Toronto Island is a good example of how Canada cares Canadians leisure time. A well rounded design of a place for enjoying nature, art, and amusement, where ingenuity is everywhere. A must for visitors.
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Sailing to Toronto Islands
Toronto Island is a good example of how Canada cares Canadians leisure time. A well rounded design of a place for enjoying nature, art, and amusement, where ingenuity is everywhere. A must for visitors.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
A Solo Race of 32,000 kilometres, 130 days!!! Derek is welcome back home!
Just to remember the last "Velux 5 Oceans" sole race... "It is a 32,000-mile race, and with four stops along the way, takes approximately 130 days. This race is sailed on an ECO 60 by all competitors; it is a boat designed on the unique balance of weight and displacement. It is powerful, noisy and fast. Derek admitted that now, after 50,000+ miles onboard, he thinks he finally understands her complexities." Elizabeth A Kerr, http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=84575
"It takes tremendous courage, determination and persistence to race around the world alone. Derek is the 126th brave sailor to have ever done it. As perspective, this is fewer than the 400 astronauts who have gone into space or the over 15,000 mountaineers who have reached the summit of Mt. Everest. It is a tremendous accomplishment under normal circumstances, but Derek Hatfield’s story is truly inspiring." http://spiritofcanada.net/wordpress2/about/
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Starting the new season...
Some hours with good weather gave us the perfect time frame for a start. Just sailing around while trimming the sails for the first time this year was wonderful!
A first sailing try not more than two hours long let us enjoy the lake and the southwest view of Toronto. It was a recognition time to adjust the main sail and the Genoa, checking and fine-tuning their elements. Everything is working well and the crew is enthisiastic!
A first sailing try not more than two hours long let us enjoy the lake and the southwest view of Toronto. It was a recognition time to adjust the main sail and the Genoa, checking and fine-tuning their elements. Everything is working well and the crew is enthisiastic!
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Pingoyo and Chacho´s Launch!!!
Finally, we launched our sailboats at Toronto Sailing & Canoe Club. They were prepared for the cold water again! This was an special date for us since the Winter was long an cold and the season was a real need! At the TS&CC is a very important and nice date when many people come together helping each other and making possible that all our boats are safely back in the water.
BTW, the weather was perfect for the Launch, and the preparation and logistics: great! Congrats to TS&CC!
THANKS to volunteers! Great team: Peter, Pablo, Shane and Alvaro Ignacio!
BTW, the weather was perfect for the Launch, and the preparation and logistics: great! Congrats to TS&CC!
THANKS to volunteers! Great team: Peter, Pablo, Shane and Alvaro Ignacio!
Fishing the Haliyard for the Jib! Thanks to Peter, Pablo, Alvaro Ignacio and Shane
Installing the mooring lines
Thanks, guys! Good job!
Friday, 22 April 2011
Saying Bye to the Ice to Start a New Season
Now that the New Season is about to start, let me share with you some pictures of the last traces of ice in the Toronto Sailing and Canoe Club.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/highparkskippers/5570620818/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/highparkskippers/5570620818/in/photostream/
Saturday, 9 April 2011
Go Go Go! Derek Hatfield (CANADA)
"Name: Derek Hatfield
Age: 58
Hometown: Nova Scotia, Canada
Class: Eco 60
Boat: Active House
Website: SpiritofCanada.net
When Derek Hatfield started work as a Canadian mounted policeman in 1971, little did he know nearly 40 years on he would be one of the most respected solo sailors in the world. Back then he specialised in complex fraud investigations - now he specializes in racing state of the art yachts thousands of miles across the world's toughest oceans, alone.
In 2003, Derek showed the world what one man can achieve if they have passion, determination and skill. Then aged 50, the Canadian steered his yacht to a podium position in the VELUX 5 OCEANS (then known as the Around Alone). It was a magnificent achievement - during one of the legs Derek's yacht flipped over and its mast was destroyed in a huge storm off Cape Horn. Somehow Derek limped to land and spent five weeks repairing the damage before again setting sail. He was rewarded for his efforts with third place in the race. In recognition of this amazing feat Derek was named 2003 Rolex Canadian Sailor of the Year.
Derek has racked up around 90,000 miles at sea in some of the best known races and is undoubtedly Canada's most successful singlehanded sailor. In October the 57-year-old will return to the start line of the VELUX 5 OCEANS for the second time, ready to once again take on the Ultimate Solo Challenge.
For the 2008 Vendée Globe, Derek plastered the hull of his yacht with the names of every single person who helped him in his campaign, whether financially or in kind. It is something he has continued to do ever since and his Eco 60 yacht Spirit of Canada will be no exception."
Source: http://www.velux5oceans.com. http://www.activehouse.info/velux5oceans
Age: 58
Hometown: Nova Scotia, Canada
Class: Eco 60
Boat: Active House
Website: SpiritofCanada.net
When Derek Hatfield started work as a Canadian mounted policeman in 1971, little did he know nearly 40 years on he would be one of the most respected solo sailors in the world. Back then he specialised in complex fraud investigations - now he specializes in racing state of the art yachts thousands of miles across the world's toughest oceans, alone.
In 2003, Derek showed the world what one man can achieve if they have passion, determination and skill. Then aged 50, the Canadian steered his yacht to a podium position in the VELUX 5 OCEANS (then known as the Around Alone). It was a magnificent achievement - during one of the legs Derek's yacht flipped over and its mast was destroyed in a huge storm off Cape Horn. Somehow Derek limped to land and spent five weeks repairing the damage before again setting sail. He was rewarded for his efforts with third place in the race. In recognition of this amazing feat Derek was named 2003 Rolex Canadian Sailor of the Year.
Derek has racked up around 90,000 miles at sea in some of the best known races and is undoubtedly Canada's most successful singlehanded sailor. In October the 57-year-old will return to the start line of the VELUX 5 OCEANS for the second time, ready to once again take on the Ultimate Solo Challenge.
For the 2008 Vendée Globe, Derek plastered the hull of his yacht with the names of every single person who helped him in his campaign, whether financially or in kind. It is something he has continued to do ever since and his Eco 60 yacht Spirit of Canada will be no exception."
Source: http://www.velux5oceans.com. http://www.activehouse.info/velux5oceans
Monday, 4 April 2011
WOW! The Virbac Paprec 3 arrived in Barcelona!
"Jean-Pierre Dick (45) and Loïck Peyron (51) have won the second edition of the Barcelona World Race on Virbac-Paprec 3, completing the 25,200 miles round the world race in 93 days, 22 hours, 20 mins and 36 seconds at an average speed of 11.18 knots."
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Passion for World Sailing....
Only passion for sailing can move participants in very long races. It is the case of the Barcelona World Race 2011 (BWR 2011). We have seen excellence in every phase of the race. The preparation of the crews and boats have been incredibly well planned and executed. But it is difficult to think that it is just brain what is moving this people. You see passion for world sailing! All of participants live to sail!
The BWR2011 started 90 days ago. Today, Virbac Paprec 3 (France) is leading as it has been the case since the start.
The second sailboat, MAPFRE, is a 300 nautical miles distance, and the third at 1150 nm. The first two are approaching The Rock of Gibraltar.
A simple account says that seteris paribus once arrive the leader to the finish line, the day after arrives the second sailboat, and the 5th day the third, but the 9th sailboat "We are Water" will arrive 25 days behind Virvac... All of them will make history.
The BWR 2011 has used the best technologies to let us witness the race from our computers. Satellite technologies have combines with web techs to let us enjoy almost in real time every move, every tack of the participants... Enjoy it!
Some interesting links on the BWR 2011:
To track the race:
http://tracking.barcelonaworldrace.org/ES/
http://barcelonaworldrace.geovoile.org/2010/?lg=en
To get info about the race:
http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org/en/index.php
The BWR2011 started 90 days ago. Today, Virbac Paprec 3 (France) is leading as it has been the case since the start.
The second sailboat, MAPFRE, is a 300 nautical miles distance, and the third at 1150 nm. The first two are approaching The Rock of Gibraltar.
A simple account says that seteris paribus once arrive the leader to the finish line, the day after arrives the second sailboat, and the 5th day the third, but the 9th sailboat "We are Water" will arrive 25 days behind Virvac... All of them will make history.
The BWR 2011 has used the best technologies to let us witness the race from our computers. Satellite technologies have combines with web techs to let us enjoy almost in real time every move, every tack of the participants... Enjoy it!
Some interesting links on the BWR 2011:
To track the race:
http://tracking.barcelonaworldrace.org/ES/
http://barcelonaworldrace.geovoile.org/2010/?lg=en
To get info about the race:
http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org/en/index.php
Sunday, 27 March 2011
Polaris in Lion's Head, Georgean Bay
This is beautiful Georgian Bay with the Lion's Head light house in the Foreground. The point of land in the back ground is 2 miles away. At night, this light can be seen from 10 miles away.
Below is the First Mate aboard Polaris on dry dock after haul out. 
Here I am beside Polaris in Lion's Head Marina.
Below is one of the main docks in the marina. Polaris's slip is towards the end of it.
Launch date is May 21 in Lion's Head. The skipper and the first mate are looking forward to a great summer on the water.
Below is the First Mate aboard Polaris on dry dock after haul out. 
Here I am beside Polaris in Lion's Head Marina.Below is one of the main docks in the marina. Polaris's slip is towards the end of it.
Launch date is May 21 in Lion's Head. The skipper and the first mate are looking forward to a great summer on the water.
Yahoo!!!!......new to the HPSA!!!!!
Let's see where the Skippers will take us!!!!
For Sure a place to share a Passion!!!!!
SO, let's make it happen, life is too short and the sailing season too!!!
Would love to know all the skippers that are out there in High Park...cool!
Thanks Alvaro (Pingoyo) for the Blogger master Work!!!! you are good!!!
We do the easy part..... Type!!!!!
Let's get ready for Launch! we will see you at the club's yard...
Cheers!
Pablo
For Sure a place to share a Passion!!!!!
SO, let's make it happen, life is too short and the sailing season too!!!
Would love to know all the skippers that are out there in High Park...cool!
Thanks Alvaro (Pingoyo) for the Blogger master Work!!!! you are good!!!
We do the easy part..... Type!!!!!
Let's get ready for Launch! we will see you at the club's yard...
Cheers!
Pablo
Saturday, 26 March 2011
2011 Launch!!!
Next May 7th is the Haul Out Date at the Toronto Sailing and Canoe Club (TSCC) in Toronto.
We all have waited for this day since October 16th when the Haul Out day came to take our sailboat away from us! After 6 months we will sail again and again and again!
We need to be prepared for the Launch of "Chacho" and "Pingoyo". We have only six weekends until then, enough time to plan and execute well the work of the most expected day of the year! Please, be aware that for planning carefully the launch of Chacho and Pingoyo, we will need to co-ordinate volunteers, so we are organizing the planning, preparation and execution of the launch. We will use some communication tools we are experimenting with so be patient. One of them is the calendar, but we may add any other app to that end. At last, emailing will be good!
So, let´s get ready for that!
Volunteers: Show Up!!!
We all have waited for this day since October 16th when the Haul Out day came to take our sailboat away from us! After 6 months we will sail again and again and again!
We need to be prepared for the Launch of "Chacho" and "Pingoyo". We have only six weekends until then, enough time to plan and execute well the work of the most expected day of the year! Please, be aware that for planning carefully the launch of Chacho and Pingoyo, we will need to co-ordinate volunteers, so we are organizing the planning, preparation and execution of the launch. We will use some communication tools we are experimenting with so be patient. One of them is the calendar, but we may add any other app to that end. At last, emailing will be good!
So, let´s get ready for that!
Volunteers: Show Up!!!
2010 Haul Out...
On October 16th we had our Haul Out Day at the TSCC. It was a very interesting date for a beginner like me who was really getting the most of every minute those days when I got my sailboat. It was a very short but fruitful experience hauling out "Pingoyo". Here we share some of the pictures I took at the date.
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| Pingoyo moored and waiting turn |
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| Pingoyo at the dock |
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| Another boat being prepared for haulout |
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| Pingoyo in its way to its cradle |
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| Pingoyo´s cradle |
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| Almost ready... |
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| On site... |
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| The little tools... amazing! |
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| Lifting the boats is a very fine work. Well done, | folks! |
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