Opening Day puts wind in CFSA sails 

Leslie Basham, CFSA Fleet Captain, makes opening remarks with Ben Sproule, the club’s Commodore, during Opening Day celebrations.

Leslie Basham, CFSA Fleet Captain, makes opening remarks with Ben Sproule, the club’s Commodore, during Opening Day celebrations.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — The Canadian Forces Sailing Association (CFSA) celebrated its first public Opening Day at their new headquarters.

The Opening Day on Apr. 29 marked an important turning point for the club, says Kurtis Paddle, CFSA Rear-Commodore.

“It’s the first time in a few years we have gathered together as a broader community, so everyone was eager to see each other and also get out on the water and sail,” he said.

Not only was it the first open-invite event at the new location, but it was also the first large-scale gathering the CFSA has held since restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic began. Last year at this time, the CFSA was moving from its former home at Monroe Head to their new location at Lang Cove, located in Naden, so this year’s event carried even more meaning, Paddle said.

“Today was the perfect moment for the club to turn the page and look to future adventures together in our new home,” he said.

Paddle is a civilian Department of National Defence (DND) employee who works for the Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Cape Breton. He says the club’s leadership has big plans for the CFSA, including the building of a new clubhouse.

These days, however, the club is still adjusting to the move. The floating docks need to get connected to dry land for foot traffic. Paddle says members are still required to take a boat from the small boat jetties located near the Public Works Graving Dock to get to their boats.

The CFSA provides recreation opportunities primarily for military personnel, their families, and civilian members of DND. For more information about the CFSA, visit www.cfsaesq.ca.

Paddle says expanding the CFSA’s ranks and attracting new members is one of their key objectives and encourages anyone interested in joining to reach out to him at rearcommodore@cfsaesq.ca.

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