Sailpast x 2

What is sailpast? This year I had an opportunity to explore this question as I attended two local sailpasts. Sailpast is a Yacht Club tradition which formally marks the beginning of the sailing season. (I wonder what Clubs do where there is no winter?) It provides a target date for skippers to get their boat organized and ready to sail. 'Yachties' dress up in blues and whites. There is very little actual sailing involved.

National's Sailpast was on Saturday. It was a cool and windy day; skies overcast with potential rainclouds. Janet and Charles were my crew. I went to the skippers meeting at 13:00. This was an opportunity for representatives from the Hospice Regatta, a charity event in late June, to do a promo for that event. Most skippers will be familiar with the Sailpast routine. Boats head out into Humber Bay. The Fleet is divided up based on boat size. There is a lead boat for each division.The Commodore's Yacht goes and anchors on station at a pre-announced position and the various divisions then sail past; taking a salute from the Commodore. A local pastor, in our case a priest from a harbour street mission, blesses the fleet before the boats depart.

It was crowded at the drysail crane as everyone wanted to go at the same time. The wind was onshore and so the best place to sail off would be at the dinghy dock. We decided to motor out. I was not happy with this as one of the important aspects of Sailpast is to show off your sailing ability. I am a serious sailor not some motor wimp! Never the less we motored out and got the sails up only to discover that someone hadn't attached the outhaul. By the time the shackle was replaced our lead boat was hailing us to go back. Sailpast was cancelled. A storm was moving in. I decided to dock under sail. The docking went well; I was very pleased. Once the boat was derigged I got the flags out and hoisted them with the spinnaker halyard. We retired to the Restaurant to wait to for the official receiving line and to drink beer.

I like sailpast. It gives me an opportunity to socialize with fellow sailors with whom I have shared many interesting experiences over the years. I get to fly my flags. Other benefit's include spiked punch and hors d'ourves. This year's spiked punch was not readily available; one of the crew spied it behind the bar. The hors d'ouvres were good. So no punch but good food.

Sailpast II was at ABYC on Sunday. Anthony called me late Sat. and asked if I wanted to go to his sailpast. Why not, it will give me an opportunity to compare NYC with ABYC.

The tradition at ABYC is slightly different. There is no skippers meeting but a more formal presentation by the board. A piper pipes in the officials. O'Canada is sung. Flags are handed out to officers and to new life members. The flags are raised at the yardarm. A priest, from a respectable parish provides a coherent speech and blessing. Instructions are informally given to the fleet about where to assemble for the parade of boats. There is no after sailpast reception. Sailors stay on their boats and wait for the board to pass by in a runabout. This tour of the basin is used as an opportunity to solicit funds for the Club's Junior Sailing Program.

Anthony, his 4 year old son, and I were crew. Anthony is rather adept at having one hand on the helm, one had on the sheet, and one hand on Matthew. I think that an extra set of hands was appreciated! The weather was cool and windy. Anthony's boat, a 27' Jeanneau, handled well. We only used the furling genie. Anthony had his boat ready except that there was no burgee. I gerryrigged some sail ties so that we could fly the burgee on the starboard shroud.

The sailpast traditon is maintained for another year: a non sailing sailing event. For non sailors all one needs to know is that sailpast is a nautical term which means: to be with friends.