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Events - here's a brief outline of the types of events local fleets plan, where and when they work best.
Events - here's a brief outline of the types of events local fleets plan, where and when they work best.
Season Opener
After a winter of dreaming of getting out on the water, it's great to get out with friends for a daysail or a short weekend trip to get things rolling. Often met by inclement weather we jokingly refer to these as Misery Cruises! Extra warm clothes, heavy sleeping bags and lots of hot coffee are the rule to kick the year off. Find yourself a local anchorage or little cove and enjoy! Keep it short - keep it safe - keep it fun!
Messabout
Messabouts are some of the most fun you can have! They are an event that combines sailing, camping, campfires and lots of tall tales. Usually they involve having a sort of base camp where everyone gathers and pulls their boats up. The variety of craft that show up is usually quite varied - everything from homebuilt designs, to sailing canoes and kayaks, chubby old cruisers and sleek performance machines. The fun is in checking them all out, trying out each other's boats, maybe a short cruise around the local area. They are generally a relaxed weekend event, very social usually with lots of good food.
Wilderness Cruising
These types of cruises can last anywhere from a weekend to a week or so. These are great for folks that like to get away from it all - the crowds, the marinas and the heavy boat traffic that can overrun some destinations. A good time for Wilderness cruising is during the peak of summer - no cottages, no jet skis or wake boats, no blaring stereos. These cruises take a little more planning when it comes to supplies ie food, fuel, safety gear etc. but they are really worth it! The peace, quiet and stunning views of nature are unsurpassed.
Canal Cruising
Depending on the area that you're in sometimes you can cruise through a canal system that links together some great sailing areas. Up in Ontario we have the Trent Severn System as well as the Rideau. Each of these canal systems link numerous lakes together through a series of locks. Quite often you can stay tied up at the locks and camp right on shore with washrooms and other facilities right at hand. In some areas there are little towns with restaurants on route as well. Nice if you're not as into the "rough camping" style of trips
Depending on the area that you're in sometimes you can cruise through a canal system that links together some great sailing areas. Up in Ontario we have the Trent Severn System as well as the Rideau. Each of these canal systems link numerous lakes together through a series of locks. Quite often you can stay tied up at the locks and camp right on shore with washrooms and other facilities right at hand. In some areas there are little towns with restaurants on route as well. Nice if you're not as into the "rough camping" style of trips
Raids
A Raid is described as a sail, paddle and oar adventure. It's a leisure pursuit that involves a fleet of small boats capable of being rowed, paddled and/or sailed, exploring a coastline or inland waterway over several days, often with some friendly competitive elements. One of our Fleet Captains Eric Miller from our South Erie Fleet hosts a great example of what a Raid is. We are pleased to have this as one of our Key Events moving forward! Please check out the Raid Erie page to see how Eric has put together such a successful event!
A Raid is described as a sail, paddle and oar adventure. It's a leisure pursuit that involves a fleet of small boats capable of being rowed, paddled and/or sailed, exploring a coastline or inland waterway over several days, often with some friendly competitive elements. One of our Fleet Captains Eric Miller from our South Erie Fleet hosts a great example of what a Raid is. We are pleased to have this as one of our Key Events moving forward! Please check out the Raid Erie page to see how Eric has put together such a successful event!
Here's a breakdown of our 2025 events - more to come next year with all our new local fleets!
Here's a breakdown of our 2025 events - more to come next year with all our new local fleets!
Event Planning Lunch
Everyone gets together in February for their local planning lunch. Local fleets meet up in person or online and plan out the upcoming events. It's a great way to help us beat the winter blues, meet up with friends and look forward to some great cruising
Penetang
This weekend cruise usually takes place in early May. Part of the fun of a cruise like this is you never know what you're going to get this early in the year! This year we got a bit of everything - rain, cold blowing wind, frost, and then warmer temperatures and sunshine on Sunday. The one constant is the great fish and chips at the restaurant at the ramp!
Rideau Canal Motor Cruise
While our group is primarily dedicated to sailing pretty much everyone carries some form of auxiliary power on the trips. Early in the year some of our Eastern Ontario/Quebec Fleet members did a weekend trip, through the Rideau Canal. This event was a great little motor adventure, traversing the locks and visiting the local towns along the way
Britt Spring Cruise
This cruise launched from one of our favourite Georgian Bay spots in Britt Ont. The fleet was there for about a week and a half in total. We had some beautiful weather - although this year saw more fog than we have ever experienced!
Rideau Lakes Cruise
Hosted by our Eastern Ontario/Quebec Fleet we had a great 3 day weekend cruise on Big Rideau Lake in June. This is a great area for family cruising with docks, fire pits, washrooms and plenty of room to camp. There were bonfires at night with popcorn and s'mores, swimming and plenty of good sailing!
The North Channel
Every year the group makes a pilgrimage to one of the best cruising areas around - The North Channel. This is found at the top of Lake Huron - between Manitoulin Island and the north shore. The scenery and solitude here are unmatched. Launching from the excellent facilities in Spanish Ontario, the fleet spent a week in June exploring all that the area has to offer.
The Manitoulin 250 and Little Current Loop
New on the calendar this year were two challenge events - the Manitoulin 250 and the Little Current Loop. The 250 saw participants - all in boats under 20' circumnavigate Manitoulin Island - the largest freshwater island in the world! Starting at the same time and place, the Little Current Loop ventured off on their shorter 75 mile adventure course through the islands of the North Channel
To the Bustard Islands!
This week long wilderness cruise took us through some remote areas in the rocky north east corner of Georgian Bay. With a fleet of 13 boats we tucked into many coves and anchorages enjoying the area all to ourselves
Raid Erie
Hosted by our South Erie Fleet Captain Eric Miller, Raid Erie was a sail and paddle only event. Kicking off with a reception at the St. Hazards Campground on Middle Bass Island (Ohio) participants camped, socialized and made their way around 5 Islands over the 3 days of the event. Due to the success of the event in 2025, the date for the 2026 Raid Erie has already been set (July 31 - August 2) and it will become a key Can-Am event moving forward - mark your calendars now!
Grand Island Sailing Adventure
Grand Island Sailing Adventure
Hosted by our Wisconsin Fleet Captain Tim Ingersoll this was a 3 day adventure. It took place on Grand Island and the Pictured Rocks National Seashore on Lake Superior near Munising Michigan. On this cruise there was a John Welsford Navigator, a Scamp and a uniquely designed leeboard sailboat!
Thousand Islands
Located right on the border of Ontario and New York State, this event is truly a Can-Am cruise. Hosted by our Eastern Ontario/Quebec Fleet Captain Daniel Perrone we launched from Gananoque Ontario - just east of Kingston and headed out into the St. Lawrence River. This is a great place to cruise - obviously many islands to explore but there are also lots of camp sites, washrooms on the many park islands and docks to tie up to overnight if you like. This has become a favourite with members travelling from as far as Niagara Falls, Buffalo NY and New Hampshire to attend.
This event has been held every year since we started in 2015. Hosted by some of our first members Roy and Dianne Schreyer (designer of Dianne's Rose Houseboat and numerous other small cruising boats) Bark Lake is one of our most popular events. Being a messabout, we all gather for the weekend, pull our boats up on the beach, enjoy the beautiful fall colours, bonfires, daysailing and camping. This is the type of event that every fleet should have on their calendar in the future. It's a great way to meet fellow members and relax.
Sept 12-14, 2025 for further info visit here
Wiarton - Colpoys Bay
Many years we have an end of the year weekend in Wiarton on the West Side of Georgian Bay. For the most part it's daysailing on Saturday with breakfast and/or lunch at Dockside Willie's (Wiarton Willie the famous Groundhog Day mascot lives right next door), and a pizza dinner at Brian Matthews' farm just up the road. If we're lucky sometimes Arek barbecues us some of his famous Polish sausages on the beach! Events like this are a great way to wrap up the season, get out the charts and begin planning for next spring!
Sept 19-21, 2025
For further info visit here
Thanksgiving Cruise
Up in Canada Thanksgiving is in October. One of the things we are most thankful for is all of the great places we have to sail! So quite often in October we take one final shot at getting out on the water. Usually this is a daysail or a weekend cruise depending on weather and location. It's time to get "The Misery Cruise" gear out again and enjoy more of the fall colours and cooler temps!
October 4-5, 2025
For further info visit here
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