SASKATCHEWAN SAILING CLUBS ASSOCIATION
The Saskatchewan Sailing Clubs Association (SSCA) is the Provincial Sports Governing Body for the sport of sailing. The Association promotes all forms of sailing in the province. It is a non-profit corporation and is mostly run by volunteers who love the sport. In 2014, it had 440 members and a budget of approximately $170K.
There are nine sailing clubs in Saskatchewan: 1. Prince Albert Sailing Club, Emma Lake 2. Battlefords Sailing Club, Jackfish Lake, Meota 3. Saskatoon Sailing Club, Redberry Lake 4. Candle Lake Sailing Club, Candle Lake 5. Blackstrap Sailing Club, Blackstrap Lake 6. Lake Diefenbaker Yacht Club, Elbow Harbour 7. Regina Sailing Club, Last Mountain Lake, Saskatchewan Beach 8. Wind On My Wings Sailing Club, Wascana Lake, Regina 9. Saskatchewan Wind Riders Club The clubs have their own sites at lakes across the province. The Wind Riders hold events in various locations. The SSCA office is located in Saskatoon in the Sask Sport building at 510 Cynthia Street.
Some clubs, such as Prince Albert SC and Saskatoon SC, have on-site camping.
Keelboat sailors may join Lake Diefenbaker Yacht Club at Elbow Harbour.
Provincial Sailing Team The Team is coached by Provincial Coach Mark Lammens (left above). They represent Saskatchewan at events such as the Canada Games, Western Canada Summer Games, Sail West and National Youth Championships. Team members may be as young as 8 years of age.
The two-person dinghy is the 29er.
The single-handed boats are Lasers, Laser Radials and 4.7 s. The Laser is one of the classes for the Olympic Games.
Athletes with a disability sail the 2.4 mr keelboat. The 2.4 mr is the single-handed boat for the Paralympics. Some events include able-bodied sailors among the competitors.
Younger sailors, up to 14-years old, race in the Optimist Class.
Members of the Wind Riders compete in board and kite events, in the summer and in the winter, although not as part of the Provincial Team.
The sailing clubs host their own open regattas with competitors coming from other clubs and provinces. Regattas typically attract 15 to 30 boats. They are run by on and off-the water volunteers.
Mobile Sailing School The clubs host the Mobile Sailing School at their sites around the province. Introductory lessons are offered to club members and nonmembers, including those who have never sailed before. Registration for Sailing School opens in the spring and can be completed on-line at https://sasksailingmobile.checklick.com.
Students from 12 years of age and up learn in 420 class dinghies.
Younger students have their lessons in Optimist dinghies.
Sailing is part of the Outdoor Education programs offered by Saskatoon Catholic and Saskatoon Public School Boards.
Athletes with disabilities Wind On My Wings Sailing Club sails Martin 16 s on Wascana Lake in Regina.
These boats have keels so they cannot capsize. The sailor can be alone or have a companion. Some boats are adapted for sip and puff control.
The dock set-up at Wascana makes the boats wheelchair accessible. Sailors from Wind On My Wings Club compete each year in the Mobility Cup, held at various sites across Canada.
Wheelchair accessible sailing in Saskatoon Blackstrap Sailing Club, just south of Saskatoon, has facilities for wheelchair access to 2.4 mr class keelboats.
These boats are the same as those raced at various regattas, including the Canada Summer Games, Western Canada Summer Games and the Paralympics.
Paralympic Sailing Logan Campbell, from Bradwell, Saskatchewan, is a member of the Canadian Paralympic Team. His crew has qualified for the next Paralympics in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. Logan sails in the Sonar Class.
Other types of boats are sailed and raced, although not as part of the Sailing Team. Boats with one hull (monohulls) include Lasers (one person) and Enterprises (skipper and crew).
Catamarans have two hulls and trimarans have three hulls.
Keelboats are usually larger and have a weight underneath that helps keep them upright.
A Board of Directors manages the affairs of the SSCA on behalf of its members. More information is available on the website at http://www.sasksail.com/.