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KYC Regatta Reports
SHARK CANADIAN CHAMPS 2026
The Shark Canadian Championship Regatta was held this past weekend at Sarnia Yacht Club on Lake Huron. I have never sailed this lake and felt it important to go and learn about the conditions because the Shark Worlds is going to be held there in 2027.
It was a two day regatta and we had winds from the South East on Saturday and North West on Sunday. This gave us a good understanding of what to expect for the World Championships next year. We had a current to deal with which was flowing straight to the entrance of the St. Clair River. Locals said the current in the river runs at 7 knots and warned Skippers to be careful both leaving and entering the mouth of the Sarnia Yacht Club entrance, warning us not to steer south or risk getting sucked into the river and missing the regatta.
On Saturday, with the wind blowing from the SE, meant sailing up wind, our tacking angles were smaller than when sailing without currant because the current was pushing the boat into the wind giving a stronger apparent wind which allowed us to sail a little higher angle than normal. Sailing down wind was a little different as we had to sail into the current thus giving us less apparent wind. This meant we had to sail higher angles for more apparent wind to keep the spinnaker full. The boats that understood this, did well.
26 Sharks registered for the regatta and KYCs Jonathan Livingston Seagull (JLS) earned the furthest traveled bragging rights followed by Belleville. Toronto, Niagara, Hamilton, Windsor and Sarnia who made up the rest of the fleet.
JLS sailed a 2,1,1,1 after the first day with 5 points total and the second place boat had 13 points. Sunday was a better day for the second place boat but by the time we sailed the seventh race, JLS could not be beat. This allowed Josh Wilby the opportunity to skipper the last race. Matt Fair who was doing middle on Saturday switched to bow and Peter Van Rossem to middle. Josh managed a third place finish in that race.
Congrats to Matt, Josh and Peter for winning the 2026 Shark Canadians. JLS has won this regatta three years in a row.