One Design: Sharks Attack on Bay of Quinte

photos: Gerry Doyle

July 9, 2026

The historic waters of the Bay of Quinte recently welcomed 48 Sharks for world-class sailing as the Bay of Quinte Yacht Club (BQYC) proudly hosted the 2026 Shark 24 World Championship Regatta from June 27 through July 2, 2026. The prestigious international event highlighted  BQYC’s milestone 150th anniversary celebrations.

Sanctioned by the International Shark Class Association (ISCA) and World Sailing, the regatta drew 148 elite sailors and 49 boats from across Canada, the United States, Germany, and Austria.

A Century and a Half of Waterfront Tradition

The International Shark Class Association specifically granted the 2026 World Championship to BQYC to honor the club’s sesquicentennial. Founded in 1876, BQYC is celebrating a century and a half of sailing excellence, community involvement, and waterfront tradition.

Champions Crowned & Closing Celebrations

Matt Fair, Peter Van Rossem, and Josh Wilby  – Overall winners of the Shark 2026 world Championship

The week kicked off with a vibrant Opening Ceremony on Sunday, June 28. with competitors and guests gathered. Following two days of very light winds, Tuesday  through Thursday had better conditions. Closing celebrations and awards were held on July 2, honouring the fleet’s top performers:

Overall World Champions: Skipper Peter Van Rossem, alongside crew members Matt Fair and Josh Wilib from the Kingston Yacht Club, captured the world title aboard their boat, Jonathan Livingston Seagull.  JLS also recently won the 2026 Coupe Du Quebec Regatta at Beaconsfield Yacht Club and last year captured the Shark NAs at BQYC.

Long Distance  Winner Tac Boston Maniac

Long Distance Winners: The crew of Tac Boston, Nik Lintunen, and Philip Barnard from the Sarnia Yacht Club aboard Maniac.

Looking Forward

The Shark 24 World Championships represent just one chapter in BQYC’s monumental 150th year. The club’s sesquicentennial celebrations will continue on the waterfront throughout the summer, culminating in a grand Jubilee Celebration this coming September.

Full regatta results here . For more information on upcoming 150th-anniversary events, please visit the official event board at bqyc.ca. 

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