Welcome to our FIRST POST!

In this issue, we’re starting with a coaching perspective on Prairie sailing’s high-performance future, followed by photo of the week, a major Canadian sailing moment, a gear pick crews trust in unpredictable conditions, and some amazing opportunities at the end.

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Sail Canada and Sail Manitoba have announced the creation of the National Training Centre – Prairie Region, based at Gimli Yacht Club on Lake Winnipeg. For sailors across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, this marks an important step forward: a dedicated high-performance hub designed to support long-term athlete development closer to home.

National Training Centres are about more than hosting the occasional camp. Sail Canada’s model emphasizes continuity, consistent coaching, and structured pathways that allow sailors to progress over years, not weekends. That kind of stability is critical in a sport where development is incremental and experience compounds over time.

The announcement also highlights the Steve McBride Coaching Centre as a core part of the Prairie training centre model. Its inclusion signals a parallel focus on coach education and expertise, reinforcing that sustainable success depends on developing coaches alongside athletes.

The recognition is well earned. Steve McBride has been widely acknowledged for his coaching impact, including being named a Sail Canada Coach of the Year (2016) and receiving Sail Manitoba’s 2025 Honorary Member Award.

Together, the NTC–Prairie Region and the Steve McBride Coaching Centre point to a clear direction for Prairie sailing: connected provinces, stronger coaching pathways, and high-performance opportunities that no longer require leaving the region to access national-level support.

More than anything, this moment reflects the depth of Steve’s impact on Canadian sailing. Generations of sailors and coaches carry his influence forward, and this centre stands as a lasting expression of the standard he set and the belief he showed in the people around him.

Steve McBride accepts the Sail Manitoba honorary membership award from his former mentor David Telles-Langdon. Steve’s contribution to the sailing community are insurmountable–from being somebody who touch with—to coaching multiple Olympic meta winning athletes

Born in Burlington, Ontario, she first learned to sail in the Optimist at age seven in Barbados, racing at major youth championships before returning to Canada and moving into the Laser Radial, now ILCA 6.

She also notched major international wins, including World Sailing World Cup gold at Princess Sofia (2022) and World Sailing World Cup gold at French Olympic Week (2023).

In her retirement announcement, Douglas shared that she is closing this chapter “with honesty and respect for the sport,” and that it is not a goodbye, it is a new direction.

She is staying deeply connected to sailing, including continuing as Athlete Director on Sail Canada’s Board of Directors, and she plans to build a team for the 2026 New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship sailing IC37 keelboats.

Thank you, Sarah, for everything you’ve given to Canadian sailing.

Cold fronts. Spray on deck. Long days where you cannot afford to get chilled. This is the mid-layer salopette built to keep your core warm without turning you into a marshmallow.

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Whether you’re offshore, coaching, or standing around the dock between races, this is the “stay warm, stay mobile” layer that makes cold days way more manageable.

💡 Crew tip: Best worn under shell salopettes for cold, wet coach boat days.

Open sailing-related roles, coaching positions, and opportunities for anyone looking to get more involved in the sport.

Know a club that’s hiring? Reply to this email or submit a role.

Thanks for being part of the crew. Whether you’re training, coaching, racing, or just chasing the breeze, keep learning and enjoying the ride.

— Arya & Seb

⛵️ P.S.

Got a photo, tip, or race update? Reply and it might appear in next week’s issue.