2025 Contender Canadians

By Roger Martin - the 2025 Contender Canadian Champ

The 2025 Canadians highlighted a remarkable development in the Toronto Contender fleet: three new members in their 20s participated in the regatta, with a fourth joining just after the regatta. During the 2025 season, the old guard welcomed Nathan Brand, Dylan Tredger and Tim Jeruzalski to the fleet. After the regatta, Annie He, Tim's life partner and fellow Waterloo systems engineer, bought the venerable 2227 from Roger Martin to further rejuvenate the fleet.

And these new members are no slouches, Nathan finished a close second in the regatta.

There was no trapezing during the Canadians, which were held inside the outer harbour due to light winds, 3-4kts on the first day and 1-3kts on the second.

Septuagenarian Roger figured he'd break out his brand new Wavelength sail for the occasion due to the obviously diminishing number of big regattas in his future This, combined with his misspent childhood summers racing in many near-calms in Toronto, led to a quirky and unexpected victory for him

Thanks to Steph for organizing the regatta, Paul McHugh for his skilled PRO work in trying conditions, and Bernie for another wonderful Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday evening.