updated as of January 20,2020

This series of talks is open to the entire sailing and boating community of Ottawa, is volunteer run and is donations-based. Donations support the NSC Legacy Fund. This is one of the best kept secrets of winter for sailors and boaters!

The following schedule is subject to change. Please check back regularly in case a speaker has to reschedule

 January 15  Irene Tomaszewski & Anthony Keith: The Voyage of the Yacht, Dal

Voyage of the Dal – Andre Bohomolec was successively a soldier, sailor, writer, diplomat, commando, artist & a rancher in the foothills of the Rockies. At 19, he fought for Poland’s independence in the First World War. In 1933, he demonstrated the new nation of Poland’s sailing skills & inspired a generation of young sailors by his trans-Atlantic crossing in a 28 foot wooden sailboat from Poland arriving finally in Chicago for the World fair. In 1940, he fought again in France, Tobruk & later as a commando. Finding himself a persona non grata in the Moscow-imposed Communist regime, he emigrated to the Calgary area & finished his career as a rancher. Tonight we are going to hear of his trans-Atlantic crossing & adventures.

The next two weeks can be seen as 2 installments in a series on getting to and then sailing on Georgian Bay:

January 22 Matthew Bastian  Part 1-Traversing the Trent Severn Waterway

This past summer Matthew and his wife Judy spent 6 weeks transitioning the boat from Kingston to Little Current on Manitoulin Island via the Trent-Severn water way and Georgian Bay. As Part 1 of this 2 Part series, tonight he will be sharing his experiences on traversing the Trent-Severn system with us.

Matthew sailed his Bayfield 25 for five years out of NSC. For three of those, he hauled his Bayfield 25 to the North Channel for multi week vacations. Four years ago he purchased a 37′ Hunter Cheribini which he sailed out of Collins Bay marina in Kingston on Lake Ontario.

January 29 David Enstrom Part 2 -Exploring Georgian Bay in ZIGZAG

In 2010, David Enstrom moved his boat ZIGZAG from Kingston to Penetang through the Trent Severn System. David explored Georgian Bay and the North Channel on ZIGZAG for 3 years, making it as far as Sault St Marie. ZIGZAG is now back in Iroquois, having returned via Lake Huron and the Welland Canal during the summer of 2018. As Part 2 of this series, David’s talk will centre on his experiences in Georgian Bay.

February 5 Dave Bradly “Go Fast. Don’t Die!” – A talk about sailboat foiling

Foiling is the new “black” of sailing. The Americas Cup yachts do it. Little moths piloted by rubber Cirque du Soleil athletes do it. But, can YOU do it?

This is the question Dave will endeavor to answer in this short, very personal story of foiling in sailboats. Of course, we will cover technology, as it is such a pivotal piece of this puzzle, but we will also delve into the question: “Is foiling for you and me?” Dave will cover his own journey from standing start to the World Championship participation that he is now committed to, with more than a slight dose of self deprecation and humour. Pics and videos to support all things that happened. Allegedly.

Come. Ask questions. Laugh. Enjoy. Maybe even be persuaded to “go like hell” yourself. Dave will just be back from another 9 days foiling in Florida!!

February 12 Scott Mackinnon 3 Weeks in the Windward Islands 

(It is not all beaches, beer and bikinis). A PowerPoint presentation on the realities of a bare boat charter anywhere but particularly in the Caribbean with emphasis on the Grenadines. How to charter, organize and enjoy your vacation. What to realistically expect, how to cope with problems and what it costs.

Scott is an NSC member who has cruised and raced a variety of boats for almost 50 years with voyages on the Ottawa, Great Lakes, Baltic, Mexico, BVI and The Windward Islands (Grenadines). A Mechanical Technologist, he has worked in heavy industry, construction and sailboat rigging, repair and fabrication.

February 19 Linda Schmalz and Chris Walmsley Sailing the Eastern Great Circle in 2019

Linda and Chris completed a nearly 3,000 nautical mile trip in 2019. They started in Kingston and sailed up the St Lawrence. The journey took them around the maritime provinces, and along the Atlantic coast of the US to New York City. To complete the great circle, they then headed up the waterways of New York State to arrive back in Kingston. They will share photos and stories of this adventure, and how they spent two years prepping the boat and themselves for the voyage.

February 26 Ottawa Fire Service Safety and Rescue on the Ottawa River

The Ottawa Fire Service Ice/Water rescue team has specialized equipment and training, and are designated first responders on the Ottawa River, and other bodies of water within the city boundaries. They have been involved in numerous rescues of all kinds, whether it be a capsized sailboat, watercraft caught on the rapids,  or people in distress spotted in the water or fallen through the ice.  Members of the team will explain how best to interact with them if you find yourself in an emergency situation on the water, or spot someone else in distress. They will walk through some recent examples of rescues to illustrate. They will emphasize prevention: the importance of good safety practices. You will often see them out on the water, training with their equipment. This is a great opportunity to meet them and ask questions.

March 4  Richard Trainor “A survey: What to expect”, and “When Sailboats Collide”

Richard will explain the  types of surveys (purchase, insurance, etc.), certifications and standards compliance required by insurance companies. He will answer questions about the  rules (e.g. what standards exist for a boat’s electrical, propulsion, fire suppression, etc. systems), how they are applied and how “grandfathering” might apply.

Richard has been a marine surveyor for the past 15 years. He started his career in a small marina in 1976 & after training as a motorship engineer, and became a steamship captain in 1985 after attending St Lawrence, Niagara and Georgian Colleges.

In 1989, he started building aluminum multi-hulled passenger vessels in Gananoque and operated ferries there until 2005 when he became a marine surveyor. He is certified as an ABYC master marine technician, Transport Canada approved commercial vessel consultant, and an Appointed Tonnage measurer. He is also endorsed as an expert in marine surveying by the Royal Institute Of Naval Architects. He’s volunteered on several tall ships in Ontario & has completed inspections of the Caledonia and the Fair Jeanne.

March 11 To Be Announced – stay tuned

March 18 Peter Huszcz and Scott Hayley  Maintaining your boat

Scott Hayley will talk about what  to do in the spring & the fall, including the water system, head & holding tank, sails, rigging, fiberglass care, canvas, support in the cradle, mast on or off, what kind of cover to consider.

Peter Huszcz  will cover annual boat maintenance on your engine & fuel system. How to do  an oil change, when and how to change an oil filter. Changing a fuel filter, transmission fluid, checking the antifreeze temp, and when to change it, checking and draining the fuel water separator. Checking cooling water flow, changing impellers. Winterizing the engine in both raw water cooled engines and in closed loop engines with heat exchangers.

March 25 Advantage Boating  Sailing The Windward Islands

Advantage Boating has just returned from another great adventure in the Windward Islands.  This February we covered over 600 nm in the Caribbean Windward Islands.

This year’s trip included both a 12-day island hopping sailing Flotilla in the Grenadines, and two 7-day Mileage Builder trips between Martinique and Grenada that included overnight sailing passages.   We like getting off the beaten track.  Over 4 weeks, we explored the National Geographic famed and Instagram worthy islands & anchorages of Martinique, St. Lucia, Bequia, Tobago Cays, Mayreau, Union Island, Carraicou, Petit St Vincent, Grenada and more!

April 1  Dominic Goodwill    Cruising, Anchoring and Racing on the Ottawa River

Protected, popular anchorages on the Ottawa River & services that are available there.

The racing program (what’s on each night, weekends, how to get involved as crew, as skipper, insurance requirements etc.)

April 8 Dominic Goodwill More Racing on Lac Deschenes

Racing starting times, start sequences, regular courses, rules, etc.

April 15 David Neasmith, Dominic Goodwill Getting In the Water and Fun On the Water

Bring on the Bay Swim, the Mobility Cup, Baskins Beach & Regattas

2020 Speakers Coordinators: Parke Davis, Tony Wright, James Kelly.
Web page updates by: Tony Wright.

Check out the Speaker Series from previous years: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 (missing), 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, & 2009.

Page updated: 2020-01-14.