Are you young and have a hankering to get out on the water, learn how to row and sail and meet new friends?
Then you'll be interested in the Atlantic Challenge Canada team, based out of Midland.
Atlantic Challenge Canada Chairperson Scott Wagg is looking to rebuild the program and train crew this summer after a three-year-hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It's starting over," Wagg said. "This year our focus is to grow and recruit for next summer's contest," he said.
Atlantic Challenge Canada will be competing in the International Contest of Seamanship in Belfast, Maine. It's an international competition of sailing and rowing on wooden replica longboats. Historically, long ships were the "dinghies" for tall ships.
The Midland group has two longboats and is looking for people between the ages of 14 to 25 to come out Tuesday nights to Bay Port Yachting Centre from 6:30 p.m. to dusk to get rowing and sailing instruction.
"Our program focuses on teamwork and leadership skills. The youth will learn rowing and sailing and develop teamwork and leadership skills through working as a unit on a sail," said Wagg.
The 38-foot longboat features 10 long oars and a dipping lug rig — square-style sails without booms. This makes tacking or changing direction a group job. A full crew is 13 people.
"You take the lug, which is the top of the sail and you lower it down and bring it around behind the mast and raise it back up," he explained.
Longboats are actually faster than modern sail boats reaching speeds of up to 13 knots," said Wagg.
Participants will learn life skills and seamanship skills, such as boat work, navigation and knots, said Wagg.
"They get the opportunity to travel internationally which is one of the better appeals. I know from myself and participants they are making lifelong friends from all over the world," he said.
Having the international competition in Maine is a bonus, said Wagg, because two of three competitions are in Europe.
"The nice thing about next year is that we can drive there, so it's more cost effective."
So far teams from Ireland, Great Britain, Denmark, Italy, United States, Belgium and France are confirmed for the contest.
In Canada, there are two other Atlantic Challenge programs — in Quebec City and Gaspé — which are run independently from the Midland program.
The Midland longboats were designed by local yacht designer Steve Killing in the early 1990s.
Atlantic Challenge Canada has been running in Midland since 1992 and has trained teams of youth to compete internationally ever since.
Midland hosted the international competition in 1994 and 2010.
Past participants usually carry on in the sailing world. One participant sailed on the Bluenose tall ship, said Wagg.
"Most of the past participants I have known have gone on to own their own boats," he said.
In addition to young sailors and rowers, volunteers are needed for the program.
For more information call 705-345-4345 or email [email protected].
