The NSC Winter Speaker Series Presents: “Racing 101: How to get started and have fun!”
Join us for an evening of “Racing 101” with Mike Roper, Leonore Evans and Tony Latus who will talk about how to get into the fun of sailboat racing on Lac Deschênes.
We will provide an overview of the different racing experiences available, and what you need to do to get started. We will cover some of the basic knowledge needed to have fun on the race course and the opportunities offered by NSC for learning and practice. Tony will conclude the talk with an overview of “RUST”, a unique volunteer-run race series that he has created.
- Date: March 13th
- Time: 7:30 pm to 9 pm (talk starts sharply at 7:30)
- Place: Nepean Sailing Club, Harbourview Hall
Your speakers are:
Mike Roper
Mike Roper has been sailing and racing on Lac Deschênes for over 30 years. He started in dinghies and migrated to keelboats—for the last 13 years as skipper of C&C-27 “Xel- Ha”. He is currently the Fleet Training coordinator for NSC and runs an annual Keelboat Race Practice. As a Sail Canada Basic and Intermediate Cruising Instructor he enjoys teaching and sharing his enthusiasm for sailing with new sailors.
Leonore Evans
Leonore learned to sail three years ago. Now an avid Albacore racer, Leonore has learned that time on the water is the only way to improve her sailing skills. In 2023, she organized an 8-week dinghy skills training session. This year she is at it again. The dinghy skills program is for adult learners who want to improve their sailing and racing skills in a collaborative and community-minded atmosphere.
Tony Latus
Tony Latus started racing dinghies at age 12 on Glenmore Reservoir in Calgary. By the time he was 16, he represented Canada at the Expo 67 World Championships for the OK Dinghy, in the adult class. The next year he was running an independent sailing school in a remote lake in Alberta. He completed a 40-year naval career in both the Royal Navy and the Canadian Navy specializing as a navigator, a deep diver and bomb disposal expert. A member of Britannia Yacht Club for about 12 years, he serves on the Sailing Committee in various portfolios, and has been nominated for Fleet Captain and Commodore several times.
About the Speaker Series
This presentation is part of the NSC Winter Speaker’s program, which promotes ongoing learning about all things nautical, as well as cruising and competitive sailing. Our contributors and organizers are all volunteers, and they and our audience come from clubs and organizations bordering both sides of the Ottawa River.
The meeting is free to attend, but we ask that you consider making a small donation. All proceeds will go to the NSC Legacy Fund, which supports competitive sailing for youth and Able Sail members.
The presentation starts at 7:30 pm in the Harbourview Hall.
The Galley restaurant and bar opens at 4:30 pm so that you can enjoy a meal and/or beverage before we start!
You can find the full Winter Speaker schedule here
If you would like to volunteer as a speaker, help with the speaker series, or if you have any questions, please contact winterspeaker@nsc.ca.