LYRA Hosting J/105s Too!(Toronto, Ontario)- The Ashbridge’s Bay Yacht Club (ABYC) in Toronto will host the 130th annual Lake Yacht Racing Association (LYRA) Annual Regatta. This event consists of both long-distance and course racing, with the fleets representing numerous LYRA member yacht clubs in the Great Lakes. The racing extends from July 26 to August 3. In addition, the ABYC is also hosting the J/80 Canadian Open.
Led by the Lake Ontario Fleet Captain Lawrence Alexander (Jiggers), and with support from ABYC member Bart Smit (Nautical Symphony), the J/80 fleet have invited their fleet members to a week of events culminating at LYRA. This initiative, dubbed “Get Ready”, “Get set”, and “Go”, is a major component of a program to prepare for the North Americans and Worlds this fall in Annapolis.
“We’ve put together a great series of events that leads up to a Canadian championship in honour of Hans Fogh”, commented Alexander. “We’d like all of our J/80 counterparts to come on up and experience the fun times at this exciting event in a wonderful location hosted at Ashbridges Bay Yacht Club (ABYC) in Toronto!”
After the CanAm Challenge in Youngstown, the fleet will make its way to ABYC for an exclusive J/80 speed clinic on July 30 with the 2012 J/80 North American champion Mike Wolfs. July 31 is a day of R&R featuring fleet social activities including a fan demo sail, BBQ and entertainment.
And the climax of the week is the Hans Fogh Canadian J/80 Open 2014. The championship will be held in conjunction with the three days of course racing on August 1-2-3. “We are excited to see the J/80 fleet embrace this opportunity and we look forward to welcoming them to LYRA”, said Fleet Co-coordinator Brian Chapman.
The J/105s will also be tuning-up for their North Americans locally in Toronto being held later in September at Royal Canadian YC. Many local top teams are in attendance, including past champions like Jim Rathbun’s HEY JUDE, local hotshots like Terry McLaughlin & Rod Wilmer sailing MANDATE, Ian Farquharson driving SONIC BOOM and Gavin Disney skippering THE USUAL SUSPECTS. For more J/80 Canadian Open and LYRA Regatta sailing information
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