The historic waters of the Bay of Quinte recently set the stage for world-class sailing as the Bay of Quinte Yacht Club (BQYC) hosted the 2026 Shark 24 World Championship Regatta.
Running from June 27 through July 2, 2026, the prestigious international event brought high-stakes competition to Belleville, serving as a marquee highlight of BQYC’s milestone 150th anniversary celebrations. Sanctioned by the International Shark Class Association 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 honour the club’s sesquicentennial. Founded in 1876, BQYC is celebrating a century and a half of sailing excellence, community involvement, and waterfront tradition.
Below are the winners:
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. • Long Distance Winners: The crew of Tac Boston, Nik Lintunen, and Philip Barnard from the Sarnia Yacht Club aboard Maniac. • Best BQYC result Airush helmed by Andreas Steinitz with crew Evan King and Dan Steinitz
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.
See photos of the event here.
