On August 13, 2008, the SLSC race team headed to Ottawa for the bi-annual Ontario Summer Games. The team arrived as defending team champions from two years ago and left with Gold in 2008, as Amy DesBrisay and Kate Thomas triumphed in a seven race battle against stiff competition in a 23 boat fleet. The team of Kevin Robson and Ryan Callahan placed solidly in the top half of the fleet with improving results as the Regatta progressed. The younger skippers, Erik Nyhuus sailing with Sean Clynch and Owen Thomas sailing with Ellen Lourie gained valuable experience for two years from now when they will be the senior members of the SLSC contingent.
Amy and Kate were coming off a week of sailing in the Canadian Youth Championships and their learning experiences in Halifax stood them in good stead. They were the most consistent boat in the field, never finishing below 4th and outsailing teams from Sail Parry Sound, Bronte Harbour Yacht Club, Royal Hamilton Yacht Club and Burlington Sailing and Boating Club for their top of the podium finish.
Congratulations to the team for another great season of racing. The team combined good fun with many great results, carrying on the racing tradition at Sturgeon Lake that dates back for half a century. This Club has had many accomplished and decorated sailors, Fred Hopkins, David Barr, Bob Wisener, Richard Roberts, Greg Tawaststjerna, Duncan Lewis, David Tawaststjerna, David DesBrisay and Nick Roberts to name a few. There is also a large contingent of less decorated racers who learned a love for this sport on Sturgeon Lake. It is great that, over the last 3 or 4 years, a new generation of sailors has been adding to our racing tradition and having lots of fun doing it.
Ontario Summer Games results link: http://nsc.ca/osg/results.htm