Prince Edward County
Building PEC's Sailing Future
Prepared for the County · April 2026
Prince Edward County
An economic, cultural, and strategic case for Happy Sailing Academy and Picton Harbour.
A Sail Canada certified academy, founded and built by a Picton resident, operating year-round between PEC and the Caribbean.
A year ago this business was nearly done. The community stepped in. The trajectory has completely changed.
After four years of losses, debt, and the short-season grind, Evan was preparing to shut the business down.
Launched "Learn to Sail in the Caribbean" — local PEC residents enrolled and supported a county business through the off-season.
For the first time, Happy Sailing operates year-round. Booking momentum carried straight into the PEC summer season.
Projected to deliver the first net profit in company history — $48,000 on $145,000 in revenue.
This business nearly didn't survive. The community saved it. Now it's thriving. The County should protect that momentum, not put it at risk.
From a 97% grant-funded launch in FY2022 to a fully self-sustaining operation in FY2025 — and a projected $145K in FY2026.
| Fiscal Year | Revenue | YoY Growth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2022 | $3,264 | — | 97% grant-funded ($100K grant) |
| FY2023 | $31,596 | +868% | First real operating year |
| FY2024 | $55,874 | +77% | — |
| FY2025 | $83,153 | +49% | 100% earned revenue, ZERO grants |
| FY2026 (proj.) | $145,000 | +74% | Base case projection |
A clear glide path from a -248% net margin in FY2023 to a projected +33% net margin in FY2026.
| Fiscal Year | Revenue | Expenses | Net Income | Net Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2022 | $103,264 | $98,910 | $4,354 | 4.2% |
| FY2023 | $31,596 | $109,935 | ($78,339) | -248% |
| FY2024 | $69,074 | $85,869 | ($16,795) | -24.3% |
| FY2025 | $83,153 | $88,148 | ($4,995) | -6.0% |
| FY2026 (proj.) | $145,000 | $97,000 | $48,000 | 33.1% |
$32,000 in confirmed summer course revenue against a $76,000 target — and these students are already coming to PEC.
| Course | Dates | Status | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Cruising | Jun 5–8 | SOLD OUT (4/4) | $5,000 |
| SKS | Jun 13–14 | 3/4 enrolled | $1,950 |
| Liveaboard Cruising | Jun 21–26 | SOLD OUT (4/4) | $10,000 |
| Basic Cruising | Jul 3–6 | SOLD OUT (4/4) | $5,000 |
| Basic Cruising | Jul 10–13 | 3/4 enrolled | $3,750 |
| SKS | Jul 18–19 | 2/4 enrolled | $1,300 |
| Liveaboard Cruising | Jul 26–31 | 2/4 enrolled | $5,000 |
These students are already booked. They are coming to PEC. They will stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, and spend money in The County. This is not hypothetical economic impact — it's confirmed.
Multi-day Sail Canada certification courses fill PEC accommodations during the week, not just weekends — the gap most operators struggle to close.
Happy Sailing doesn't just bring sailors to PEC. It brings multi-night, high-spending visitors who discover The County through sailing — and come back for everything else.
Five active partnerships — each one channels new visitors, packages, or programming into The County.
Ontario cruising students are down 26% in two years. Happy Sailing is up 49% YoY. The growth is happening in PEC.
Happy Sailing's liveaboard format directly addresses the retention problem — a more immersive, higher-retention learning experience.
Happy Sailing is contributing directly to Ontario Sailing's and Sail Canada's national strategies. The work is happening here.
Happy Sailing is positioned at the leading edge of a national effort to rebuild sailing participation in Canada. The work is happening here, in Picton — not in Toronto, not in Vancouver. This is a nationally relevant operation that happens to be based in PEC because Evan chose to build it here.
Happy Sailing reflects the diversity goals national sailing bodies and municipalities are calling for — from founders to staff to the local youth we bring on the water.
We bring local PEC youth participants on the water free of charge to help mentor a younger demographic in the sailing industry and community. The County's next generation of sailors — coached, supported, and welcomed — without barriers to entry.
Happy Sailing is doing in practice what the County and the national sailing bodies are calling for in policy: Indigenous representation, 2SLGBTQ+ leadership, women in sport, and free access for local youth — all in one Picton-based business.
Conservative, base, and upside cases — with year-to-date performance already validating the trajectory.
| Scenario | Revenue | YoY Growth | Net Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | $120,000 | +44% | ~$23,000 |
| Base Case | $145,000 | +74% | $48,000 |
| Upside | $170,000 | +104% | ~$73,000 |
| Month | FY2025 | FY2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | $9,410 | $16,997 | +81% |
| December | $12,431 | ~$12,000 | ~flat |
| January | $9,573 | ~$8,000 | -16% |
| February | $3,983 | $4,982 | +25% |
| March | $5,079 | $16,122 | +217% |
| April | $4,590 | $9,815 | +114% |
| May (thru May 20) | — | $13,628 | — |
| 6-Month YTD | ~$45,066 | ~$67,916 | +51% |
If the trajectory holds, FY2027 is the year Happy Sailing becomes a fully financeable, scalable PEC business.
| Line Item | FY2025 | FY2026 Base | FY2027 Projected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $83,153 | $145,000 | $167,000 |
| Total Expenses | $88,148 | $96,466 | $91,258 |
| Net Income | ($4,995) | $48,534 | $75,742 |
| Net Margin | -6.0% | 33.5% | 45.4% |
PEC needs jobs that extend beyond the traditional five-month tourism season. Happy Sailing's Caribbean program already proves the model.
The Caribbean winter program already extends employment beyond the traditional 5-month PEC tourism season.
Happy Sailing is a job creator in a community that needs year-round employment, not just seasonal tourism work. Stable marina access is the foundation that makes that growth possible.
A specific, concrete list of what is directly threatened — not theoretical, not exaggerated.
The ask is small. The consequences of not acting are large. All Evan needs is what his agreement already promises: first right of refusal on the slip he's held, paid for, and built a business around.
Two things — one immediate, one long-term. Both reasonable. Both grounded in agreements that already exist.
Confirmation that the first right of refusal on Slip 13 will be honoured for the 2026 season — consistent with the 2025 Docking Agreement and the County's own April 17, 2026 public notice confirming continued municipal marina operations.
A conversation with Economic Development about how the County can support Happy Sailing's continued growth — because a business that brings visitors to PEC, creates jobs, and puts the County on the national sailing map deserves a stable operating foundation, not annual uncertainty.
All financial figures, partnership documentation, and supporting decks are linked below for verification.