The True North Mission
True North was founded with the goal of giving young Canadian keelboat talent the opportunity to race at the highest levels of the sport without constraints. Without restriction or influence from national, provincial, or club level organizations True North can operate un-inhibited with a goal in mind: Canadian Youth competing at the pinnacle of keelboat sailing, and keeping them in the sport long-term.
True North works as a network to connect young talent with keelboat teams who are looking for crew and build programs. These crew race and train with True North, learning both the on-water and organizational skills that provide value to an owner, team, or program.
Our Vision for True North
True North aspires to be a team built of talented sailors across Canada connected by their passion for sailing. By keeping young sailors involved in the sport after dinghies, introducing them to the world of keelboat sailing, they can thrive to the highest level they desire, while being supported both financially and through mentorship.
These sailors would be able to race with teams across the country, helping owners and teams succeed in whatever avenue of sailing they are pursuing - raising the level of sailing across the country, on and off the water.
2025 Goals:
After a hugely successful 2024 season where the team competed in numerous world championships, won national titles, and continued to grow a base of young talented sailors from across the country - the team sets its sights on 2 pinnacle events for 2025.
1) In July, Youth Match Racing skipper Richard Rychlik Jr will take on the Youth Match Racing World Championships for his second time. Fresh of his MR National Collegiate title (his 2nd with UofT), and having acted acted as tactician in the Warren Jones Regatta in Perth, Australia (5th place), Richard revisits the event with an upgraded skillset and an elite understanding of the discipline.
2) Cowes, UK will be the host of the 2025 Double-Handed Offshore World Championships, where Alec Coleman will be competing alongside co-skipper Savannah Taylor. This team has podiumed in the 2024 Vineyard Race, and completed in numerous significant offshore & shorthanded events between them.
Double-Handed Offshore World Championships - Cowes, United Kingdom
Selected as one of Canada's two berths for the event, we will be competing against some of the best short-handed sailors in the world. The event is not just about how the team sails the boat, it will be a cumulation of boat preparation, strategy, weather routing, managing rest while racing, understanding the boats and the racecourse, proper nutrition, and much more. The road to Cowes begins now, and we need your help.
How Your Support Helps Us:
Our main barrier to attending events is the financial cost. Funding will go towards getting the team to events, registration, and other expenses such as accommodation. Donations can go a long way in helping the team compete at the highest level, and giving young Canadian sailors an opportunity to attend events which they would otherwise not be able to attend.
An example event would be an Oakcliff Match Race Invitational regatta: $900 registration + $300 accommodation + $250 in transportation to get to New York, for a total of about $1500 for the team. Every event we attend, whether it be at Oakcliff or anywhere else, improves our sailing and allows us to compete with the best, as shown by our result at the Halloween Invitational.
All donations to help us achieve our goals, no matter how big or small, will never be taken for granted or go unnoticed. Thank you all for your support of True North and our goals!
Some recent highlight results:
1st CICSA 2025 Canadian Collegiate Match Race Nationals - Vancouver, BC
5th Warren Jones International Youth Regatta - Perth, Australia
2nd Oakcliff MR Halloween Invitational Grade 3 - Oyster Bay, NY
4th FISU University World Championships - Lake Garda, Italy
5th Corinthian Melges 24 World Championships - San Francisco, CA
1st YCC, 3rd Division, 5th Overall 2024 Vineyard Race - Stamford, CT