A Unique Time of Year
There is a time of year when dreamers who aren’t quite ready to let go pull out their wool sweaters, long johns, winter hats, and flashlights for one last hurrah before the first layers of ice creep into the slips.
They brave darkening conditions, crisp air, the winds of the season’s change, and cold rains, deprived of any summer’s warmth. Without race committee, and with a rabbit start, they set off into the very night that sends snowbirds south for the winter.
These are the sailors who set out for the Dark and Stormy Series, closing out the final races of the season — but not without great reward. There is something special about fall sailing. The crowds have thinned, the evenings are shorter, and the golden glow of an October sunset is a pretty good trade for a few extra layers of fleece. The boats may be fewer, the fingers a little colder, and the days of shorts (skorts!) and T-shirts a distant memory, but there is still racing to be done!
The Series
This year, 19 boats entered the series from NSC, BYC, and CVGR, bringing together crews willing to trade warm summer evenings for a chillier adventure on the river.
Race 1
The first race on October 1 saw SSW winds of 6–12 knots, a mild-to-moderate breeze that made for a pleasant start to the series. The turnout was great, with the course drawing everyone from the smaller Star sailors to the larger keelboats stretching their sails in the crisp autumn air. Conditions were comfortable enough to ease everyone into the series, with just enough breeze to keep the crews busy and the racing interesting. A lovely reminder that October doesn’t always have to mean suffering!
The evening’s podium went to 1st Blue Zulu, 2nd Makai, and 3rd Cavale.
Race 2
The second race, on October 8, saw WNW to WSW winds of 5–15 knots — a properly breezy race, with shifty winds and some rain to close things out on the course. This was the race that truly defined the series’ namesake, with 14 boats braving the conditions and choosing to carry on. Despite the threatening thunderstorms and winds briefly reaching 20 knots, gusting to 30, these boats still headed out to the racecourse that night! A true testament to the spirit of the Dark & Stormy crews, and their confidence in their skippers and electronic instruments.
It takes a particular kind of commitment to look at the weather, look at the river, look at your skipper, and decide that, yes, this is still a perfectly reasonable way to spend a Thursday evening. The Dark & Stormy sailors certainly weren’t going to let a little October weather send them home early!
Once again, Blue Zulu took 1st, Makai 2nd, and Cavale 3rd, repeating the opening-race podium.
Race 3
The third race, on October 15, brought light air of 3–6 knots, with mild conditions, gentle breezes, and a distinct lack of the spicy conditions these fall racers look forward to. After the previous week’s excitement, the river offered a much quieter evening. Light-air sailing has its own challenges, of course, requiring patience, a keen eye for the breeze, and the ability to resist the temptation to make any sudden movements that might disturb what little wind you’ve managed to catch in your sails. It was a night for watching the water, searching for pressure, and hoping the next puff would be the one to get you moving again. Not every race can deliver dramatic gusts and rain-soaked glory, and sometimes the river reminds us who’s really in charge. This time, Bella took 1st, Blue Zulu 2nd, and Makai 3rd.
Race 4
The fourth and final race, on October 22, started with whitecaps and ended with respectable conditions. A cool northerly breeze of 9–15 knots permitted racers three laps of the designated course — (… “and the crowd goes wild! Huraaaah!”)
Three laps in late October is no small feat, especially when the sun is slipping away, and the temperature reminds you winter is just around the corner. But this was the sort of evening that makes all those extra layers worthwhile. The views and sunset that fall sailing are all about were on full display. A stunning sky greeted the fleet, with the setting sun painting the eastern Ottawa skyscrapers gold as boats made their way around the course. For a moment, it was hard to decide whether to keep your eyes on the competition or take in the view.
The latter downwind leg gave us all the charming, colourful sight of river lanterns against a dark and starry sky, as foredeckers lit up their spinnakers after rounding. Against the fading light, those colourful sails glowed warmly as the boats made their way downwind, a fitting end to the series and a reminder of why we keep coming back to the water, even when the weather tells us we probably ought to be home with a hot cup of tea.
If you’ve never seen it, it’s reason enough to risk a bit of cold and dampness to experience something summer racers miss. There’s magic in sailing into the dark, with city lights reflecting on the river and the fleet scattered across the water beneath the stars. It’s a different kind of sailing, and one that stays with you long after the boat is back in its slip and the layers of wool have finally come off.
The final race podium saw a stealthy 1st place for Windscot, 2nd for Makai, and 3rd for Cavale.
Final Series Results
After four races of shifting winds, light air, threatening skies, and some very memorable October evenings, the overall series results were:
1st Makai, 2nd Cavale, and 3rd Windscot.
Congratulations to the podium finishers, and to all the crews who came out to race. With 19 boats entering the series and 14 heading out on the stormiest evening, the Dark & Stormy once again proved that the sailing season isn’t over just because the calendar says summer is gone.
A Note of Thanks
To the skippers, crews, Galley staff, and everyone who traded a warm evening indoors for one last spin around the river: thank you for making this such a fun way to close out the season. Here’s to cold hands, warm layers, colourful spinnakers, and a few more weeks of pretending winter isn’t coming.
Until next year, sailors. May your off-season be short, your boat projects manageable, and your dreams of spring sailing keep you warm!
For complete results, visit:
https://nsc.ca/nsc_racing/results/2026/dark-stormy.htm
Submitted by Misha Wylie