Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

Halifax Regatta - Quebec sailor captures Mobility Cup

by Mike Archibald on 5 Sep 2013
The fleet of Martin 16s is created from sailing clubs across the country and shipped into the regatta site each year thanks to CN. - High Liner Mobility Cup 2013 Rich Knowles
The winner of the High Liner Mobility Cup 2013 is Christine Lavallée of Gatineau, Quebec. Lavallée is only the second woman to ever claim the top prize in the history of the event. The trophy for the best results in the Gold fleet at this year's Canadian regatta for people with mobility impairments was presented at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron in Halifax by the Regatta chair, Mike Archibald and the president of High Liner Foods, Henry Demone. Lavallée had three first place finishes over a seven race series in Halifax harbour Aug. 27-30th.

Second place was taken by last year's winner, Marc Villeneuve of Laval, Quebec and third by the 2011 winner, Pierre Richard of Montreal, Quebec. Lavallée also won the gold medal at the Canada Games in Sherbrooke in the 2.4 mr class earlier this summer.

The winner of the Dallaire Cup as the top competitor in the Silver fleet this year is Jean-Paul Dussault of LaSalle, Quebec. Tracy Schmitt of Toronto, Ontario was second in the Silver fleet and Basil Katsivalis of Pointe-Claire, Quebec won third place.

The group of 41 sailors included competitors from Australia and the United States as well as many Canadian provinces. Mobility Cup sailors used a fleet of 21 Martin 16s which were shipped in from sailing clubs across the country. The sailors have a wide range of disabilities but the boats are adapted to make the competition fair for everyone. Electronic winches are installed to control the lines and an autohelm is used for steering so that people with severe impairments can use a joystick to control the sails and rudder. A 'sip 'n puff' system used to control wheelchairs is also adapted for use on the Martin 16. Sailors in the Silver fleet, who have less experience, have companion sailors on board to assist in controlling the boat.

The first Mobility Cup regatta was initiated in 1991 by former Vancouver mayor, Sam Sullivan, founder of the Disabled Sailing Association of B.C. He donated the Mobility Cup trophy which has been awarded yearly since then.

In his remarks at the closing ceremony, High Liner president Henry Demone congratulated the sailors for their hard work on the water and congratulated them on their willingness to compete despite significant odds. He talked about the spirit of two New Zealand competitors who had been America's Cup sailors and both now have Multiple Sclerosis. David Barnes and Rick Dodson have been competing in the IFDS Championship this week in Kinsale, Ireland. That World Championship will be hosted at the RNSYS in Halifax August 19-24, 2014.

Other Mobility Cup awards given out at the Halifax ceremony include:
The Sam Sullivan Trophy which recognizes the top placing 'sip and puff' sailor won for a record 10th time by Rene Dallaire of Montreal, Quebec

The Debbie Donald Award for the top-placing female sailor won by Christine Lavallée of Gatineau, Quebec
The Daren Tucker Award for showing tenacity during the regatta won by Terry Leblanc of Vancouver, B.C.

Maritimo 2023 S600 FOOTERCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERSelden 2020 - FOOTER

Related Articles

Official program for Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta
The release of the official program for the 2025 Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta We are thrilled to announce the release of the official program for the 2025 Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, taking place from April 16th to 21st.
Posted today at 8:47 am
2025 Chile World Cup Masters Overall
Masters finalists deliver explosive showdown The Masters division lit up the lineup today at the 5 Star World Cup, as four legends of wave riding battled it out in a fiercely contested final under the Chilean sun at the legendary Topocalma.
Posted today at 8:45 am
Performance Meets Comfort
Discover the attributes of Henri-Lloyd's Dynamic Dri Fast Tees Engineered for performance, the Dynamic Dri Fast T-Shirts feature HeiQ Mint anti-odour technology, mechanical stretch, and UPF 50 protection, all while offering moisture-wicking panels and a recycled fabric design for the ultimate in comfort.
Posted on 2 Apr
Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by FERGUS day 3
Consistency is keynote as Sofía moves to finals phase With classes moving into the Gold fleet phase today at the 54 Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels on Mallorca's Bay of Palma so the intensity stepped up and consistency became most important.
Posted on 2 Apr
Ambre Hasson discusses her Classe Mini season
Touching base with Franco American Classe Mini skipper Ambre Hasson Sail-World checked in with Ambre Hasson, the skipper of Mini 618, to get the latest on the Franco American's 2025 Mini Transat campaign.
Posted on 2 Apr
2025 Chile World Cup Overall
Emotions ran high as finalists were crowned in Chile The 2025 Chile World Cup concluded in spectacular fashion on Finals Day at Topocalma, where perfect lines, offshore wind, and high drama combined for one of the most memorable days in World Wave Tour history.
Posted on 2 Apr
BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival Day 1
Round Tortola Race for the Nanny Cay Cup goes to Airgasm and Warthog Today was a fast one for those racing in the Round Tortola Race for the Nanny Cay Cup event as breeze in the low 20s, hitting the high 20s during several big squalls that blasted through the course, kept sailors on their toes and weight on the rails.
Posted on 2 Apr
Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by FERGUS day 2
It does not get better than this, with a sparkling spring sea breeze An afternoon of warm sunshine with 10-12k knots of thermal wind saw all seven course areas operating in champagne conditions, a reminder there is no better place in the world for early season Olympic racing on this scale.
Posted on 1 Apr
Lords of Tram GKA Big Air Kite World Cup France
Brazil's Mikaili Sol back with a bang to take title in epic Lords of Tram final The 2025 GKA Big Air Kite World Cup kicked off in Barcares, France, on Saturday, with the Tramontana wind roaring at full force.
Posted on 1 Apr
World Sailing Race Officials Training programme
Available to Member National Authorities to apply for on an annual basis World Sailing is proud to announce the launch of a new education programme for Race Officials.
Posted on 1 Apr