Sept 19, 2017
Paul and Sheryl Shard, hosts of the Distant Shores sailing adventure TV series, now in it's 11th season and broadcast worldwide to 42 million households in 24 languages.
Anyone planning to visit the Southampton Boat Show in the UK or the Annapolis Sailboat Show in the USA this autumn will have a special opportunity to meet and speak with award-winning TV presenters, sailing authors and long-time cruising sailors, Sheryl and Paul Shard.
The Shards, known best as the fun-loving hosts of the Distant Shores sailing adventure TV series, (Nautical Channel, AWE TV) have been cruising internationally since 1989, sharing their experiences through award-winning television documentaries. (They have won two Worldfest Film and Video Production Awards for Best Sailing and Water Sports Documentary.)
You will find the Shards at the Discovery Yachts Group stand each day of the boat shows listed below. Paul and Sheryl are currently having their third Southerly Yacht built, a Southerly 480 which they helped design. Southerly Yachts was recently acquired by Discovery Yachts Group in Southampton. They are enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge with anyone dreaming of a long-distance cruise. Here's where to find them:
Southampton Boat Show, UK, September 15 to 24, 2017
Annapolis Sailboat Show, USA, October 5 to 9, 2017
World Cruising Club's Ocean Sailing Forum, Saturday October 7, Loews Hotel Annapolis
The Shards will also be making guest appearances in January 2018 at the Toronto International Boat Show and Dusseldorf Boat Show. Their new Southerly 480 will debut at the Dusseldorf show.
Distant Shores Sailing Adventure TV Series
The Shards' long-running sailing adventure series, Distant Shores, is now in it's 11th season and is broadcast on television to 42 million homes in 24 languages. With over 130 beautifully filmed half-hour episodes and growing, the shows feature top sailing destinations and how-to advice on equipping and managing an ocean-going sailboat. The Distant Shores television series started long before the days of YouTube and sailing vlogs, and this entertaining and informative sailing TV series has stood the test of time. It has inspired people all over the world to learn the art of sailing and has helped thousands to discover the joys of the cruising lifestyle.
"It means a lot to us when we meet people out cruising who have watched Distant Shores and as a result got inspired to pursue their own adventures," says Sheryl.
"We learn that viewers use the shows for research on both marine equipment and destinations," adds Paul, "We're pleased that the information we include in each episode of Distant Shores really helps people to prepare safely to get 'out there' and experience some of the world's best cruising grounds."
About Paul and Sheryl Shard
This charming Canadian couple have a lot of experience to share, having sailed over 100,000 nautical miles on the 4 boats they've owned. Paul and Sheryl built their first boat from a bare hull and deck as a wedding present to one another in the late '80's when they were in their twenties and sailed it for 18 years. It was an old Sparkman and Stephens design called a Classic 37. After that they owned a Southerly 42RST and then a Southerly 49. They're now having a Southerly 480 built by Discovery Yachts Group in the UK that they have helped to design. The Shards have done 7 ocean crossings, mostly with only the two of them aboard, and are about to do their 8th this November. They will be sailing Discovery Yachts new Bluewater 50 catamaran with crew from the Canary Islands to St. Lucia while they wait for their new Southerly 480 to be completed. Sheryl and Paul are the authors of the best-selling book, Sail Away! A Guide to Outfitting and Provisioning for Sailing (Pelagic Press) now being updated to a third edition and are spokespeople, course designers and instructors for the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons, Canada's largest recreational boating education institution. Their TV shows, book, seminars and magazine articles inspire adventure and promote boating safety at the same time.
The Shards are regular contributors to Canadian Yachting magazine and when they are home, live in Brechin, Ontario.
