Judy Robertson grew up on the shores of the North West Arm in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her passion for sailing started with her neighbours who owned a Stevens' design 37 foot wooden sloop. She would spend endless hours helping the owners painting in the spring and then waiting for them to return from their sailing adventures. At 10 years of age, Judy began taking sailing lessons in Flying Juniors at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, and at age 14 was the awarded as the top junior sailor at the Club. These dinghy lessons were the training platform for her life-long passion for sailing. During her university years she managed to slide in a few seasons teaching sailing and skiing in Europe with the Club Med, and whenever possible during her summers back in Nova Scotia, Judy participated in countless offshore and coastal races on many local boats.
Over a ten-year period, Judy raced on a Peterson Custom 44, Ocean Commotion, and during this period participated in five Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Races (the last during the 4th month of her first pregnancy). Once their two daughters were old enough to walk, Judy and her family bought a Grampian 26 and cruised the coast of Nova Scotia.
In 2006, they bought Semper Vivens, an Avance 40 (very similiar to a Swan) and the following year headed south for 9 months. They home schooled their two girls and travelled the Eastern Seaboard, crossed to the Bahamas and continued through the Turks and Caicos and turned around in the Dominican Republic before heading north for the summer season.
In July 2009, Judy skippered Semper Vivens long with her all female crew, including her 14 old daughter, in the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race. This was her 7th Marblehead Race.
Besides being very involved in keel boat sailing, Judy has been a driving force in youth sailing in Nova Scotia as she served on the Board of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron as Vice Commodore of Sail Training and was instrumental in taking the 8 week summer programme and turning it into a National Centre of Excellence where the National Sailing Team is often seen training. Under her tenure the new MAC (Marine Activity Centre) was built and is now the hub of youth sailing in Atlantic Canada.
Judy was awarded the 2009 Female Sailor of the Year for Nova Scotia and in 2010 was invited to join the Cruising Club of America.
In the fall of 2010 Judy also became certified as a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Yacht Master Instructor. This comes with an internationally recognised commercial endorsement. Along with the certification, Judy is also a Cruising/Keelboat Instructor Evaluator with Sail Canada. Judy presently serves on the Board of Sail Nova Scotia.
In 2018 she sailed her boat across the Atlantic to Portugal with her 19 year old daughter and 2 friends and in 2014 sailed with friends the entire length through the fjords of Patagonia, Chile and then to Antarctica and back to Chile.
Having worked as an educator for over 30 years in the school system and at the university level, Judy understands education and has blended it with her passion for sailing by founding Nova Sail.
Over a ten-year period, Judy raced on a Peterson Custom 44, Ocean Commotion, and during this period participated in five Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Races (the last during the 4th month of her first pregnancy). Once their two daughters were old enough to walk, Judy and her family bought a Grampian 26 and cruised the coast of Nova Scotia.
In 2006, they bought Semper Vivens, an Avance 40 (very similiar to a Swan) and the following year headed south for 9 months. They home schooled their two girls and travelled the Eastern Seaboard, crossed to the Bahamas and continued through the Turks and Caicos and turned around in the Dominican Republic before heading north for the summer season.
In July 2009, Judy skippered Semper Vivens long with her all female crew, including her 14 old daughter, in the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race. This was her 7th Marblehead Race.
Besides being very involved in keel boat sailing, Judy has been a driving force in youth sailing in Nova Scotia as she served on the Board of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron as Vice Commodore of Sail Training and was instrumental in taking the 8 week summer programme and turning it into a National Centre of Excellence where the National Sailing Team is often seen training. Under her tenure the new MAC (Marine Activity Centre) was built and is now the hub of youth sailing in Atlantic Canada.
Judy was awarded the 2009 Female Sailor of the Year for Nova Scotia and in 2010 was invited to join the Cruising Club of America.
In the fall of 2010 Judy also became certified as a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Yacht Master Instructor. This comes with an internationally recognised commercial endorsement. Along with the certification, Judy is also a Cruising/Keelboat Instructor Evaluator with Sail Canada. Judy presently serves on the Board of Sail Nova Scotia.
In 2018 she sailed her boat across the Atlantic to Portugal with her 19 year old daughter and 2 friends and in 2014 sailed with friends the entire length through the fjords of Patagonia, Chile and then to Antarctica and back to Chile.
Having worked as an educator for over 30 years in the school system and at the university level, Judy understands education and has blended it with her passion for sailing by founding Nova Sail.