Ottawa Region

Shark class membership in the Ottawa region increased sharply to 25 in
2001. Credit for this is due to better communications with sailors
on this important issue and the fact that the Ottawa Sailing School
registered the sharks used in their program for the first time. As well
the school worked hard to build links with out fleet. This resulted
in more boats on the start line for 1-design racing, a larger pool of shark sailors, and more people interested in purchasing a shark: Win, win.

In this year’s Britannia YC/Nepean SC joint racing program, we averaged 12 Sharks for 1-design racing, with a high of 16. New boats and owners joined the fleet, and more are expected this year. This is in part due to Ottawa hosting the 2003 Shark Worlds.

Since we had some serious concerns regarding the accuracy of the weight
of sharks that had been previously measured the ISCA scales were brought
in and 18 boats were weighed or reweighed. Some discrepancies were
found and the fleet is now confident that are boat weights now in order.

Planning is proceeding for the 2003 worlds in Ottawa.

Bank balance as of the end of 2001 is $841.51 (this amount assumes that
ISCA will pay the outstanding bill of $184.00 for checking and
recalibration of the scales that was carried out while the scales were
in Ottawa last summer).

Don Melick

VP Ottawa Region

Jan. 26, 2001