CAN 1 Bill Abbott, Joanne Abbott and Matthew Godfrey North American Champions

written by Matias Collins  on  June 30  of  2025 and read by 579

The winners CAN 1 leadind the downwind
@Andrew Morgan

The last day of the North American Championship started slow, ugly and even cold to be summer, the wind from South wouldn't stablish with a light intensity of 4 to 6 knots, flat water. After about an hour waiting finally it started, amazingly both ends paid and three boats arrived close at the weather mark, first the Californians USA 794 Andy Folz, Josh Lippitt and Alex Yakutis showing a boost of speed, followed on same side by USA 853 Matias Collins, Peter Norman and James Watson and lose ahead crossing from the right side CAN 1, the former Olympian showed his skills and at the downwind tangled USA 794 to a point where each boat chose a different mark at the gate, off course it paid up for the Canadians.. These three boats raced quite close when wind started to increase, and the sun also realized it was their turn.

By the end of the race, it was a sunny day with a 10 knots breeze from the South, the second race started and CAN 225 Peter Hall, Bruce Empey and Will Franklin-Thorpe at the RC started strong, CAN 1 had one mission, keep CAN 230 with Ross Findlater, John McNeil and Gord Devries behind. The battle began and some boats were there trying to avoid the fight, these USA 794, CAN 233 and USA 853 all three rounding the weather mark close but the downwind of USA 853 sent them forward and they chose the left gate also pulling a bit more away to keep that finish.

CAN 1 Bill Abbott, Joanne Abbott and Matthew Godfrey were crowned champions, Joanne already had shown the toughness of the crew after having to recover a spinnaker halyard lost by climbing the Soling mast.

After prizing giving a few boat already started their trip back home, basically all, as none belongs to the region where Kingston is located, the Californians will continue their dream trip by leaving the boat in Ontario, flying home and then coming back to sail the Canadian Championship at the end of the summer, it should be a great motivation to all crews to take part at the event that will be held in Montreal.

The NA event was organized under the CORK sailing week, now once more with a dates for keelboats, and it had Etchells, J80 and J70s a total of 30 team competing, the Soling class wishes that the initiative continues and more participants in the different classes return to CORK as it was in 70' and 80' a fabulous sailing place.
This 2025 North American Championship had the Devries family deeply involved in the organization and we thank all their efforts, as well the Kingtson Yacht Club hosting a great event dinner and the CORK oganization.

Complete Results

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After the rounding mark
@Andrew Morgan

Upwind to the right
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The leaders rounding
@Andrew Morgan