By John Brooks
I enjoyed the annual Mobility Cup 2025 held this year in Pointe-Claire (Que) in August so much that, before it ended, I was already looking forward to the one next year, which will be in Vancouver.
It was very moving to see more than 15 boats sitting in the harbour awaiting 30 sailors who have a physical disability, who were so keenly looking forward to racing their comrades. And comrades they are even though they come from afar, representing most provinces from BC to NS, plus California and Vermont and even Hawaii! Such an eclectic group and yet homogeneous in friendliness and desire to have fun. Many of them attend the Mobility Cup annually. Every one is friendly, and who can forget Tracy and also Vicki, for example? And Ian with his sip-and-puff who has such wit and charm! Also Quintos with his dog (ashore!) who, placing first in 5 of his 8 races, won first place in the Silver fleet, in his first time racing at the Mobility Cup! Silver fleet sailors are sailors who are honing their skills and they are accompanied by a Companion sailor sitting astern. The Gold fleet sailors are more experienced and often sail solo.
We had great winds for five straight days, often in the 20 kts range. NSC sailor Brian Peckover made a commanding performance, placing first in 6 of his 10 races and winning first place in Gold fleet! Bravo, Brian! Congratulations also to our other two sailors from NSC, Karell Regnier and Rachid Merzouk for their race performances. Beth MacLeod of NSC was a Companion sailor for the week while I volunteered mostly on the dock. We were just two of 100 volunteers helping with the regatta. The race results are posted on the Mobility Cup website but you might find them more easily if you do a keyword search on “Mobility Cup race results.”
If you would like to consider an experience that is rewarding and fulfilling, come down to the NSC’s George Simpson Landing on W dock and check us out. You will no doubt be impressed when you see people get out of their wheelchair, some of them by means of a mechanical lift, and go sailing on their own. To become a volunteer, you will simply need to obtain, at no cost to you, a Vulnerable Sector Check (for the benefit of our sailors). We need you and we want you. I have found it to be a wonderful experience over the last 20 years, and attending Mobility Cup this year was the pinnacle of my experience.