Note to existing members: This website looks a bit different when you LOG IN.
Our club is hosting our around-the-island race/regatta this day.
This is a multi-club, community-driven, scored, multi-race, regatta day. Prizes are awarded at the end of the day.
Anyone may participate and, participants are strongly encouraged to attend Monday Night Race Training sessions before participating in this event. Sailors who have recently completed CanSail 1&2 or Albacore Old Salt L1 are encouraged to participate in monthly Fun Races, the annual New Helm Regatta and annual Baby Duck Regatta for which advanced sailors are not eligible.
JTown's boat captains wishing to participate have priority sign-out privileges for their respective boats.
For more information, email race@sailtoronto.com.
***IN MEMORIAM*****
On Feb 27, 2025, at 1:00 PM, Frank Loritz <frank.loritz@gmail.com> wrote:
Homage to David “Klinger” Matthews Like many of you I was saddened to hear the news that David Matthews had died and it made me reflect on how big an impact his presence had on my own relationship with the St James Sailing Club. David and I joined the club at about the same time in the early 70’s and we have both been continuous members since that time. David was always an enigma, colourful in his outfits and story-telling but humble in his contributions to the club over the years. The handcrafted Clingers and award trophies, his entertaining rants from atop a ladder at occasions such as the club regatta, his presence at the Commodores Ball to let us in on his latest feud with Hong Kong U (also known elsewhere as U of T) and his personally prepared traditional Christmas cake in which were buried real coins became hallmarks of his distinct persona. He had earned the name “Klinger”, borrowed from the 1980s army parody MASH, for his eccentric ways and habit of wearing a wool-knit dress with a blue baseball cap adorned with a long ribbon attached to its back. He crewed for many years outfitted with a bulky lifejacket and helmet complete with multiple stars. David was a loner and details of his personal life and upbringing would only be revealed in snippets buried in his story-telling. In the early years he appeared to make his living as a gardener to wealthy Rosedale widows. He was intelligent and literate but he chose to live a minimalist lifestyle as he firmly disagreed with the destructive leadership and mores of the society around him. He distrusted the elites and resented his welfare neighbours who misused their social benefits. He bonded with animals giving many of the native inhabitants of the Outer Harbour individual names. He regularly rode down to the club on a beat-up bicycle to tend to the lawn and garden. He tended to minor repairs around the club, often unbeknownst to club executive. He was often invisible to club members although he did stand out with his tattered clothes held together with duct tape, his layered shirts and sweaters, and crossing guard safety vest. He respected the environment and lived his life accordingly. He chose to live without a phone or computer and relied on public services such as the library for communications. He was well read and could talk your ear off about any topic. One wonders what went on in the mind of this individual. He was fortunate enough to have found a place like St. James Town Sailing Club. I believe that for all he gave to the club he also benefitted from the companionship and the opportunity to share his philosophies. I think he appreciated the volunteer nature of the club, where people gave freely of their time and energy in a co-operative spirit. This is just but a taste of the many memories that he planted through his presence at St James Town Sailing Club. If I were to dig deeper into my memory I would iikely find many more special moments. The character, the nature, and the flavour of the club have been forever impacted by this quirky but utterly unique character. He was someone who dared to challenge the monotony of convention. He'll be remembered not only for who he was, but for what he represented. He was a carefree spirit extraordinaire, which is something that attracts many people to sailing in the first place ….to be blown around whimsically by the wind to wherever it may bring you. That was his life and I believe he got what he wanted. It’s hard to imagine that anyone could emulate him let alone fit into his tattered pants but hopefully he will continue to keep a watchful eye on his cherished home. Good Bye my friend and thanks for sharing your wit, stories and humble example. Frank Loritz Here’s a link to a video that member Kirstie Fraser(Yamazaki) produced in 2011. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VQz3cT_Wi7Rr8p9v8yfeborBDgOjamqN/view?usp=share_link
Homage to David “Klinger” Matthews
Like many of you I was saddened to hear the news that David Matthews had died and it made me reflect on how big an impact his presence had on my own relationship with the St James Sailing Club. David and I joined the club at about the same time in the early 70’s and we have both been continuous members since that time. David was always an enigma, colourful in his outfits and story-telling but humble in his contributions to the club over the years. The handcrafted Clingers and award trophies, his entertaining rants from atop a ladder at occasions such as the club regatta, his presence at the Commodores Ball to let us in on his latest feud with Hong Kong U (also known elsewhere as U of T) and his personally prepared traditional Christmas cake in which were buried real coins became hallmarks of his distinct persona. He had earned the name “Klinger”, borrowed from the 1980s army parody MASH, for his eccentric ways and habit of wearing a wool-knit dress with a blue baseball cap adorned with a long ribbon attached to its back. He crewed for many years outfitted with a bulky lifejacket and helmet complete with multiple stars. David was a loner and details of his personal life and upbringing would only be revealed in snippets buried in his story-telling. In the early years he appeared to make his living as a gardener to wealthy Rosedale widows. He was intelligent and literate but he chose to live a minimalist lifestyle as he firmly disagreed with the destructive leadership and mores of the society around him. He distrusted the elites and resented his welfare neighbours who misused their social benefits. He bonded with animals giving many of the native inhabitants of the Outer Harbour individual names. He regularly rode down to the club on a beat-up bicycle to tend to the lawn and garden. He tended to minor repairs around the club, often unbeknownst to club executive. He was often invisible to club members although he did stand out with his tattered clothes held together with duct tape, his layered shirts and sweaters, and crossing guard safety vest. He respected the environment and lived his life accordingly. He chose to live without a phone or computer and relied on public services such as the library for communications. He was well read and could talk your ear off about any topic.
One wonders what went on in the mind of this individual. He was fortunate enough to have found a place like St. James Town Sailing Club. I believe that for all he gave to the club he also benefitted from the companionship and the opportunity to share his philosophies. I think he appreciated the volunteer nature of the club, where people gave freely of their time and energy in a co-operative spirit.
This is just but a taste of the many memories that he planted through his presence at St James Town Sailing Club. If I were to dig deeper into my memory I would iikely find many more special moments. The character, the nature, and the flavour of the club have been forever impacted by this quirky but utterly unique character. He was someone who dared to challenge the monotony of convention.
He'll be remembered not only for who he was, but for what he represented. He was a carefree spirit extraordinaire, which is something that attracts many people to sailing in the first place ….to be blown around whimsically by the wind to wherever it may bring you. That was his life and I believe he got what he wanted. It’s hard to imagine that anyone could emulate him let alone fit into his tattered pants but hopefully he will continue to keep a watchful eye on his cherished home.
Good Bye my friend and thanks for sharing your wit, stories and humble example.
Frank Loritz
Here’s a link to a video that member Kirstie Fraser(Yamazaki) produced in 2011.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VQz3cT_Wi7Rr8p9v8yfeborBDgOjamqN/view?usp=share_link
