Recently, the Romanian Consulate in Toronto paid a visit to the Port Credit Yacht Club, confirming the participation of a talented group of young sailors from Romania in the upcoming Steerers Invitational and Four Sisters Open youth regattas at Port Credit Yacht Club.
16-year-old Sara Cristina Patache, the former Romanian Optimist National Champion, will be competing in the ILCA boat class along with Opti racers 13-year-old Maria Radu and 12-year-old Iulia Vartej. These young sailors represent the Asociatia Club Sportiv Constanta Sailing, a renowned youth sailing organization based in the city of Constanta, located on the picturesque Black Sea coast. Two more Romanian sailors may also join the team, further enhancing the international presence at these regattas.
A key figure instrumental in enabling this international opportunity is PCYC member, Sorin Grigorof. “It all started when I visited a sailing club in Constanta, Romania,” Sorin shared. “ It’s a fantastic way to build international friendships and help the sport grow, and I’m really excited to see it happen.”
Sorin was also pivotal in connecting the Romanian consulate with PCYC, where Past Commodore Mark Searle recently gave a comprehensive tour of Port Credit Yacht Club to Oana Raluca Gherghe, the Consul General of Romania in Toronto and Gabriela Covaci, Founder and Director of Arts4People Movement, a not-for-profit organization. During their stay, the athletes will have the opportunity to visit some local iconic attractions, including the CN Tower, Canada’s Wonderland, and Niagara Falls. Her efforts, along with the support of the Consulate, highlight the collaborative spirit that makes such international participation possible.
The upcoming regattas, hosted at PCYC from July 18th-21st promise to be a celebration of international camaraderie and competitive spirit.
