PLANNED EVENTS 2024
Blue Sky Sailing Club members benefit from participating in planned events which are scheduled during the sailing season. In addition to the scheduled events , other events may be planned with short notice.
Events enable members to socialize and learn during fun events that are in addition to the regular social sails and lessons. Events typically cost boat owners $15 per half day payable to the Blue Sky Sailing Club.
Events scheduled for 2024 are:
- April 24 open house at memorial gardens after 5pm
- April 7 nd May 4..Information kiosk hosted By Lefebvres Source for Adventure, 180 Shirref avenue 12 noon until 3pm
- May 22 Start Social sails
- June 4 Spring racing Series starts
- June 8 Picnic at the Manitou
- June 22 Summer Solstice Event Race within a Race
- June 30 cocktail to host NBYC visitors
- July 1 NBYC Canada Day race to Callander
- July 13 Lunch in Callander
- July 27 manitou Stayover
- August 1 /2/3/4 French river Trip
- August 17/ 18 SBSSC Summer Regatta
- August 31 Goose Islands Stayover
- September 7/8 NBYC Fall Regatta
- September 2 Dinner in Sturgeon falls or Callander
- October 11 crane Out day
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When events are frustrated by weather conditions they will be rescheduled and no payments are due unless the event takes place.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, REPORT AND DINNER
This year the AGM and dinner were held at Average Joe’s Eatery on December 15th.
Members and guests were welcomed and reports given on the Club’s finances, events, racing and social sails. The reports are summarised in the Annual Report 231215 Report too AGM 2023 pdf.
The. meeting finished around 7 pm and participants enjoyed a great meal with no shortage of chat. The location and attendees are below.
CANADA DAY 2023
Sunshine blessed July 1st and there was a great turn out with 15 boats to race in the annual event between North Bay marina, home of the Blue Sky Sailing Club and NBYC yacht club in Callander Bay. There was a light breeze that enabled a trouble free start at 1:15 but boats that had stayed some distance from the line had distance to make up and the fleet spread.
Before long the winds dropped and the lead that Ruby Tuesday and Nautigal had established was unassailable and those boats crews increased the gap with Gatekeeper, Float On and Inevitable in pursuit but not able to stop them from leading all the way to the finish of th shortened course. More than a couple of hours were spent nursing every meter of motion out of the boats. Most boats had dropped out after a couple of hours but some contestants continued until 6 pm when dead calm led to the metal Genny.
While wind would have made the event so much better, it was nonetheless a great test of light air sailing and perseverance. Thanks to NBYC’s Martin Lachapelle and those in the committee boat for organizing the event.
“DOCKTAILS” JUNE 30th, 2023
Blue Sky Sailing members welcomed sailors from the Callander yacht club as they came up to North Bay for the annual Canada Day Race. It was a relaxed start to the event with members from both clubs mingling on the docks with a beverage. A large number went on the eat at theBoat restaurant next to the marina.
SUMMER SAILSTICE 2023, JUNE 24th
The Summer Sailstice event got off to a slow start with no wind. The six boats started
at a drift and may have crossed the start line during the first ten minutes….from there it got better!
There were some zephyr like airs that slowly became a breeze but that was undecided about which direction it would actually come from. The mostly westerly/northerly puffs changed to an easterly that got the boats moving and was fairly steady. The easterly brought with it the heavy scent of smoke from the wild fires to the north and east on the city.
Two boats that had taken the west side with the hope of reaching in at the mark were disadvantaged as the east breeze took a long while to reach them. The four boats that stayed to the east had a reach down towards Sunset Point.
The race was abandoned at 8 pm due to lack of progress but a steady breeze made a good close hauled sprint back to the marina.
Anyone finding Darin’s starting mark which mysteriously disappeared at the end of the race, please email the club with its whereabouts.
Thanks to Darin and Chris for their organization and running of the event.
How many sailors does it take to flake a Genoa?
The answer is in the picture to the right!
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Father’s Day 2022 picnic at the manitous
The plan was to picnic on the beach but the cool temperature and breeze meant everyone needed a jacket and the boats were rafted and lunch eaten on board. Gord Reid braved the water to go ashore. A. good sail to and from the islands and company for lunch were achieved:)
August 9th to 11th French River Cruise
Blaze, sailed by Bob Carpenter and Theresa MacRory, headed out midday on Friday with good winds. After less than an hour those winds became strong and they sailed through large waves and a few gusts of 30 knots…. yes that’s knots! As it became obvious that there was too much wind they started the motor and motor-sailed with only a reefed Genoa over to the Manitou Islands for some shelter from the westerly.
The weather didn’t ease until after 4:30 and then it was too late to head for Campbell’s Bay with any expectation of anchoring before dusk.
A six a.m. start from the Manitou on Saturday got Bob and Theresa into Cambell’s Bay at 9 a.m. for breakfast and a late morning start on an exploration of the French. Going in against the wind resulted in some hard work with about 20 tacks between the islands and to deal with very shifty winds.
Artemis sailed by Joel Harrison, Jan Luthe, DJ Houston and Lyn Vuorimaki left North Bay at midday Saturday to rendezvous with Blaze at Cambell’s Bay for the Saturday night. The winds required that the sails be reefed and that they tack to make their way upwind. Artemis arrived at the rendezvous in good time, shortly after Blaze got back from the French’s River. The boats were rafted up on Blaze’s anchor in a well sheltered and beautiful part of the Bay.
DJ swam, Joel and Jan rowed the inflatable dinghy and everyone ate dinner. Conversation lasted through some star watching until the dew started.
Sunday was a later start and a beautiful morning. The coffee and cooking breakfasts filled the air with wonderful aromas. The boats set off together mid morning. Joel jumped over to sail on Blaze and both boats were sailing well until Bob and Joel decided to practice putting up a spinnaker on Blaze. The resulting twisted mess was only solved after motoring to the Manitou for shelter and make repairs. It was found that the furler’s swivel assembly, which may have been damaged previously, was broken and the headsail slid down! She was sailed back to back to North Bay with just a main sail (but still over 4kts speed) while Artemis stayed on at the Manitou for some more swimming and relaxation.
All in all it was a great expeditions and learning experience. Artemis is a great boat to overnight on and Blaze worked out well given it was her first overnighter. The inflatable dinghy functioned well and meeting up with two boats proved a lot of fun.
July 14 (Bastille Day) … last week was soooo good that we had another picnic.
Back at the Manitou Islands for a Sunday picnic on Bastille day. The westerly wind meant it took longer to get to the beach but after lunch and a swim it was a fast run home.
July 7 2019 Manitou Picnic
Seven members enjoyed a great sail and fun picnic.
There was steady breeze with the wind from the North in the morning so that the water was flat and the crossing to Manitou Islands was fast.
By midday both boats were anchored close enough to the beach that members could step off to swim and socialize. By the time lunch was finished the wind had switched to the West and the boats were before the wind and back in the marina by 4:30.
A nice day and nice sailing with friends!
2019 Canada Day race.
The traditional race from North Bay to Callander organized by NBYC attracted 14 participants this year. The weather was beautiful and sunny but wind was in short supply.
Three boats were entered under the Blue Sky Sailing banner and were in the middle of the fleet until the wind stopped altogether. After a lot of sitting still Bob Carpenter and Joel Harrison turned Blaze and Allegro for home. The race had two and a half hour time limit that was going to be exceeded!
Jan Luthe in Catchup hung in there and finished the race at the J5 mark after the race committee shortened the course. With handicaps accounted for Jan was second in the non-flying (no spinnaker) division .
Well done Jan and crew of Arley Roberts and Lyn Vuorimaki! Persistence and sailing skill paid off.
September 9th and 10th, 2017. NBYC Fall Regatta.
Blue Sky entered the regatta with its newest boat in the fleet, a Hunter 26 and was successful in winning the white sail division over the 3 races that could be run with the light winds available. Bob Carpenter skippered and relied on Theresa MacRory, Bob Pinder and Joel Harrison as crew. Well done team!
The photo shows the start of the second race in the series.
July 1st, 2017 – Canada Day Regatta and race from North Bay to Callander.
Allegro took part with Bob Carpenter skipping and Theresa MacRory as crew. Despite a good start in very light breezes Allegro could not keep up with other boats when the wind freshened from the south east and meant that most of the race was close hauled. The race was shortened due to the lack of wind which allowed competitors to get dry earlier!
Several club members (John Otterspoor, Lyn Vuorimaki and Karen Sullivan) crewed on John Simmond’s “Naughti Gal” which won the race.
Thanks to the North Bay Yacht Club for arranging the event. We hope to be back and more competitive next year:)
July 9th, 2017 – Come Sail With Us …. sailing experiences for the public. Non-members booked a sailing experience by contacting the club. There was good sunny weather and a steady breeze to enjoy. Thanks to Adam and Becky for the photos that they took during their experience. If you missed this chance but want to think about being a club member, please contact us and well try and work something out for you.
Check out our upcoming events on Facebook!
Check events and boat reservations on the club calendar here.
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