Staying afloat
Boating events abound in Richmond
If you are a sailing enthusiast, you will be interested in these next two items.
The MacAskill Cup Sailing Race will take place on July 15. The MacAskill Cup will celebrate its 27th anniversary this year. The racing program is as follows:
Friday, July 15: Warmup races on the club’s buoyed short course in Jackson Bay. The Skippers meeting will take place at 1 p.m. at the St. Peter’s Lion’s Marina in St. Peter’s, with the race starting at 2 p.m.
Saturday, July 16: The MacAskill Cup Race will run today. This is a 25 NM race into the big lake, followed by reception and awards ceremony at the Lions’ Marina. Skipper’s meeting will take place at 10 a.m at the Lions Marina. The main race start time is TBA.
Wednesday Night Racing in St. Peter’s is back. The Wallace MacAskill Yacht Club members is welcoming visiting sailors and would-be sailors to join them on their boats, or on your own for the classic Wednesday night run around the buoys. Racing season runs from June 15 until Sept 28. Prizes for the spring/summer and summer/fall series are $100 gift certificates from the Bras d’Or Lakes Inn and can be redeemed for fine dining in their Britanny Room. Whimsical prizes may be offered for deserving sailors after each individual race. The PHRF handicap system is used. All those intending to race should get their rating from the Nova Scotia Sailing Association (a free service). Visit: http:// www.sailnovascotia.ca/phrfns-ratings-of-yachts.html. At the top of that page you will see a button to ‘Add Yacht’ this provides you with an online form to have your boat listed with NSSA and rated for PHRF.
Skippers’ meetings will be held at Lions Marina beginning at 5:15 p.m., for a 6 p.m. start. Visitors who would like to sail with a racer should hook up here before the skippers’ meeting or call Gordon Kerr at (902) 631-3754.
Bras d’Or Watch 2016, the second annual citizens science field day of the Bras d’Or Lake shore, will take place July 16, 2-5 p.m. It’s being held at the St. Peter’s Marina in St. Peter’s and also at the following locations around Cape Breton, Baddeck, Ben Eoin Beach, East Bay, Eskasoni, and Grand Narrows. No experience is required to take part. Everyone is welcome to attend. Kids are encouraged to come and help, watch and learn. Rain date is Sunday, July 17.