The Skipper

Skipper Edward Radonic

Ed Helming and Blair on the chart plotter during the LO300, 2008.

I have been boating for over 20 years, at the age of 39, this is more than half of my life time. Starting out with a number of smaller power boats, then switching to sail about 6 years ago. I have sailed various boats from wind surfers, dinghies (lasers), keel boats from 26 to 40 foot yachts.

I live in the area of Toronto Canada and sail mostly on Lake Ontario. I have been racing yachts for the past 4 years, last year taking first place, and this year second place at the Port Credit Yacht Club’s Monday night races for racer/cruisers with my boat Black Diamond. I have also entered a few long distance races such as the Susan Hood, a 75 mile over night race and the Lake Ontario 300 the worlds longest fresh water race, a 308 knotical mile race around the perimeter of Lake Ontario. My crew and I on Black Diamond finished in 2008 at a time of 3 days and 8 hours, in 2009 we finished in 2 days 12 hours, we were competing against the fastest PHRF Division, racing against a Canada Cup boat “Defiant” and some of the fastest yachts on the Great Lakes.

In 2009, delivering the boat back up to Canada from the Bahamas we entered in a couple of interesting races, one from Fort Lauderdale to Charleston described as a sled ride up the gulf stream, and the Charleston race week series.

Blue water experience include yacht deliveries from the Abacos, Bahamas to Charleston South Carolina 2006. This delivery was a non-stop, 3 and half days, total of 500 miles. We crossed parts of the Bermuda Triangle, and during most of the delivery were over 200 miles offshore. Most recently the delivery of Black Diamond a 40 foot Jeanneau racer/cruiser has been delivered to New York City and then offshore to Florida and the Bahamas from Toronto, Canada. This delivery from NYC to Florida was completed 100 miles offshore, for a distance of over a 1000 miles non-stop to Jacksonville, Florida. Completed in what might be a cruisers record of 5 days 3 hours non-stop offshore. This fall my family and I added another 500 miles of sailing throughout much of the Bahamas. Spending 6 weeks aboard Black Diamond sailing the Abacos, Nassau and the Exumas. I then sailed the boat back to New York, completely offshore, entered a few races along the way, and back to Toronto through the Hudson River and Erie Canal. During the 2009 season, we sailed Black Diamond off the dock 148 different days out of 365, winning the Vacant Dock award the second year in a row.

I am also an Open Water Certified diver and an active member of the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron, certifications included Power/Sail boat handling, Seamanship Sail, Piloting/charting, GPS Navigation, Extended Offshore Cruising and a VHF Radio operation license. I hope to further my education, qualifications and experience in long distance cruising and racing. One of my goals is to obtain a commercial Captains License.

Feel free to contact me at ed@sailboatcruise.ca

Enjoying a sunset during the LO300.