Ishkoodah Regatta

History

The first regatta at the west end of Lake St-Louis was held in 1897 when W.E. Bolton presented a cup for a race sailed off Thomson’s Point. The three boats — Ishkoodah, Vixen, and Molly Brown — raced the T-shaped course that is still used today regardless of wind direction. R.R. Stevenson won, sailing the Ishkoodah, and the trophy bearing the winning boat’s name has been awarded ever since.

Early competitions included four classes: twenty-twos, four raters, knockabouts and dinghies, with 20–30 competitors in those early years. Participation expanded dramatically through the mid-twentieth century, particularly after fiberglass construction made sailing more accessible. At its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, the regatta attracted two hundred to two hundred and fifty entries competing in ten or more classes.

Today the Ishkoodah draws approximately 50+ boats each year, representing a wide variety of vessel types rarely seen together in contemporary racing — from keelboats and dinghies to catamarans.

The T-Shaped Course

One of the Ishkoodah’s most distinctive features is its original T-shaped course, maintained since 1897 regardless of wind direction. This creates variable starting conditions and unique tactical challenges that set the regatta apart from conventional races.

Organizing Committee

The Ishkoodah is unique in that it is not hosted by any single club. Originally, committee members were required to be residents of Baie-d’Urfé or Beaurepaire under the deed restrictions. Today, the organizing committee draws from multiple West Island yacht clubs, including RSTLYC, PCYC, BYC, BDYC, IPYC, and HYC.

Trophies

Trophy	Awarded To
Ishkoodah Cup	One-design keelboats (Sharks, Tanzer 22s, J24s, etc.), best corrected time
Yawl Cup	Stunning sterling silver masterpiece — fastest yacht in PHRF 1 & 2 and open keelboat classes
Duggan Planing Cup	Dinghy class
Beaurepaire Cup	Dinghy class
Catamaran Cup	Catamaran class
Lake St-Louis Cup	Junior squadron member with best corrected time

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