From Rob Fox, Olympic Sailing Coach:

The Big Sound Challenge was one of the best Canadian training events I've been to in years. What sets it apart for me was the organizers’ focus on a unique learning experience AND a great social schedule!

The jet-ski tour and coaches' night was excellent for the coaches to get to know each other and the island BBQ, Movie night and Beach Bonfire were fun for everybody.

For the athletes, it was an opportunity to get some top level international coaching experience. For Club Race Team coaches it was a rare opportunity to interact with veteran coaches and expand their repertoire of skills and drills that they could use with their athletes throughout the summer. For everybody (especially the veteran guest coaches) it was a great opportunity to network and meet new/old friends in the beautiful (and windy!) Sail Parry Sound venue.

A great mix of fun, learning and meeting new people in an amazing venue.  A big congrats and thank you to the organizers…I will definitely be returning to the Big Sound Challenge next year.

For more comments from our guests, go to this page.

Regattas

The 2010 Big Sound Challenge

420 Training Regatta

July 5-8, Parry Sound ON

Registration Instructions below—Register today, spots are limited!

The winner of the Big Sound Challenge goes on to the Ontario Summer Games 2010!  

Information: bigsoundchallenge@sailparrysound.on.ca  

Highlights:

Ø      Elite coaching for Bronze IV to Gold Sailing Levels

Ø      Ontario Sailing Development Team Training Event

Ø      Ontario Summer Games Training Event

Ø      Limited Camping—indicate your request on your registration form

·        Note to Coaches – an LTR Clinic will be offered starting July 3. The clinic will run for 4 days, followed by 2 days of elite mentoring. Spots are limited. Complete and submit the attached application. This option will cost an additional $200.

Thanks to the generous support of the Coaches Association of Ontario ( CAO ) and the Quest for Gold Lottery Program there may once again be bursaries available to cover a portion of tuition costs of the Clinic as well as possible travel bursaries. Please note these bursaries are only available upon successful completion of the Clinics and do not cover the cost of meals or accommodations. Please check back after April 1^st 2010 for more information.

Each applicant is responsible to apply on their own behalf to the CAO . Please click here for more information:

What’s in it for you?

Our goal  is to provide the coaches, sailors and their chaperones with an experience to remember. Two days of skill building will be followed by two days of racing for a total of four days of fun and some of the best 420 training in Canada !

For the coaches...an opportunity to meet and network with other club coaches as well as our elite coaches. These young people will be mentored by our elite coaches as they coach their sailors throughout the regatta. Coaches interested in attending an LTR Clinic starting July 3, should apply soon! Spots are limited.

 
For the sailors...an opportunity to develop racing skills working directly with our elite coaches. Sailors must be enrolled in Bronze IV, V, Silver or Gold level programs to participate.
 

For the OS 420 Development Team…an opportunity to train with our elite coaches as well as the Development Team Coach. It’s a great time to come together and get to know your new team mates.

For the Ontario Summer Games Sailors…the opportunity to come together as a team to train and prepare for the Summer Games with our elite coaching team.

For the chaperones...an opportunity to network and build a racing community.

For everyone...dinner and evening activities promoting friendship and the Sail Parry Sound, Georgian Bay experience. Bonfires, boat trips, fun and games each evening. 

Big Sound Challenge Registration Instructions:

Forms are found by simply clicking on the links below, as you are reading sections 1, 2, and 3, OR, if  you prefer, at:

http://www.sailparrysound.on.ca/1.RegistrationForm.doc 

http://www.sailparrysound.on.ca/2.Participant_information_and_waivers.doc 

http://www.sailparrysound.on.ca/3.LTR_application.doc 

1. Registration and payment:

Complete the Registration Form(This link will take you there. We suggest you select 'Save' when you launch the form links. This will allow you to store / edit the forms on your computer before submitting them.)  Send with payment to the address on the bottom of the form. To reserve your spots, please send an email to: bigsoundchallenge@sailparrysound.on.ca

2. Participant Information Sheets and Waivers:

All participants must provide completed forms on or before July 5. LTR coaches must provide their completed forms on or before July 3. 

3. LTR Application:

Coaches wishing to participate in the LTR Clinic need to complete and submit the application as soon as possible. Spots are limited. Please send your application by email to: bigsoundchallenge@sailparrysound.on.ca

2009 CYA Award for ‘Recreational Event of the Year’!

 Paula Liness, Regatta Director of Sail Parry Sound holds the award; Gerry Giffin, President, Canadian Yachting Association, (CYA) who presented the award to her; Cecilia Parkes, Sail Parry Sound Marketing Director; Larry Woolner, President of Sail Parry Sound;  Paddy Boyd, CYA  Executive Director.  Photo courtesy Ontario Sailing

The youth training regatta was a great success, with two days of training and two days of racing from July 6-9.  The regatta was jointly organized by both Sail Parry Sound and the Lake Joseph Yacht Club.

Six elite race coaches, including Canadian Olympic sailing team coach Rob Fox, were in attendance to train the sailors while the sailing school coaches received race management and race safety officer training.

click here for photos

            The four days included fun for everyone, not just the racers. They were treated to a special screening of Disney’s new sailing movie “Morning Light” at the Stockey Centre,  an island barbecue, and an evening bonfire on the Old Town Beach with “S’mores” for everyone added to all the great activities. On the final day of the regatta, the regatta organizers offered a scenic excursion by boat to Henry’s Fish House Restaurant on Frying Pan Island in Sans Souci for parents, chaperones, sponsors and organizers.

            The event was sponsored by Ontario Sailing, Lake Joseph Yacht  Club, Sail Parry Sound, and generous members of the sailing and  Parry Sound communities who contributed a great deal of time and money to make this a fabulous event.

            The joy on the faces of the sailors enjoying the brisk winds off the rocky shores of Georgian Bay told the story!

Sail Parry Sound will host this event again this  year.   Watch for the NOR!    We look forward to welcoming all bronze, silver and gold level racers in July 2010.  Big Sound Challenge 2010 will provide another marvellous opportunity for sailors, coaches and all adults wishing to partake in the fun.

Lifestyles this week caught a few great moments for this front-page story:.

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Sail Parry Sound volunteers provide experienced regatta management in a magnificent racing venue, in the heart of the 30,000 Islands. Strong, dependable winds, gorgeous Georgian Bay scenery, and warm northern Ontario hospitality are found at Sail Parry Sound.  We invite your class to contact info@sailparrysound.on.ca.