FANFARE 2026, held on the weekend of September 12-13, truly lived up to its FANtastic name. This year FANFARE was honoured to host the Canadian 505 championship, and, for the second time, the regatta also attracted a large number of youth competitors from neighbouring clubs. Thanks to a brilliant weather forecast, we ended up with a total 43 total boats; less than last year, mostly due to a competing regatta for the catamerans. However, the weather lived up to the forecast and was perfect for racing, with temperatures around 25C and winds 5-15kts from NE and then S. The mix of fleets meant that we again ran the regatta on two courses, doubling the numbers of volunteers and staff on the water. Race Officers Rick Nelson and Doug Corner and the RC Volunteers did an amazing job getting 10 races completed over the weekend for the smaller boats and 9 races on the 505 Championship course. Some notable results were:
- 505 Canadian Championship: was won convicingly by NSC’s Christian Voyer and Luke Strickland (see photo below).
- 420 Class: top 3 places went to NSC youth racers.
- Optimist Fleet: the top 3 places went to youth from 3 different clubs: CVGR, GRYC and BYC
The full results are posted here
The regatta wrapped up with an awards ceremony held on the deck in brilliant sunshine, starting with an speech from Commodore Ross Laver thanking the many volunteers who made the event a success, and in particular Jasmine Shaw who picked up the organization of the event at the last minute. The awards were MC’d by Matt Davidge. Many volunteers and racers also stayed at the club on Saturday night for the Pig and Corn Roast, which was superb!
Matt Davidge, with his daughter Anna, came second in the Open Dinghy class in a borrowed Albacore. Anna was also awarded a prize for being the youngest Albacore sailor. Matt’s report below, from a competitors perspective, captures the full flavour of the event.
Fanfare Regatta Report – Nepean Sailing Club, Lac Deschênes September 12–13, 2026 – by Matt Davidge
If you were anywhere near Lac Deschênes on September 12–13, you may have noticed a suspicious concentration of sunburned sailors, misplaced optimism, and boats zig zagging like they were trying to escape a bad date. Congratulations — you witnessed the 2026 Fanfare Regatta.
Saturday: The Great Drift and Dash
The day began with light wind, the kind of breeze that politely asks if you’d like to move rather than actually pushing you anywhere. Many boats responded by politely declining. But by mid afternoon, the wind finally decided to show up for work — gusting to 15 knots and shifting more often than a politician during election season. Sailors were tacking so frequently that several reported muscle soreness in parts of their bodies they didn’t know existed.
Sunday: The Breeze That Ghosted Us
Sunday’s wind was a masterclass in emotional inconsistency. Five knots… then ten… then back to five… then a brief puff that convinced everyone the wind was finally committing, only for it to vanish like a catamaran “going out to get milk.”
Speaking of which… the regatta ran on two race courses:
Bravo Course : 505s & Open Dinghies (Mostly Albacores)
The 505 fleet held their Canadian Championships with 15 boats — a spectacular turnout for the class that is essentially the well‑fed adult version of the 420. Same basic idea, but with more power, more complexity, and a vibe that says, “I pay taxes and own a cordless drill.”
The Open Dinghy fleet demonstrated peak sportsmanship: lending Albacores, helping newcomers tune them, and teaching them how to race. It was wholesome enough to qualify as a Hallmark sailing movie.
Charlie Course: ILCAs, 420s & Optimists
The ILCA fleet (formerly known as Lasers — yes, the class formerly known as Lasers, like a boat‑based Prince tribute act) battled the shifts with admirable patience. Every time a puff arrived, an Optimist sailor could be heard shouting “I swear I saw it first!”
The 420s, meanwhile, continued their eternal quest to prove they are not just the training wheels for the 505s. And the Optimists? They sailed with the confidence of children who have never paid for boat repairs.
Missing Fireballs and Catamarans
We missed the Fireball class and catamarans this year. Without them, the regatta lacked its usual quota of boats that look like they were designed by someone who loves speed, danger, and questionable decisions. Please come back next year — Lac Deschenes wasn’t the same without your chaos.
Final Thoughts
Despite winds that behaved like they were on a coffee break, the 2026 Fanfare Regatta delivered everything we love: competition, camaraderie, questionable tactical decisions, and enough wind shifts to make everyone doubt their life choices.
To all sailors, volunteers, and the Open Dinghy fleet for their generosity — thank you for making the regatta a success.