Freida Smith began sailing at a young age in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she quickly developed a passion for competitive racing. She joined the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron race team, and her focus and work ethic propelled her rapidly through the high-performance pathway.
Freida gained national recognition in 2023 when she finished as Top Female at the Optimist Canadian National Championships. She continued her progression by joining the Nova Scotia Race Team in 2024.
Since transitioning to the 29er class, Freida and her crew Laura Eisenhauser have become one of Canada’s leading double-handed youth teams. They captured 29er Provincial Championship titles in 2024 and 2025, followed by a breakthrough season in 2025, finishing 1st overall at the 29er Canadian National Championships.
On the international stage the team represented Canada at the 2025 Youth Sailing World Championship, placing 17th overall, and have since qualified for the 2026 Open Worlds in Kiel, Germany.
Known for their focus, coachability, and determination, Freida and Laura continue to train and compete with the goal of progressing toward future Olympic-class competition.
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Career Highlights
• Began sailing in Halifax, Nova Scotia
• Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron Race Team
• Top Female — Optimist Nationals (2023)
• Nova Scotia Race Team (since 2024)
• 29er Provincial Champion (2024 & 2025)
• 1st Overall — 29er Canadian National Championships (2025)
• 17th Overall — Youth Sailing World Championship (2025)
• Qualified — 29er Open Worlds, Kiel, Germany (2026)
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Athlete Quote
Olympian Antonia Lewin-LaFrance shared after training with Freida and Laura:
“Freida and Laura are one in a million. It’s the first time in a long time we’ve seen potential like this from so early on.”