Four Flying Fifteen keelboats donated by Irish sailors are to be shipped to Canada's Pacific coast this weekend, helping an expanding community sailing initiative on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.
The boats and associated equipment are due to be loaded for shipment to Vancouver on Sunday, 25 October, providing a boost to the Canadian fleet’s free sailing lessons and plans for regular one-design racing.
Irish Flying Fifteen sailor John Lavery, who has been helping coordinate the donation, says the consignment includes a modern Ovington 9, sail number 3606, which is race-ready, along with three older boats requiring varying degrees of refurbishment.
Spare masts, sails and equipment are also included.
International Support for Canadian Flying Fifteens
The Salt Spring Island initiative was established by Jill Oakes, who bought her first Flying Fifteen, Robin Hood, in September 2023 and set about encouraging more women to take up sailing.
With support from Flying Fifteen sailors in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Britain, the project has developed into a growing community fleet.
Older Flying Fifteens donated by Australian sailors arrived in July 2024, while experienced sailors Jenny Price and Lilly Grimshaw from New Zealand travelled to Canada to provide coaching.
The group has since established a Canadian Flying Fifteen association and organised international racing involving visiting sailors from Australia, Hong Kong and the United States.
Irish Donation to Expand Free Sailing
The four Irish boats are expected to arrive at an important stage in the project’s development, with free Sunday morning sailing lessons now regularly oversubscribed.
Oakes says the additional boats will help ensure newcomers are not left ashore and will support the introduction of free internationally certified sailing courses this winter.
Volunteer instructors provide training and on-the-water assessments, while qualified participants can subsequently borrow boats for independent sailing under the group’s operating procedures.
The donated Flying Fifteens cannot be sold and are reserved for community sailing and fleet development. Local supporters cover maintenance, insurance, moorings and replacement equipment.
The expanded fleet will also provide the numbers needed to develop a more active one-design racing programme.
Oakes has invited Irish Flying Fifteen sailors visiting Canada’s Pacific Northwest to join the Salt Spring Island fleet, offering to organise a regatta if visiting crews make the trip.
The donation gives four Irish racing keelboats a new role in introducing sailors to the sport while strengthening links between Flying Fifteen fleets internationally.
