The 2023 Shark World Championships hosted by the Niagara-on-the-Lake Sailing Club in August of last year has been named winner of Sail Canada’s City of Kingston Regatta of the Year Award.

Sail Canada made the announcement Sept. 30.

The award “recognizes a provincial, national or international regatta whereupon all aspects of race management have resulted in an overall organizational success,” the governing body said in a press release.

“Key criteria are overall achievement of the event objectives, the level of community involvement and positive feedback from participants, including sailors, coaches and officials.”

The regatta was also named winner of the Chisholm Trophy for excellence in race management.

Sail Canada said the award “recognizes the club or association responsible for the regatta with the best-managed races during the time frame of the award year.”

Rod Gardner is a member of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Sailing Club’s board of directors and served as the tournament chair.

“It was a surprise and an honour to be selected as hosting the best regatta in Canada and adding the best race management in Canada,” he told The Lake Report.

“To receive both awards, we are very proud —  myself and all the volunteers —  of what we achieved.”

Gardner saluted the strength and dedication of the entire organizing committee. 

“It was a very well organized event,” he said.

“I was a competitor as well as the regatta chair and by the time the regatta started, I really had nothing to do.”

“I could focus on being a competitor and didn’t have to focus on how the event would run.”