The Canadian 5O5 Class Association

An early adopter and pioneer of 505 sailing in Canada. His passion for the class has been passed down through two generations. A fleet builder, to say the least.

Great gloves. Cheap, durable and comfortable.

Twelve sailors from 15 to 30+ years old took part in this year Espoir camp on Sunday June 30 at NSC. This year, all participants were members of NSC. They were part of the club’s youth 420 racing team or racers in the J22 or Shark classes.

The wind was very strong, 15kn with some gusts at 25kn, so three experience 505 skippers, Shona Moss, Luke Strickland and Evania Lovshin took their 505 out to give rides to the participants.  The Storer’s brother took their 505 out by themselves and they did great.  We had two coach boats on the water at all time for safety and to facilitate the exchange of sailors taking rides.

After a session to go over the 505 rig, four 505 were rigged and set to go sailing in windy conditions. Our three experienced skippers took off with three participants, along with the Storer brothers. The rest of the participants went out in in the coach boats. 

Everyone enjoyed trapezing fully extended and blasting around with the spinnaker. It was terrific to see the participants get back in the zodiac after their ride with their eyes wide open and big smile on their face.  In the debriefing session one participant comment “sailing a 420 is like driving a Mustang but sailing a 505 is like driving a Ferrari”.

We now have a large group of sailors keen to race on Wednesday nights and at other occasions. 

Thank you to the NSC for letting the fleet use their coach boats, to Shona, Luke and Evania for taking the sailors out and to Steve Lovshin and Marie Gendron for operating the coach boats.

For an excellent website documenting old footage of past regattas, look no further than:

https://www.sail-world.com/news/274169/The-oldest-footage-of-505-racing

Record participation at NOD 2024 NOD 2024 saw a record registration of 16 teams including 14 U25 sailors form USA, Toronto and the Ottawa areas.

Racing was cancelled on Saturday has the wind did not show up but Ethan Bixby was very generous of his time, giving instructions on different aspects of rigging, sail shape and sailing the 505. His boat was literally surround by the young and the older 505 sailors all day, curious to learn from this experience sailor and sail maker.

Three races were run on Sunday in wind ranging from 8 to 15 kn. Racing was very close with seconds separating the top boats at the end of all races.

Ethan sailing with Cameron Laing (Youth sailor on BYC Laser Racing Team) placed 1 st overall. Debbie Ashby and Dave Adams were second and Christian Voyer and Luke Strickland (U25 team from NSC) placed 3 rd . Only 1pt separate Ethan and Debbie teams and there was also 1pt between Debbie and Christian teams.

The fleet wants to thank Shona Weldon (8610) and Steve Lovshin (8468) for lending their boat to youth teams. The Fleet boat (was also raced by a youth team.

505 Fleet

Sailed: 3, Discards: 0, To count: 3, Entries: 16, Scoring system:

Things are alive and well in the great white north. Picture taken from this past weekend’s Nepean One Design (NOD) regatta in Ottawa Ontario hosted by Nepean Sailing Club. Please note all the young faces representing the next generation of 505 sailors!

Sure we got shut out of wind on Saturday but the weather changed for Sunday and it certainly made up for it. Everyone went home tired and satisfied.

Hats off to the RC for reading the weather correctly and sending us out in no wind because when the first gun went off, so did the wind begin to fill in and with vengeance!

Fleet News for 2024

In the upcoming season, Kingston 5O5s will participate in the weekly Wednesday night dinghy races at KYC, providing a prime opportunity to promote the class. Additionally, a demo day is in the works, tentatively scheduled for the Friday preceding the 5O5 Training Weekend on July 6-7. Kingston Sail Loft’s new owners, Ali Meller, Steve Yates, and Sue Fraser, are committed to focusing on sail repairs while also considering the production of new sails.

The Vancouver Fleet is set to host the Canadian Championships, with the date and location yet to be confirmed, possibly coinciding with the Kitsilano Invitational on July 6-7.

Treasurer’s Report

The Association’s revenues in 2023 amounted to $950, a notable increase from the $880 generated in 2022. This rise can be attributed to a larger membership, with 30 members contributing to the association’s funds. The primary sources of income are annual membership dues, occasional donations, and surplus net revenues from sponsored events.

Expenses in 2023 totaled $637, a decrease from $1,067 in 2022, primarily due to reduced funding requests for major regattas and seminars. Anticipating increased funding needs in 2024, the report emphasizes the association’s commitment to financial transparency.

Secretary’s Report

Membership renewal emails for 2024 were sent to 40 sailors on January 8, with 16 members already renewing, including 8 opting for a two-year renewal. The report encourages all members to renew promptly, highlighting the requirement for current membership to participate in upcoming events. Notably, the association now offers free full membership to sailors aged 25 and under, excluding those eligible for family membership./

President’s Report

The 2023 season showcased a vibrant calendar of racing, starting with the Midwinters in Florida and culminating in the World Championship in San Francisco. The 505 Canadians in Kingston at Portsmouth Olympic Harbors drew 19 boats from Canada and the U.S., marking a successful event. Special congratulations to Jeff Boyd and Martin ten Hove for their standout performance.

Other notable events included the East Coast Championship in Sakonnet, RI, with 11 Canadian teams participating, and the World Championship in San Francisco, where six Canadian teams competed. The report acknowledges the strong Canadian representation at these prestigious events.

Additional Highlights of the 2023 Season

Worlds, San Francisco, CA

Six Canadian Teams participated, with Bob Tennant and Steve Bourdow just missing the top 10, coming in 11th.

Canadian Officers/Directors

All current officers/directors remain in office, with Treasurer Cynthia Des Brisay set to step down next year. The class is actively seeking a new Treasurer, and interested members are encouraged to contact Cynthia or Paul Place. Cynthia plans to mentor the new Treasurer during 2024.

Ali Meller, Steve Yates, and Sue Fraser have taken the helm as the new owners and operators of Kingston Sail Loft (KSL). Their focus is on sail repairs, but they’re not limiting themselves to only sail repairs.

KSL’s digital presence will reflect the latest developments. Keep an eye out for updates on the website and Facebook page, where the dynamic trio will showcase their commitment to the sailing community.

Expressing gratitude, Ali, Steve, and Sue acknowledge the invaluable support received from KSL’s founder and late owner, John Clark. They also extend their appreciation to his daughters for their assistance in facilitating the transition. Friends within the industry have been instrumental, providing advice, support, and encouragement as the new owners embarked on this journey.

Ali brings some sailmaking experience, having worked at Storer Sails in Barrie, Ontario, many years ago during a summer job. Despite his past exposure, he humbly acknowledges that there is much to learn about sail repair, sail making, and business operations.

Kingston Sail Loft is now officially open for business at its new location, 774 Baker Crescent, Kingston, ON K7M 6P6. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a curious newcomer, feel free to drop by and discover the latest happenings at KSL.