Driving along the Dyke Road last weekend, a collection of sailboats were visible in the estuary.
They were probably the Comox Bay Sailing Club sailing team, on the water in perfect wind and seas for the start of the 2017 season.
With a performance goal of consistent podium placements in the BC Sailing regatta circuit firmly in its sights, 14 CBSC sailors 10–17 years were running through a series of drills and practice races in the Comox estuary.
Sailing in single-handed and double-handed dinghies, the team is looking to build on last year’s success at regattas in Victoria and Vancouver, at the BC Summer Games, and at its home event in Comox.
The rapidly growing team has reached the level where a top coach is needed to continue its momentum and achieve its potential. For 2017, the CBSC has brought on board Ian Elliot, an experienced Sail Canada coach with an outstanding background and proven success in provincial, national and international competition.
Elliot is eager to connect with Comox sailors.
“The feeling of developing a new skill or refining one that you have been working on for years and then suddenly having it click, those moments are a big part of what keeps me coming back to sailing personally, and being a part of when it happens in my athletes is what makes me passionate about coaching,” Elliot said. “Everything I have seen points to Comox Bay Sailing Club being an exciting young club full of people who want to have those experiences and to drink in this sport. I am really excited about Comox as a community and I am pumped to continue the development of the sport that I love in such a cool place.
“Sailing has so much to offer. I have seen sailing introduce academically-inclined children to physical literacy and a love of fitness, and I have seen children who love sports but who don’t love academics learn eagerly about angles and vectors to help their sailing. Comox Bay Sailing Club offers a small, safe community of youth and adults where children can experience successes and setbacks and thrills together as a group. I hope any family who is considering it joins the club and gets to see their young ones develop self-confidence and responsibility in the unique and engaging sport of sailing.”
Commodore of the CBSC, Andy Walther, is excited at the prospects for 2017.
“Next year is the eighth anniversary of the sailing team, and we look forward to seeing more sailors getting started in our exciting sport and our club producing more BC Provincial Sailing Champions. Ian is a big part of this.”
The Comox Bay Sailing Club is the spring, summer and fall sailing course provider for Courtenay Recreation and host of the BC Sailing circuit Comox Bay Regatta July 29/30. This event attracts over 150 sailors from around the province and western Canada to the Comox Valley.
FMI: dinghyadmin@comoxbaysailingclub.ca or check the spring rec guide.
