For the second time, SailTime GTA (Greater Toronto Area) will have two Hunter 36 yachts competing in the Lake Ontario300, the longest annual freshwater sailboat race on the planet. A group of SailTime GTA members have come together and grouped their fractional yachting time slots to crew the sailboats for the 3-4 day off-shore race.
As well, SailTime GTA will sponsor the event fleet – one Hunter 33 sailboat and one Cruiser 360 Express power yacht – with Canadian Yachting. As part of the Synergy sponsorship, they will be at the kick off for the Lake Ontario 300 and will be hosting local dignitaries such as the mayor of Mississauga.
The off-shore race, now in its 20th year, is sold out with 170 boats registered in 9 different classes. Five classes are in the long distance race (300 Nautical Miles) which use spinnaker sails to help in light wind. “Never Say Never” and “Oasis” of Port Credit Yacht Club will enter as a team for the Scotch Bonnet Island Course, PHRF rated, white Sails, fully crewed. This is the shorter race at 170 nautical miles and no spinnaker use with approximately 41 boats registered in this class.
You can check in online with Lake Ontario 300 and follow the progress of the Sailtime-GTA team through the online race tracking tool!
In 2007, “Oasis” with SailTime GTA members Tim & David at the helm placed an impressive 4th place finish! Afterwards, the “Never Say Never” team commented “Night sailing is a blast; we had great weather that made it a lot of fun. The social interaction and fun competition between boats and sailors was amazing.”
“Never Say Never ” won the photo contest in 2007 and forms part of the collection of photo’s gathered each year. The photo is being used in promotional materials by the Lake Ontario 300 organization and in a number of magazines and calendars. The photo from “Never Say Never” is of a sailboat at dusk with a glimmering jib sheet.
