The Multi-hull World Championship of the International Federation of Disabled Sailing (IFDS) was held at the Central Okanagan Sailing Association (COSA) in Kelowna, BC, Canada, on July 6th - 9th, 2005.

Four days of racing featured blistering heat, heavy winds, torrential rains, no wind, and easy five knot breezes. And just as the competitors had it all on the water, so did they have the entire range of evening entertainment on shore, including Jazz, Country, Karaoke, Gaelic Folk, a Woman’s Barber Shop Quartet, Radio Controlled Model Boat Racing, and Opera!! From the Opening Ceremonies featuring a parade of athletes led by the RCMP and a piper in full dress, to the Closing Ceremonies on the dock, COSA rolled out the welcome mat to ensure that athletes, judges, classifiers, technical delegates, and a cadre of volunteers had a truly memorable experience.

And memories are what Danny McCoy of Ontario and Larry Robinson of Vancouver will enjoy for a lifetime as they bested the field in ten races capturing the Prestige ‘Spirit of Sail’ Trophy emblematic of IFDS racing excellence.

Following behind Danny and Larry were Mike and Carl Strahle of California, and John McRoberts from Victoria with his crew Ben Carter. Both teams were tied with 20 points at the end of the competition but second was awarded to the Strahle team on the tie break. Forth place belongs to Corky Aucreman of California with crew Tyler Churchman of Kelowna. Nigist Sewnnet and Karen-Ann Xavier of Toronto rounded out the trophy round with a solid, if not, occasional risqué performance.

The Multi-hull Worlds also featured a few thrills and spills. The team of Bob Jones and Bob Johnson of Seattle, nick-named “The Sponge Bobs” showed the competitors and the throng of spectators just how well they could flip and then right a Hobie 16 with Trapseats. Not to be outdone, Nigist and Karen-Ann attempted to put a twelve foot wide Hobie into an six foot space at the start line. Tim and Jen French of Florida, the recipients of the ‘fender bender’, commented that, “the manoeuvre definitely would have worked if the girls were sailing only one hull.

This is the second ever IFDS Multi-hull World Championship with the first being sailed in 2002. The inaugural World Champions were Mike and Carl Strahle, inventors of the Trapseat, an adaptation to a Hobie 16 which permits disabled skippers to enjoy a catamaran experience. Trapseats were developed twenty years ago after Mike was injured skiing. Since then, Trapseat sailing has enjoyed increasing popularity supporting at least one major regatta each year for the last decade.

The competition was preceded by a training camp with the competitors getting practical on-the-water experience along with technical land-based rules, strategy and tactics training. COSA’s full-time Coach, Devin Rubadeau ran the two-day Canadian Yachting Association sponsored camp. The club ‘tag-teams’ delivered again as Devin’s Dad Ron Rubadeau, Event Chair, then served as PRO for the competition, while Steve Brunsden covered mark-set and his wife Margaret managed the food service! Returning again from 2002 was the ‘world famous’ COSA Beach Crew headed up by Randy Newton, and the always hospitable and hardworking bar tenders, Harry and Lynelle Weston.

COSA is a small club by most standards (120 boats) but provides a first class facility which is completely wheelchair accessible. It is located mid way on beautiful Lake Okanagan (130 kilometres long) in the city of Kelowna, B.C. (150,000 pop). But while small in number, COSA has huge heart as they support one of the largest Learn to Sail programs on the continent (1300 student sailors), have an active disabled Sailing Association (70 members) and have recently established more than fifteen different credit courses that high school students can take for graduation credit. They even have Sailing 11 and Sailing 12 as replacements for the local Physical Education curriculum! Most importantly they have knowledgeable and skilled sailors and superb volunteers that do everything from bartending, to boat repair, to late night clean ups, to beach crew! When they race, at least one World and two North American champions are on the line for each start.

For more event information and photos, please visit the COSA website: www.cosa.bc.ca