Kingston, November 20, 2024 – It is with great sadness that Sail Canada shares with the Canadian sailing community the passing of William “Bill” Alexander Abbott on November 15, 2024, at the age of 98.
William Alexander Abbott, who was also known as “Chief”, was born in Capreol, Ontario, before moving to Sarnia, and was recognized as one of Canada’s best yacht builders.
After serving in the navy during World War II, he returned to Sarnia to open Abbott Boat Works with his father, where they earned a reputation for building boats according to high standards.
In the first decade of the company, he built and raced wooden power boats and then, over the years, he transitioned into building many sailboat classes that included the Dragon, Folk Boat, Soling, Finn, Wayfarer and Banshee, but also an Abbott Line of boats: the Abbott 22, 27, 28, 33, 36, and Waverbreaker, Fisherman 22 fishing boats and canoes.
On the competitive side, he was named to the Team Canada Sailing Team for the 1980 Olympic Games, which Canada boycotted. He represented Canada at the 1983 Pan American Games, and won gold at the Soling North American Championships.
His contribution to Canadian sailing will be remembered forever as his name is associated with a Sail Canada Award. In 1991, the Sarnia Yacht Club, where he was a lifetime member, donated the William Abbott Senior Trophy to be given out to the Sail Training Program of the Year. The award recognizes the many fine programs run by dedicated volunteers throughout Canada that also share information among clubs for the improvement of their sail training programs. More information about the William Abbott Senior Trophy is available at https://www.sailing.ca/william-abbott-past-winners/.
William Alexander Abbott was also named a “Legend of Sailing” by Ontario Sailing in 2017.
“On behalf of the Sail Canada community, I would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of William Alexander Abbott,” said the Chair of Sail Canada’s Board of Directors, Kate MacLennan. “His work as a boat builder has contributed in putting Canada amongst the top sailing nations in the world, as he also did while representing the country in international competition, including that missed opportunity at the 1980 Olympic Games.”
A donation in honour and memory of William Alexander Abbott can be made to the Sarnia Yacht Club Junior Sailors, as well as to ShareWord Global (previously known as “Gideons”), to The Inn of the Good Shepherd, and to the St. Joseph’s Hospice Resource Centre of Sarnia Lambton.
Visitation and the funeral will take place at the Smith Funeral Home, 1576 London Line, Sarnia, ON. Visitation hours will be on Thursday, November 21, 2024, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The funeral will be held on Friday, November 22, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. The service will be followed by a lunch. The luncheon will be followed by the burial.
Community members can read his obituary at https://smithfuneralhome.ca/memorial/william-bill-alexander-abbott-0.
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.
