2. ☆ Holly McGarr - Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club
3. ☆ Alexandre Stranix - Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club

for full results go to the regatta website

Get ready for Sail Central 2012!

Commodore Lee Grant announced that next year's event will be called Sail Central and will welcome sailors from Ontario and Quebec. This year, similar events are being held next week as Sail West is held in Gimli, Manitoba and Sail East, in Shediac New Brunswick. This unique format will allow for greater Ontario-Quebec competition.  All three events are Canadian Yachting Association sanctioned events. Hudson would host the event very two years alternating with the CORK facilities in Kingston on alternate years. We at HYC are very excited and proud to host this important event and we will be please to welcome you again next year.

Thank you from the Hudson Yacht Club to the visiting clubs and sailors who made this a great a memorable 2011 Mini Mont Royal Fruit Bowl Regatta.

Submitted by Hubert Bourque

Fruitbowl Saturday - The "Super Bowl" of Youth Training Regattas!

"The best ever of the 16 regattas held since their inception in 1996." enthused one person about the sailing so far. Sailors came back highly energized from their third day of of superb sailing under challenging conditions. This was truly the "Super Bowl" of training regattas since HYC's annual training event first started.  On the Optimist course, the green fleet did exceptionally well with few sailors needing a hand. The Opti championship fleet together with the greens completed four races quickly on an extended course. Winds were maintained at least at 12-14 knots with gusts to 18.

The 420s comprised a fleet of well prepared sailors facing 10-13 knots winds gusting to 19. Four 40 minute races were completed plus one 25 minute race. The race committee did an excellent job in managing to accommodate five races. Only six entries dropped in these challenging conditions.

The stars for the first day of racing are (provisional results as of 17:30 on July 23, 2011):

Optimist Green Fleet

1. ☆ Philippe Bouffard - Club Nautique Deux-Montagnes
2. ☆ Leo Roy - Baie de Beauport
3. ☆ Hyla Mosher - Hudson Yacht Club

Optimist Championship Fleet

1. ☆ Justin Vittecoq - Hudson Yacht Club
2. ☆ Julien Brunet - Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club
3. ☆ Justin Robichaud - École de Voile de l'Outaouias

420 Fleet

1. ☆ Nathan Lafrance-Berger/Antoine Pacarar - Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club
2. ☆ Veronique Fortier/ Julien Landry - Beaconfield Yacht Club
3. ☆ Samuel Eichhorn Bilodeau - BYC

Laser Radial Fleet

1. ☆ Rae-Anne Norwood - NSC
2. ☆ Alexandre Stranix - Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club
3. ☆ Holly McGarr - Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club

Fruitbowl 2011 - Training in High Winds!

This is what sailing is all about!... and makes the HYC Fruitbowl Regatta the best dinghy sailing training opportunity around.

The past two days supplied challenging conditions for all levels with 15 to 20 kt winds. Competition was extensive in all fleets with 25-420 entries; 53 Lasers and 45 Optis.

For the Lasers, the theory acquired in the structured coach sessions was first aplied during the first day was perfected the second . Coaches Rosie Chapman (Member, British Olympic Development Team, Nova Scotia Team Sailing Head Coach), Greg Clunies (The Ontario Quest for Gold Sailing Team), Lee Parkhill (The Canadian Sailing Team in Lasers) said that they saw massive improvement from the first to second day. Specifically the second day showed the fleet sailing as a tighter group effectively applying what they had learned. All competitors tried hard to improve what they had learned and no one dropped out. Notably improvement was shown for downwind boat handling with less "submarining' and starts that had the fleet together "on-line".

The Opti fleet was a diverse group that was broken down into smaller groups. The instruction led by coach Robin Blanchard (Head coach for the Quebec Sailing Team for several years, recently training coach and instructor at CYA Learning Facility) focussed on upwind and downwind boat handling and more specifically mark rounding. The mark rounding covered the rules applicable during crowded conditions.

We expect Saturday and Sunday conditions to be equally challenging, and we are anxious - especially our competitors - to get out and show what we can do with what has been learned and applied. This is the 2011 Hudson Yacht Club Mini Mont-Royal Fruitbowl Regatta and this is what sailing is all about -learning how to sail better under the most challenging conditions.

Welcome visiting clubs and good luck to all sailors!

Submitted by Hubert Bourque

Crew Bank Sign Up

If you're a skipper building your crew for this season, or a sailor looking for a ride, check out the Crew Bank link on the right of this page.




For those who signed up last year, let us know if you still want to be on the crew bank or if any info has changed.

Send any updates to sailing@hudsonyachtclub.com

Sailing Calendar Updated

If don't have you calendar handy and are wondering when the next race is, you can always click on the link on the right of this page.  It's now been updated for the 2011 season.  There is also a calendar of external events.  Admittedly it's a little J22-centric, so if you'd like some dates added for other fleets, drop a note to sailing@hudsonyachtclub.com.

Spring Sailors' Meeting - Wednesday 13th April

Greetings sailors and welcome back from the chilly depths of winter!  The ice is melting fast, it's time to turn our thoughts to the upcoming season.

To kick-start that process, the Spring Sailors' Meeting will be held at 07:30pm next Wednesday 13 April in the HYC bar.  

Come and hear all about the sailing program for this season and have all your questions answered.

What series are planned?  

Are there any changes to the SI's?  

What inter-club competitions will be sailed?  

How many regattas are planned?  

Do we have a bosun? 

Sign up for your preferred slot for RC.   

See you there!

Fruitbowl 2011 News - Support Needed

The Fruitbowl 2011 Committee is already hard at work preparing for the all those youths(es) or maybe, as Joe Pesci (My Cousin Vinnie) would say, ‘Youtes’ descending on us for the wild and wonderful four days in July.

We are searching for a few willing (or unwilling) volunteers to head up some dossiers. We are looking for some one to handle Registration (left vacant because Helen Hodgson has moved to Chairperson); Communication is available; and the ever-popular....Sponsorship. The main sponsor has been found but some follow-up is needed for smaller donations and swag for prizes and coaches.

We are also hoping the some generous HYC member would be willing to give up some Airmiles to fly in a some of our invited coaches (you can never use those things anyway - ed)

You can contact Helen Hodgson at: hansworks2@gmail.com 450-451-0559 cell: 514-349-6413

Thanks,

Helen Hodgson

Opti Race Team on the Podium

By Jenny Halyard
June 24-27 the HYC Opti Race team travelled to Lac Memphremagog for the 2nd leg of the Quebec Championship Series. The team, lead by coach Taylor Grant, took part in 2 days of intense training followed by 2 days of competitive racing.

Chantal Bourque finished 1st in the Red fleet and 2nd Overall for the regatta with a consistent performance in each race. Chantal has shown she can read shifty wind conditions and successfully cover the fleet behind her. Well done Chantal!

Jack Marten took his first podium finish with a 3rd place in the Opti Blue division. You will notice Jack easily this week since his knees are bright red – the “sunscreen-everywhere-not-just-your-face” lesson was learned.

Other notable performances include Mathew Kondejewski taking first place in the final race leaving the entire fleet behind him. Apparently the whole fleet went left except for Matthew and Jack and it really paid off as these two pulled away from the fleet.


Matthew also achieved 2nd in the Red Fleet.

Joey Marten was apprehensive about racing but got it together on Sunday and managed to leave some boats behind him in the green fleet, his big smile was all it took for the regatta to be successful.

Well done team HYC! Next regatta is the TRY regatta at Pointe-Claire Yacht Club July 8th – 11th. Good luck.

Dinghy Sailing - Get (Back) Into it!

Hey sailors!

Do you and a sailing buddy want to try your hand at dinghy racing on Thursday evenings?  Junior Sailing is offering two (2) 420s to use for this purpose, starting this Thursday, June 24th.  Just call the office and reserve!  First come, first served.  As easy as that!

Please note that this is not a "learn to sail" offer, and sailing experience is required. You are responsible to rig the boat, have a great race, and de-rig, putting the boat back with all its parts, for use the next morning in the Jr Sail Program.  (PFDs not provided.)

Racing starts at 18h00.  SIs may be found at: http://www.hudsonyachtclub.com/HYC_SI's_2010_rev1.pdf

So take advantage of this fun offer, and try (or get back to) dinghy racing!!!

A Weekend of Firsts

This weekend, many members flocked to the club to take advantage of an amazingly warm Easter.  It turned out to be weekend of many firsts.

• First boat launched: TinkerBell
• First boat sailing: Jack Marten in his Opti
• First keelboat sailing: James Campbell in his new J24 (5mins after Jack)
• First lack of wind: J22`s forced to motor about
• First baby on the water: Elodie Beck
• First dog on a boat: Jake (Beck)
• First attempt to sail a boat in the parking lot: Lee demonstrating genoa technique
• First man-overboard: Lee Grant as James`life-line gave way 
• First piece of equipment overboard: Bernard`s engine cap

Follow a Sailing Adventure

You may know Jamie Meredith as an HYC member, former sailing instructor, and son of Doug and Michelle.

Jamie is blogging his way south on a sailing adventure that left Boston last November.

Follow their trip as he and friend/s sail "O Canada" from Boston to points south. As of writing, they currently are en route to Puerto Rico.

There are over a dozen blog entries so far...and check out the photos...

(http://jamiem.travellerspoint.com/)

QUEBEC SAILING MÉRITES 2009 AWARDS

The Quebec Sailing Federation nominating committee has just announced this year’s selected nominees, and amongst them are several HYC members:

André-Dionne Trophy (Volunteer of the Year) - Roy Folland
To recognize a member who has contributed to the betterment of sailing in Quebec.

Club/Sailing School of the Year - Hudson Yacht Club
To recognize excellence in all programs organized by a club or a sailing school (training, racing, cruising or special event).

"Optimist" Athlete - Justin Vitteqoc
To recognize a Quebec "Optimist" sailor who has demonstrated exceptional results and/or improvements within the last sailing season.

EVERT BASTET Trophy - Lauren Laventure
Must have a record of outstanding achievement in national and/or international competition in the previous twelve months.

Congratulations and good luck to all nominees!

The FVQ's Annual Awards presentation will be held following the Annual General Meeting at the Gala which will take place on October 24th, 2009 at:
École primaire Marguerite Bourgeoys
3, rue Ste-Anne,
Pointe-Claire, Québec, H9S 4P6

For the full listing of the awards and all nominees please consult the FVQ Web site at www.voile.qc.ca