This five-day race kicks off July 21

NEWS RELEASE

ALGOMA SAILING CLUB

**************************
The Algoma Sailing Club is pleased to be co-sanctioning alongside the Little Current Yacht Club and the North Channel Yacht Club, the North Channel Race Week from July 21 to July 25, 2014.  

This five-day race series begins in Hilton Beach on St. Joseph Island and, over the course of five days, winds its way through the North Channel eventually finishing in Little Current on Manitoulin Island.  

Each day consists of an event stage with each stage having its own unique coastal geography and challenges.

The North Channel Race Week will consist of five consecutive day races consisting of:

• Leg 1: Monday 21 July 2014, Hilton Beach (St Joseph Island) to Thessalon
• Leg 2: Tuesday 22 July, Thessalon to Vidal Bay (Manitoulin Island)
• Leg 3: Wednesday 23 July, Vidal Bay to Spragge
• Leg 4: Thursday 24 July, Spragge to Gore Bay (Manitoulin Island)
• Leg 5: Friday 25 July, Gore Bay to Little Current (Manitoulin Island)

Race Trophy Sponsors are CIBC Wood Gundy, Intrinsic Financial Group,  and Lock City Dairies.

North Channel Race Week evolved out of the MacMan Challenge series which concluded in 2013 after having run for ten years.  

The North Channel Race Week moves the entire course schedule into the beautiful North Channel of Lake Huron.

Local teams and yachts partaking in this new event include Natural High, a 33’ Abbott design skippered by Andrew Hallett, Skyship, a 32’ C&C design skippered by Gord Simpson and Echo, a 30’ Nonsuch skippered by Gerry Neave.  

All three of these boats had consistently placed well often winning the various legs in the MacMan Challenge.  

These boats will also be joined by two other new entries from Sault Ste. Marie’s Algoma Sailing Club being, Whiskey Jack, a 26’ Mirage skippered by Ron Wilson and Sunny J, a 27’ C&C skippered by John Wright.  

These yachts will contend against a varied fleet from across the north shore for individual stage wins and overall series titles.  

A variety of other craft from Little Current, Spanish, Bruce Mines, Hilton Beach, Gore Bay and other spots along the North Shore will be challenging for the titles.  

This is anticipated to be a fantastic sailing series.

A number of sailing forums including staff at Sail World, Gam on Yachting, and Ontario Sailing will be following this inaugural event.  

**************************