OH, CANADA!
AUGUST 19 – 26, 2025
Board August 19th, 6 pm
MANITOULIN ISLAND, NORTH CHANNEL, LAKE HURON, ONTARIO
The North Channel, on the Canadian side of Lake Huron, is as close as you can get these days to a pristine wilderness. Azure blue water, pink and peach colored granite rocks outlining the deep green of spruce, pine, and poplar which, in turn, provide habitat for bald eagles, elk, black bear, and beaver, and many other North Woods wildlife. Consider spending a pleasant week in August; away from the heat and crowded roads, and explore these azure blue waters on a sailboat with friends.
Winds in August average 15 - 20 knots, at temperatures around 65-70F for daytime highs and lows of 58 - 55F at night. These are perfect sailing conditions in the month of August, and, therefore, we won’t be alone. It’s a popular destination. But, there are so many bays and secluded anchorages that, if there is no room at our first stop, we’ll just move on to the next few spots within a two mile radius. The other good news is that the pesky flies of the North Woods are gone or on their way by early August. And the stars!
The club last sailed the North Sound in 2006, and we utilized that trip leader’s report, as well as an in-person visit to the charter base in 2023 to plan this sailing adventure.
Manatoulin Island is the largest freshwater island in the world. There is a lot to explore just on the island. The plan is to head east towards Frazer Bay and Baie Fine (pronounced Bay Fin). Baie Fine is known for its nine-mile-long entrance to The Pool. We will be advised by the charter company, Canadian Yacht Charters (CYC), if entering The Pool is a possibility, because, although lovely, it is known to have a weedy bottom with poor holding for anchors.
The Float Plan
Tuesday, August 19 - We have arranged for the crews to sleep aboard the boats the night of Tuesday, August 19th, so please plan to arrive by then. We will be able to board by 6 pm. The trip leaders will have a dinner prepared for all, and invitations will be sent by August 15th via your preferred method of communication. Be sure to RSVP with your arrival time when you receive it.
Wednesday, August 20 - After provisioning and boat check-out, we plan to sail east-northeast from Gore Bay to Clapperton Island or Little Current, depending on departure time and wind. Our charter officially starts at 10 AM. If possible, we would like to depart the dock by 12 Noon. Anchor, dinner on board.
Thursday, August 21 - We will head for, or already be in, Little Current and plan to have a group dinner at a local restaurant to provide an opportunity for both crews to get to know each other. Time in Little Current will provide an opportunity to provision any missing items from your boat provision list. It is the biggest town around and has two grocery stores! The trip leaders will contact the restaurant and have the menu to share at the pre-trip meeting, Dinner ashore.
Friday, August 22 - An early start. Our boats will enter Georgian Bay and set a course for Haywood Island, unless wind and weather make a change. Anchor, dinner on board.
Saturday, August 23 - We will set a course for Baie Fine and plan to anchor overnight either in The Pool or on Mary Ann Cove (no relation to the Trip Leader) or in The Pool, depending on advice from CYC. Anchor, dinner on board.
Sunday, August 24 - A slow start to this day. Depending on weather and wind, skippers will decide on our destination that morning. Anchor, dinner on board.
Monday, August 25 - A chance to check out some things we passed on our way east as we head back west towards our base. Maybe dinner on shore, but probably plan for dinner on board.
Tuesday, August 26 - Skippers will meet and set a course in the morning to get us back to the CYC base between 12 and 1 p.m., because we need to be off the boats by 2:00 p.m. Remember, we have to leave the boat the way we found it, so clean out that refrigerator and check your cabins twice for your personal gear.
If winds change from the prevailing east-northeast direction, we can change our sail plan to head west towards the Benjamin Islands. A westerly course will also provide excellent sailing and similar countryside. Most of the land along the North Channel is La Cloche Provincial Park. For daily weather and other updates, be sure to catch the daily broadcast from Roy Eaton on VHF Channel 71 while on Lake Huron’s North Channel.
We are planning a group dinner at the Anchor Inn Hotel in Little Current on Thursday, August 21, but would change if weather dictates a different destination.
The Boats
Two boats have been chartered from CYC, a Hunter 386 and a Hunter 426. The plan is to put a crew six on the 386, and up to seven on the 426.
(Click the image, below, for more boat information)
Getting There and Away
Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada carry proof of citizenship and identity. A valid U.S. passport satisfies these requirements for U.S. citizens, whether entering by airplane or car. It’s about a thirteen hour drive to Manitoulin Island from central New Jersey.
Planning it as a two day road trip is a no-brainer. However, adding a few other destinations (road trip to Niagara Falls, Erie, PA, or Toronto, etc.) is not a bad idea, as well. To lessen the driving time, check out the ferry company MS-Chi-Cheemaun.
For those who would prefer to fly, the nearest Canadian Airport is Greater Sudbury Airport (YSB) about a two and a half hour drive from the charter base.
The cost of this trip is $975.00 per person (Skippers and Trip Leader: $488.00). The price includes charter fees and pre-board fee on August 19th only. Provisioning, fuel, pump-out, any slip or mooring fees, and all other incidentals are additional and will be handled by each boat’s crew.
The deposit for this trip is $100.00. Please make your check payable to The Sailing Club, Inc. and mail it, along with your completed two-page Reservation/Release Form, to Mary Ann Gordon at the address below. Reservations will be processed beginning April 14, 2025 with a random draw of those received by that date. All reservations received after that date are on a first come, first served basis. A second payment of $437.50 is due on June 10, 2025, and the balance of $437.50 is due on July 6, 2025. The Club’s standard thirty-day cancellation policy applies for this event. Please review the Club’s trip signup procedure and policies in the Trip Information Package.
A pre-trip meeting will be held before the trip, at a time and place to be announced. All crew members should make every effort to attend in order to meet your crewmates, plan your meals, and make travel plans.
Trip Leader
Mary Ann Gordon
2714 Packer Ct.
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
908-575-1457
maryagordon14@gmail.com
Assistant Trip Leader
Bob Rainey
2006 South Branch Drive
Whitehouse Station NJ 08889
908-872-9101
rjraineyjr@aol.com
Please note that sailing conditions are dynamic, that your safety, and that of your crewmates, depends on your good physical health and agility.
