This weekend, the Nepean Sailing Club traded whitecaps for elf caps as we “set sail” (if you ignore the truck engine) through the 2025 Help Santa Toy Parade downtown Ottawa. The parade raises funds and gathers toys for families in need, and we were thrilled to support such a festive and meaningful community tradition.
Our parade “fleet” featured eight NSC sailors: two enthusiastic junior crew members, one trusty pickup truck, and a trailer carrying a sailboat transformed into a floating winter wonderland—proof that with enough creativity, anything can technically float.
Our boat, Bug Catcher, appeared to skim over sparkling “water,” thanks to expert rigging and a glamorous snowflake-patterned sail. A cheerful inflatable lighthouse—helpfully labelled North Pole—stood watch off the bow like the most festive navigation aid a sailor could ask for. No Navionics required!
Two homemade wearable sailboats—complete with masts, backstays, and forestays. Their mid-parade “One Design race” immediately sparked next year’s plan: recruit an entire starting line of human-powered sailboats and appoint one brave volunteer to dress up as a roaming version of our beloved river mark, Blueberry.
Picture it: Downtown Ottawa filled with sailors sprinting after a mobile Blueberry. Chaos? Certainly! Cardio? Absolutely! Classic NSC? Without question!
The soundtrack to our voyage came courtesy of a lively Christmas medley onboard and the marching band just ahead of us. Yet despite all that joyful noise, our youngest crew member managed a highly strategic 20-minute power nap inside the boat mid-parade—proof that true sailors can sleep anywhere, anytime, on anything.
A Winning Finish
As we passed the judging panel with sparkling sails, wearable sailboats, music and high spirits we were focused on holding formation. So, it was a delightful surprise to reach the end of the route and learn we had captured Top Place in the Commercial Category—the perfect finishing tack to a fantastic day.
Thank You, Crew!
Huge thanks to everyone who built, rigged, trimmed, hauled, decorated, and rehearsed behind the scenes. Your creativity and elbow grease made this year’s entry unforgettable.
Let’s make next year’s fleet even bigger, bolder, and more buoyant. Who’s ready to launch a full wearable-boat armada—and maybe even a mobile Blueberry—for 2026?
Nicole Pare• Social Director
Nepean Sailing Club •3259 Carling Ave.
613-325-2374 • social@nsc.ca