Kingston, December 5, 2024 – It is with great sadness that Sail Canada shares with the Canadian sailing community the passing of Ed Botterell on December 2, 2024, at the age of 93.
With his background growing up in Montreal and sailing at the Royal Saint Lawrence Yacht Club, Ed Botterell represented Canada at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, where he took the 11th position in the Dragon class along with Joseph J. MacBrien and Lynn Watters.
After competing in a variety of different one-design classes, including 14 International, Lightning, Swiftsure, Shield, and Saber Scows, Ed Botterell sailed with the Red Jacket crew, which won the Southern Ocean Racing Conference (SORC) in 1968, and he helped put C&C yachts on the map as one of the world’s premier racing yacht builders. He logged over 45,000 ocean racing miles over the course of his life, notably at the Fastnet race, at five Marblehead to Halifax races, at six Bermuda races, as well as at 13 SORC circuit and six Key West series events, among others.
In 1968, he went into sailmaking and joined Ted Hood with Hood Sails to open the Canadian loft in Kingston, before moving the loft to Toronto 10 years later, and he then joined Doyle Sails in 1991.
Among many other Canadian sailing endeavours, he was a strong advocate of the Nonsuch sailboat classes, making sails and offering friendly advice along with designer Mark Ellis.
“On behalf of the Sail Canada community, I would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ed Botterell,” said the Chair of Sail Canada’s Board of Directors, Kate MacLennan. “Ed’s passion for sailing took him to the 1964 Olympic Games. Beyond that, as a sailmaker, he was a key part of the Canadian sailing scene for over 50 years sharing his passion with countless Canadian sailors young and old.”
More information about Ed Botterell is available at https://sailingincanada.ca/lifestyle/people-profiles/eight-bells-ed-botterell-another-legend-gone/.
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.
