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.
2026 Goals:
With another amazing year of racing complete for 2025, we now set our goals for 2026. We have 4 exciting projects planned for this season; the Newport - Bermuda Race, the Governor's Cup, FISU University Sailing World Championships, and the Doublehanded Offshore World Championships.
The most ambitious project yet is set to be the 2026 Newport to Bermuda Race!
True North will race Newport to Bermuda in partnership with NEKA Sailing, a not-for-profit organization based in Long Island, NY with the goal of making offshore sailing more accessible. We will be racing Groupe5, a modified Figaro 2, the same boat that the team won the 2025 Vineyard Race. We will be competing in the Gibbs Hill Division, amongst some of the top boats in the world of offshore racing.
It will takes months of hard work to get ready for this race, including boat work, checks on our rudders and keel, servicing our water-ballast system, updating ratings for the boat, safety preparations and training, practice events, and more.
We invite you to help True North make a mark on the world stage at this year's Bermuda race. Do not hesitate to get in touch for our Sponsorship package (with boat/sail branding available), or regarding personal donations. This is an ambitious task ahead of us, and we are determined to make a statement that Canadian offshore sailing is amongst the best.
True North will once again take on the Governor's Cup, one of the most prestigious match racing events in the world. Held in Newport Beach, California, this under-23 event races custom-built 'Gov Cup' 22s over a fierce week of competition. With skippers invited from around the world each year, selection is tough so we are honored to have a spot at this year's event. The team will be led by Andre Deseau, who aims to build on the team's trip to the event in 2023 -- the catalyst of the creation of the True North Sailing Team.
Next up is the FISU University Sailing Worlds!
TN is proud and excited to represent Canada at the 2026 FISU Sailing World University Championships Sailing this September in Melges 20s. After an intense and heartbreaking finish at the 2024 University Worlds — our team left knowing we had unfinished business. Missing the podium after being so close to a world championship has fueled our motivation ever since, and we are now preparing for another opportunity to compete against the world’s top university sailors in Split with one clear goal in mind: redemption and a place on the podium.
Our crew — Richard Rychlik Jr., Andrew Kenny, Elsie Gillis, and Lilly Rainham — combines years of experience racing and winning at the highest levels of competitive sailing. Together, we have earned 12 national and continental championship titles and various regional titles while competing at the top of classes like the E6m, J/105, ILCA, 69F, IC37, Melges 24, and on the international match racing circuit. This diverse background brings a deep range of tactical knowledge, boat handling, and high-pressure racing experience that we are excited to bring into the Melges 20 fleet in Croatia. Beyond the results, our team is built on dedication, resilience, teamwork, and a relentless drive to improve.
Competing internationally is an incredible opportunity, but it also comes with significant costs including travel, accommodations, charter fees, training, equipment, and event registration. Through this fundraising campaign, we are hoping to ease some of the financial burden so we can focus fully on preparing and performing at our best. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us take another step toward the starting line in Croatia and gives us the chance to compete for Canada on the world stage.
After coming heartbreakingly close in 2024, we are more motivated than ever to return stronger in 2026. We are incredibly grateful for the support of our friends, family, sailing community, and sponsors as we continue this journey together. Thank you for helping Team TN chase redemption at the 2026 World University Championships.
In an attempt to build on last year's 7th place finish, Alec Coleman and Savannah Taylor are campaigning for the Doublehanded Offshore World Championships again. Held in Marseille, the mixed event is held in identical Sunfast 30OD, and brings together some of the top shorthanded talent from around the world. We look forward to giving more updates on this campaign as the season progresses.
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 Overall 2025 Vineyard Race - Stamford, CT
7th Offshore Doublehanded World Championships - Cowes, UK
1st 2025 Oakcliff MR Halloween Invitational Grade 3 - Oyster Bay, NY
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