On September 13^th, Evan Bower, Nick Williams, Daniel Race, Eliza Hyde, Matt King and Guy Tipton all loaded into Guy Tipton’s van and headed to Toronto towing their albacores behind them. They were all fired up and eager to represent the Shelburne Harbour Yacht Club in the Albacore Canadians and Albacore Internationals hosted at a complex of sailing clubs in downtown Toronto (J-Town, Mooredale and Westwood). There were five boats representing the East Coast of Canada, three of the five boats were from Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

The last time Toronto hosted the International Albacore Championships was 40 years ago. The first two days of the event were the Canadian Championships and the following four days were the International Championships (informally referred to as the “Worlds”). There were 74 teams competing in the Canadians which were held September 17th and 18^th. The conditions were challenging for the Canadian Championships with 2 to 6 foot waves and steep chop both days with winds ranging from 8 – 17 knots. The racing was done well into Lake Ontario.

At the end of the weekend, Nick Williams and Evan Bower were the 1^st Place Junior Team and Daniel Race and Eliza Hyde were the 2^nd Place Junior Team. Third Place went to a junior team from Toronto. These two Junior teams of young athletes did not feel they were being challenged enough competing under the title of Juniors and asked that their junior category be disregarded and allow the teams to race against the adult and more experienced competitors. After collecting their trophies at the formal banquet held at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club on Toronto Island, the Shelburne teams went on to compete four more days in the Canadian Internationals.

More moderate conditions during the week were capped off by wild 25 knot winds and 4 foot waves on the last day. After high winds, lightweight crews and a broken mast, Guy Tipton and Matt King finished in 9^th place in a fleet of 74 teams.

As well as gaining experience, meeting new people, racing on great waters the Shelburne teams were shown immense support from other sailing clubs in Canada. Who knows, maybe someday the Albacore Canadians and the Albacore Internationals will be held right here in Shelburne, Nova Scotia! Well done teams!