Two Sandpiper 565 sailboats. The first
is "Latis" skippered by Robert Bowman of Detroit, Michigan, area.
The blue-hulled boat following is "Jenny" skippered by John
Everingham of Oakville, Ontario.
Wasaga Beach has its protected plovers but last weekend
Midland had Sandpipers, the sailboat kind.
Sandpiper 565 owners from as far away as the Detroit, Michigan area, towed
their boats to a fifth annual rendezvous and used Bayport Marina as a home
port.
Proud owners of the Sandpiper 565, which was designed for use on the
English Channel 37 years ago, sailed Midland harbour and did an overnight trip
to a sheltered cove at Beausoliel Island.
They also enjoyed swapping Sandpiper 565 stories as well as local amenities
and watching the Canada Steamship Lines' freighter, Frontenac, arrive at
Midland harbour last Sunday.
The Sandpiper 565 can be classified as a pocket, or compact, cruiser
because of its size (18.6 feet, or 5.65 metres) and with four berths lends
itself to recreational cruising and overnight stays afloat.
The Sandpiper 565 was designed by Leonardo da Costa Sayago, who was born in
Portugal, but read naval architecture at Sunderland University in Northern
England.
He also designed the Sailfish 18 and Ockelbo OS19 sailboats and continues
his involvement in the marine industry through NauticatUK, in Hamble, near
Southampton, England.
Earlier this year, Mr. Da Costa contacted the Sandpiper 565 Owners Group
after he noticed a website for Sandpiper owners hosted by CL Sailboats of Fort
Erie, Ontario.
"I am happy people have enjoyed sailing her," wrote Mr. Da Costa,
noting his pleasure at seeing the website and offering information about the
Sandpiper 565's origins.
The Sandpiper 565 was first built in 1972 as an English Channel craft by
Sandpiper Marine Ltd., of Southampton, England.
C & L Boatworks Waterhouse & May Limited, then of Pickering,
Ontario, was licensed to build Sandpiper sailboats in Canada. The first
Sandpiper was built in Canada in 1974 and the last in 1993.
CL Sailboats in Fort Erie, Ontario, continues to offer
technical advice and supply replacement parts and sails; as well as assist with
the website for the owners group at www.sandpiper565.com.
Additionally, CL Sailboats provided a suit of S565 North tanbark sails for
use during the Sandpiper rendezvous with the stipulation that the sails be used
as a draw prize at the end of the weekend event.
"Jenny", skippered by "Kiwi" John Everingham of Oakville,
Ontario, was the winner of the sails.
The Sandpiper 565 Rendezvous originated in 2005 with Barrie native Stan
Elliotson who now lives in Orangeville. He had been reading the CL Sailboats's
website and suggested that Sandpiper 565 owners meet for a weekend for sailing
fun and an exchange of ideas and experiences.
The first rendezvous was held in Parry Sound, Ontario with six boats.
Rendezvous events followed in Gananoque, Lake Rosseau, Bay of Quinte and in
Midland; the latter with eleven boats.
"The camaraderie was great," said Elliotson.
