2024 Mobility Cup, hosted by the Lunenburg YC, wins Sail Canada's Regatta of the Year Award

2024 Mobility Cup wins Sail Canada's Regatta of the Year Award © Sail Canada

Sail Canada announced today that the 2024 Mobility Cup, hosted by the Lunenburg Yacht Club, received Sail Canada's City of Kingston Regatta of the Year Award for 2024.

The City of Kingston Regatta of the Year Award recognizes a provincial, national or international regatta whereupon all aspects of race management have resulted in an overall organizational success. Key criteria are overall achievement of the event objectives, the level of community involvement and positive feedback from participants, including sailors, coaches and officials.

Nominations were evaluated based on a time period ranging from January 1 to December 31, 2024.

The Mobility Cup is Canada's international regatta for sailors with disabilities. The 2024 edition brought together 26 sailors with disabilities from across the continent on August 26-30 to compete in Martin 16 keelboats, in a single or doublehanded crew, some adapted for sip and puff technology.

The Lunenburg Yacht Club was hosting this event for the first time and the organizing committee faced several challenges, including infrastructure upgrades to ensure full accessibility to sailors with mobility impairments, as well as sourcing of accessible accommodations and transportation in the area. With the help of community partners and funding, they were able to renovate clubhouse facilities to accommodate wheelchairs, as well as disabilities-accessible washrooms and showers, in addition to changing the club entrance with a new access ramp for the clubhouse. A new safer ramp was also installed on the floating docks and other features to eliminate between hazards.

The sailors had numerous varied conditions, including challenging wind conditions, and were enthusiastic about the experience in their feedback. The race committee did a great job in course management with square courses and important mark changes for the big shifts.

The parade and opening ceremonies were held in the Town of Lunenburg following a tour and reception on the famous Bluenose. The town rallied around this occasion, closing the waterfront to traffic and cheering on the event. Also, the arrival of the Bluenose during racing was an event that will be remembered by all for a long time.

"Lunenburg Yacht Club proudly hosted the 2024 Mobility Cup - Canada's Regatta of Possibilities," said Regatta Chairperson Erinn McCarty. "Held August 26-30, this national championship welcomed sailors with physical and cognitive disabilities from across Canada and the U.S.—from Nova Scotia to British Columbia, California, and Hawaii—for five days of spirited competition and community celebration, beginning with an opening ceremony that highlighted the rich maritime and Indigenous heritage of Lunenburg County."

"The event was 18 months in the making and powered by an extraordinary team of over 100 volunteers. To ensure full accessibility, significant upgrades were made to LYC's 75-year-old clubhouse, including new ramps, decks, fully accessible washrooms and showers, and a new accessible marina ramp. Funding for these improvements and the event itself was made possible through support from ACOA, the Province of Nova Scotia, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, and generous contributions from local businesses and individuals. With perfect weather, flawless race execution, and unwavering community support, the 2024 Mobility Cup truly showcased the spirit of inclusive sailing."

More information on the City of Kingston Regatta of the Year Award is available here.