Kingston, October 10, 2023 – Sail Canada announced today that the 2022 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships, held in September of 2022 at St. Margaret’s Bay, N.S., received the Sail Canada 2022 City of Kingston Regatta of the Year Award.
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. In order to be eligible for this award, 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, 2022.
The 2022 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships were a collaborative effort using the resources from Sail Nova Scotia as well as the Hubbards Sailing Club, Hubbards Community Waterfront and St. Margaret’s Sailing Club. Over five weeks, more than 300 sailors and their coaches attended the newly renovated waterfront venue, that time period ending with the actual five days of championships, from August 31 to September 5. As many as 225 volunteers registered to be part of the event.
Financially, the event had an unprecedented level of private funding through key partnerships with sponsors and private donors. Studies show that visitors spent a total of more than $900,000 in connection with the event, with benefits of $4.6 million in overall economic activity in the province of Nova Scotia.
“We are really excited about this award,” said Bill Doane, co-chair of the 2022 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships with John Flemming. “It’s a tremendous recognition for the thousands and thousands of volunteer hours that went into putting this event together. The other things that are really significant about the event are the infrastructure and the legacy that have been left behind, which are going to be enjoyed by the community for generations, as well as the inspiration that it provided to our local sailors and athletes at the Hubbards Sailing Club and St. Margaret Sailing Club. We’re really hoping that this will be inspirational for generations to come, and will continue developing high performance sailing in Canada. Thank you so much!”
More information on the City of Kingston Regatta of the Year Award is available at https://www.sailing.ca/city-of-kingston-regatta-of-the-year-award-past-winners/.
About Sail Canada
Established in 1931, Sail Canada is the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the country. Sail Canada is a leading international sailing nation, proud of its world class athletes, lifelong participants and inclusive culture. The organization and its members are committed to excellence by developing and training its leaders, athletes, sailors, instructors, coaches and officials. With the valued support from our partners, the Provincial Sailing Associations and our member clubs, schools, organizations and stakeholders, sailing is promoted in all its forms. By setting standards and delivering programs from home pond to podium for Canadians of all ages and abilities, from dinghies to keelboats, cruising to navigation, windsurfing to powerboating and accessible sailing, Sail Canada sets sail for all, sail to win and sail for life.
A sport in the Olympic program since the first Games in 1896, except in 1904, the pursuit of success in these Games is what fuels the focus of Sail Canada as Canadian athletes have so far achieved nine Olympic and five Paralympic medals.
