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Kelowna sailors are gearing up for the annual Canada-wide Keelboat Women’s Championships, as some of the best female sailors across the country are expected to hit Okanagan Lake from October 1st until the 4th.
“We have 19 teams from as far away as Halifax as well as the Caroline Grant team from Nantucket, Massachusetts,” said committee chair and skipper Gillian Thomson. “The races take place over three days out on the water by the yacht club and spectators can get a good view from Waterfront Park.”
British Columbian competitors include teams from Kelowna, West Kelowna, Summerland, Vernon, Penticton, and Victoria. In addition, teams from Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Nova Scotia will also be in Kelowna this coming week to set sail on Okanagan Lake.
The sailors will all race in Santana 525 boats, which are specifically suited for the shifty and often light wind conditions of Okanagan Lake.
This year’s event is expected to build on the success of the 2007 championships held here in Kelowna, as more and more local women are now taking to the water and kicking some sailing butt.
If you're interested in reading more about Okanagan women in sailing, click here. For more information on the Women's Keelboat Championships, click here.
Here’s a list of the sailors competing at this year’s event:
| Skipper | Boat Name | Bow/Sail | Class | Hometown | Yacht Club | |
| Tracy Delorme Diana Barker Sarah Morris-Probert Jennifer Thompson | Schock Wave | 87181 | Santana 525 | Kelowna, BC | Kelowna Yacht Club | |
| Susan Ruuska Antonie Clark Beverley Harding Trish Tomlin | ION | 59367 | Santana 525 | Penticton, BC | South Okanagan Sailing Association | |
| Kerri Hardisty Holli Hudson Karen Fleming Leah Smith Sandra Watts | Split Decision | 59034 | Santana 525 | Kelowna, BC | Kelowna Yacht Club | |
| Gillian Thomson Kathryn Albright Birte Decloux Loree Felt | Contagious | 172 | Santana 525 | Kelowna, BC | Kelowna Yacht Club | |
| Karen Fowler | 00 | Santana 525 | Bedford, Nova Scotia | BBYC | ||
| Michele Cimon Chantelle Boudreau Marg Hurley Karen Brown | TBD | TBD | Santana 525 | Ottawa, ON | Nepean Sailing Club | |
| Cindy Blicq Michele Evans Lori Hiscock Rose Hull | unknown | Santana 525 | Gimli, Manitoba | Gimli Yacht Club | ||
| Melodie Gummer [Pending] | 10 | Santana 525 | RR3Bath, ON | Kingston Yacht club | ||
| Gillian Hayward Selena Sced Teresa Lindsay Tanis Coletti | Shazam | 198 | Santana 525 | Kelowna, BC | Kelowna Yacht Club | |
| Asia Dorward Paula Schneider Colleen McEachern Marie Sperling | Razzle Dazzle | 139 | Santana 525 | West Kelowna, BC | Kelowna Yacht Club | |
| Debbie Kirkby Lauren Avery Rowena Robinson Kate MacLennan Donna Dempsey | Santana 525 | Calgary, AB | Glenmore Sailing Club | |||
| Marsha Hales Bev Lacasse Shelley Bakker Aline Vance | Wy Wurrie | 8059 | Santana 525 | Kelowna, BC | KYC | |
| Carolyn Grant Linda Johnson Marie Palandjian Susan Wayne | 0000 | Santana 525 | Nantucket, MA | Great Harbor Yacht Club | ||
| Ruth Branscombe | Nogoslogo | 21 | Santana 525 | West Kelowna, BC | Kelowna Yacht Club | |
| Lori Hallam Pamela Miller Heather Willison Michelle De Sousa Wendy Miller | HOLY DOODLE | 203 | Santana 525 | Kelowna, BC | Kelowna Yacht Club | |
| Sue Cmolik Monroe Land Brenda Bradford Deb Johnson | Texas Tea | 145/113 | Santana 525 | Kelowna, BC | Kelowna Yacht Club | |
| Debbie Erickson Marilea Sharpe Robin Willow Castle Joanne Redies | tbc | Santana 525 | Victoria, BC | Summerland Yacht Club | ||
| Sandy Thayer Jocelyn Young Michelle Magnan Claire Sears | Santana 525 | Collingwood, Ontario | Collingwood Yacht Club | |||
| Pamela St.Pierre Linda Williamson Barb Rotteveel Deb Van Beek Patti Skidmore | Righteous Indignation | 67225 | Santana 525 | Vernon, BC | Vernon Yacht Club |
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