sailboat cruising lake ontario

Lake Ontario

Lake ontario - cruising & navigation, st. lawrence river to the welland canal.

Lake Ontario is the easternmost of the five Great Lakes. Bordered on the north, west, and southwest by Canada and on the south and east by the State of New York. It is for the most part equally controlled by both Canada and the United States with the international boundary running approximately down the middle of the lake from the St. Lawrence River in the northeast to the Niagara River in the southwestern end of the lake.

The Lake is connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence River. When proceeding upbound, the Niagara River and the Welland Canal is the connector to Lake Erie and the upper Great Lakes.

Additionally, The Trent-Severn Waterway in Canada, for pleasure boats, connects Lake Ontario at the Bay of Quinte to Georgian Bay (Lake Huron), via Lake Simcoe.

The Oswego Canal connects Lake Ontario at Oswego, NY to the New York State Canal System , with outlets to the Hudson River to the east, and Lake Erie to the west.

Lake Ontario is fed chiefly by the waters of Lake Erie by way of the Niagara River. This makes the Niagara River, located on the southwestern shore of the lake, the head of the lake. From the Niagara River, the lake water flows in a predominantly easterly direction to the mouth of the lake where it empties into the head of the St. Lawrence River in the far northeastern corner of the lake. The St. Lawrence River is the primary outlet for all five of the Great Lakes emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.

Lake Ontario Facts Lake Ontario is the only one of the Great Lakes that does not border the state of Michigan.

Navigable access to Lake Ontario is limited to the Trent-Severn Waterway and the Welland Canal in Canada, the Oswego Canal in the USA, and the St. Lawrence River. The St. Lawrence River and the Welland Canal allow for deep draft vessels while the Oswego Canal and the Trent-Severn Waterway allow access only to shallow draft vessels.

Navigation Season

For all vessels the navigation season is governed by ice on the lake. For commercial vessels and lock operations, the navigation season begins in late March (20th to the 31st) and runs through late December (24th to the 31st). For most recreational boaters, they typically haul their vessels by mid-November and splash them again in May.

Because of its great depth, Lake Ontario never completely freezes over in winter. However, an ice sheet covering between 10% and 90% of the lake area typically develops. This being dependent on the severity of the winter. Ice sheets typically form along the shoreline and in well protected bays, where the lake waters are not deep.

Buoys and Marks

Buoys, beacons, and lights on Lake Ontario make use of the standard IALA Region B lateral buoyage system (Red Right Returning). Be aware of a buoyage system reversal at Lock O8 on the Oswego Canal in Oswego, NY.

Lake Ontario Facts Lake Ontario has a maximum length of 193 SM (168 NM / 311 KM) and a maximum width of 53 SM (46 NM / 85 KM).

NOAA Charts #14800, #14802, #14803, #14804, #14805, #14806, #14810, #14811, #14813, #14814, #14815, #14816, and #14822 provide full coverage of Lake Ontario’s U.S. waters from Clayton, NY on the St. Lawrence River to the Approaches to Port Weller, ON and the Welland Canal.

Chart #14800 – Provides limited detail for the entirety of Lake Ontario .

Chart #14802 – Clayton, NY to False Duck Island, ON (or south of Stony Point, NY) - Covers the eastern portion of Lake Ontario from Clayton, NY on the St. Lawrence River to False Duck Island, ON.

Chart #14803 – Six Miles South of Stoney Point to Port Bay - Covers the eastern portion of Lake Ontario from south of Stoney Point, NY to Port Bay, NY.

Chart #14804 – Port Bay to Long Pond - Covers the southern shoreline of Lake Ontario from Port Bay, NY to Long Pond, NY.

Chart #14805 – Long Pond to Thirty Mile Point - Covers the southern shore of Lake Ontario from Long Pond, NY to Thirty Mile Point, NY.

Chart #14806 – Thirty Mile Point, NY to Port Dalhousie, ON - Covers the southern shore of Lake Ontario from Thirty Mile Point, NY to Port Dalhousie, ON.

Chart #14810 – Olcott to Toronto - Covers the western end of Lake Ontario from Olcott, NY to Toronto, ON.

Chart #14811 – Chaumont, Henderson, and Black River Bays - Provides detailed coverage of the major bays along New York State’s eastern portion of Lake Ontario.

Chart #14813 – Oswego Harbor - Provides detailed coverage of Oswego, NY’s harbor.

Chart #14814 – Sodus Bay - Provides detailed coverage of Sodus Bay, NY.

Chart #14815 – Rochester Harbor - Provides detailed coverage of Rochester Harbor, NY.

Chart #14816 – Lower Niagara River - Provides detailed coverage of the Lower Niagara River to Horseshoe Falls between NY and ON.

Chart #14822 – Approaches to Niagara River and Welland Canal - Provides detailed coverage of the approaches to the Niagara River and the Welland Canal.

Canadian Hydrographic Service Charts provide coastal coverage from the Niagara River east to the St. Lawrence River along Canada’s portion of Lake Ontario.

Charts of Canadian waters are not available for viewing on line. However, the Canadian Chart Catalog does provide a general idea of the areas of coverage.

Listed below are Canadian Hydrographic Service Charts providing coastal coverage from the Niagara River east to the St. Lawrence River along the western and northern shore of Lake Ontario.

CHS Chart #2077 - Western Lake Ontario

CHS Chart #2086 - Toronto to Hamilton

CHS Chart #2058 - Cobourg to Oshawa

CHS Chart #2060 - Main Duck Isl. to Scotch Bonnet Isl.

CHS Chart #2059 - Scotch Bonnet Island to Cobourg

CHS Chart #2064 - Kingston to False Duck Islands

CHS Chart #1400 - Rockport to Lake Ontario

Many larger scale charts are available providing more detail of major harbors and constricted passages.

Charts (Electronic)

The following electronic charts provide detailed coverage of all the Great Lakes from Montreal, CA on the St. Lawrence River to Duluth, MN on Lake Superior including: Green Bay, Saginaw Bay, Georgian Bay, Lac Nipissing, Lake St. Clair, Lake Simcoe, Seneca Lake, Cayuga Lake, Oneida Lake, Trent-Severn Waterway, Thousand Islands, the St. Lawrence River from Kingston to Montreal, the Ottawa River from the St. Lawrence River to Ottawa, Mohawk River, Rideau River, Welland Canal and Erie Canal.

Digital - Bluechart G2 Vision microSD™/SD™ card: VUS042R-Great Lakes

C-Map Max Chart NA-M026: Great Lakes, North East Coast & Appr. – All of the Great Lakes

Navionics Platinum+ 901P+: East Great Lakes – Ontario, Erie, and Huron Navionics Platinum+ 900P+: West Great Lakes – Huron, Michigan, and Superior

Other than in the area of Niagara Bar and Northeastern portions of the lake, keeping 1 NM offshore should provide you with good water and depths of 18 feet (3 Fathoms / 5.5 Meters) or greater.

Lake Ontario Facts The Average depth of the lake is 283 feet (47 fathoms or 86 meters). The deepest point being 802 feet (133.7 fathoms or 244 meters) located at 43˚30.5’ N / 76˚ 58.0’ W. 13.76 NM (15.83 SM / 25.48 KM) North of Sodus Bay, NY.

Major Lights

Coast Lights with a range equal to or greater than 10 SM. From Tibbetts Point west along the south shore and north then east along the north shore of Lake Ontario:

Tibbetts Point Light (Oc 10s 69ft 16 SM/13.9 NM/25.7 KM AIS)

Sodus Bay Breakwater Light (Iso R 10s 51ft 10 SM/8.7 NM/16.1 KM)

Thirty Mile Point Light (Fl 10s 60ft Priv)

Port Weller West Breakwater Light (Iso R 4s 50ft 10 SM/8.7 NM/16.1 KM)

Hamilton Harbor Light (Iso G 4s 14m 10 NM/11.5 SM/18.5 KM)

Point Petre Light (Fl 10s 21m 11 SM/9.6 NM/17.7 KM)

Oswego Breakwater Light (Fl R 10s 57ft 11 SM/9.6 NM/17.7 KM Horn )

Braddock Point Light (Iso 6s 55ft 14 SM/12.2 NM/22.5 KM)

Fort Niagara Light (Oc G 4s 80ft 10 SM/8.7 NM/16.1 KM)

Fifty Mile Point Light (F G 11m 10NM/11.5 SM/18.5 KM)

Outer Harbor East Headland Light (Fl R 10s 22m 13 NM/14.9 SM/24.1 KM)

Main Duck Island Light (Fl 6s 24m 10 NM/11.5 SM/18.5 KM)

Distances and Mileages

Distances between major points on Lake Ontario are listed below. The distances table is useful in planning overnight stops while transiting the lake and is available for download.

The above table can be downloaded for your personal and private use. The Lake Ontario distance file contains the tables in Statute Miles, Nautical Miles, and Kilometers. The files are Zipped Adobe (.pdf) format.

Lake Ontario Facts Lake Ontario has a shoreline length of 634 SM’s (1,020 KM’s not counting any islands in the lake. When its islands are included, the lake's shoreline increases to 712 miles (1,146 km).

Speed Limits

The speed limits on the open waters of Lake Ontario can generally be considered to be unlimited except where posted or common sense prevails.

Transit Times

As a general guide, Cape Vincent, NY to the the Welland Canal could be done in a little over 4.5 hours at 30 knots.

More realistically, with a SOG of 15 knots you will probably require about 9.3 hours; 13.9 Hours at 10 knots, and 17.4 to 19.9 hours at typical trawler and sailboat speeds.

Found along the shores of

Tides and currents.

Studies show that the Great Lakes do in fact experience a semidiurnal tidal pattern. The tidal range however, is extremely small - averaging around 1 inch and reaching 1.6 to 2.0 inches (4-5cm) during the largest of tides. This tidal range is so small, that they are often hidden by other fluctuations in water levels that are caused by the weather. As a result, the Great Lakes are generally considered to be "non-tidal."

Water Level Fluctuations

The normal elevation of the lake's surface does in fact change. During the course of each year, Lake Ontario’s surface is subject to a consistent seasonal rise and fall, the lowest stages prevailing during the winter and the highest during the summer. These fluctuations generally average around 1.9 feet. Recently however it appears that lake levels are getting higher.

In addition to seasonal fluctuations, Seiche (changes in water level produced by winds, storms, squalls, and to a lesser degree, barometric pressure changes) often occur. These wind and barometric pressure changes that accompany squalls can produce fluctuations lasting from a few minutes to a few hours. Strong winds of sustained speed and direction can produce fluctuations lasting a few hours or a day. Lake Ontario has less of a problem with these water surface oscillations than the other Great Lakes due to the lake’s smaller surface area and depths. This effect is more pronounced in bays and at the extremities of the lake, where driven water is concentrated into a smaller area by converging shorelines.

Surface Currents

Lake Ontario’s main surface water current, often called a gyre, typically travels in a counter-clockwise direction around Lake Ontario. This is due to the Coriolis Effect caused by the Earth’s rotation.

Keep in mind that these currents do not travel exclusively in one direction. There are frequent flow-reversals. Often the alongshore currents will be flowing west, and then reverse and flow east. These flow-reversals generally occur every 3-5 days in Lake Ontario. Wind direction shifts and wave action can also affect these surface currents.

Lake Ontario Facts Lake Ontario has the smallest surface area of all the Great Lakes, (7,340 SM² / 18,960 KM²), yet is still ranked as the 13th largest lake in the world. With a fresh water volume of 393 SM³ (1,639 KM³), that works out to 432.7 Trillion (with a "T") gallons of water.

Like all of the individual Great Lakes, Lake Ontario acts like heat sink that moderates the temperatures of the surrounding land, cooling the summers and warming the winters. The lake also acts like giant humidifier, increasing the moisture content of the air. In the winter, this moisture contributes to the heavy snowfalls famous for this area and known as "Lake Effect" snow.

Typically winds on Lake Ontario are strongest in autumn with gales out of the southwest through northwest most likely occurring from October through December with winds.

Of particular concern is the eastern end of the lake. A funneling effect can occur with W and SW winds, which are prevalent throughout most of the year. As these winds encounter land, on either side of the eastern end of the lake they are accelerated. This can result in moderate winds in mid-lake often becoming dangerous gale force winds in this area.

Mexico Bay, located north of Oswego, NY is another problem area. Once known as "the graveyard of Lake Ontario" because of the large number of vessels foundering there in northwest through northeast winds.

In spring, northeasterly and easterly winds occasionally reach gale force throughout the lake. May through August is often the most settled weather; wind speeds of 15 knots or less are encountered 88.5% of the time.

Over the past 17 years, the strongest sustained measured wind on the lake was west-north-westerly at 50 knots occurring in November. Since extremes along the lake shore range from 50 to 65 knots, wind speeds mid-lake have the potential to reach 90 knots.

Visibilities

While visibilities are often restricted by any number of factors, fog is the most frequent and troublesome cause of reduced visibility on Lake Ontario.

Prolonged periods of rain and foggy weather are common when frontal systems moving into New York become stationary. During the spring, advection fog often reduces visibilities to below 0.5 mile up to 10% of the time. Being worst during the morning hours.

Along the shoreline, radiation fog is often found in fall under calm, clear nighttime skies. This fog occasionally drifts cut over the water typicaally burning off by noon. Visibilities of 2.5 miles or less occur about 10 to 13 days per month from October through March along the shore.

While rough seas can be encountered in any season, they are most often a problem during fall and winter. From October through February, wave heights of 5 feet or more can be expected between 10 and 20 percent of the time. Wave heights of 10 feet or more up to 2 percent of the time. Extreme wave heights of 17 to 19 feet have been encountered.

Since strong winds over a long fetch of water are conducive to creating rough seas, strong winds out of the E and W quadrants over Lake Ontario are often danger signals. Sea conditions are best from May through July when waves of less than 1 foot occurring 50% or more of the time.

Thunderstorms

While Thunderstorms can occur at any time, they predominantly occur during the summer months. Along the shorelines, they are recorded on 20 to 30 days a year with approximately 75 percent or more occuring between May and September.

They are most likely during late afternoons. Over the open lake, thunderstorms are most likely during August when they occur about 2 percent of the time. Summer thunderstorms are mostly night time events over the lake; most frequently between sunset and sunrise.

The main part of Lake Ontario usually remains open throughout the winter, with only a few patches of thin ice and slush during cold spells. During a normal winter, early ice cover appears toward the end of January and early decay begins in mid-March. During severe winters the significant ice is confined to the E end of the lake. E of Prince Edward Point, ice formation begins in early January. The area from Kingston to Prince Edward Point and Oswego is usually covered 70 to 90 percent with thin and medium lake ice by the end of the month. This thickness increases during February and reaches the thick category by early March. By this time, fast ice about 20 to 25 inches thick usually extends in an area from Prince Edward Point to Stony Point. Decay generally develops in early March, and by the third week most of the pack has melted off.

Weather Radio

U.s. - noaa weather radio.

National Weather Service (NOAA Weather Radio) - Stations provide mariners with VHF-FM broadcasts of weather warnings, forecasts, radar reports and surface weather observations. Reception range is up to 40 miles from the antenna site, depending on the terrain, type of receiver and antenna used.

Canadian Weather Radio (Environment Canada)

Environment Canada (Canada Weather Radio) - Stations provide mariners with basically the same type weather information as their counterpart; NOAA Weather Radio and making use of the same frequencies. VHF-FM broadcasts of weather warnings, forecasts, radar reports and surface weather observations. Reception range is up to 60 kilometers from the antenna site, depending on the terrain, type of receiver and antenna used.

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Toronto's Best Sailing, Yacht Charter & Cruising Experiences

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With over 15 years of experience making sailing memories:

Stuff To Know​

What to know before booking, largest choice of licensed yachts.

We offer luxury yacht rentals; Sailing and Motor. Our yachts are designed for your comfort and are safety inspected with equipment exceeding Transport Canada Commercial requirements.

What About Rain

We sail Rain or Shine. Rain in the city does not mean rain on the water. Our neighbourhood receives less rain than the city and it typically lasts for 20 minutes or less. Click here for weather protection and cancellation options.

Rates are priced either per boat (private) or individual (shared). Choose your individual tour or yacht from our fleet or Click Here for assistance in customizing your sail.

Where We Go

All tours provide awesome views of the CN Tower, Toronto skyline, and lake vistas while you sail the Toronto Harbour & lagoons and circumnavigate the Toronto Islands. Click here for an aerial view of our playground.

Food & Drink

Sailing yachts offer premium food service from our on-board galley. Each yacht has its own license and is subject to provincial food & beverage regulations. Click here for details.

How To Find Us

We are centrally located just south of the Rogers Centre on the Waterfront. Click Here for our location, parking and, directions.

Weather Toronto

Weather in Toronto changes daily. Even when rain is forecasted, it only lasts for 20+/- minutes and often doesn’t even reach our playground in the harbour. Check out our weather and other cancellation protection options

What if the weather doesn't cooperate?

The one part of sailing out of our control is the weather. Toronto has a very moderate climate and foul with sub-tropical weather during the summer; rain usually is light and is only temporary (20 minutes). Unless there is lightning in the immediate area or the wind or waves are deemed unsafe, we will be sailing (it often makes the trip more exciting).

During more severe conditions, there is always a dry place on your private yacht in the cabin and covered cockpit. In the unlikely event sailing is cancelled you will be offered a rain-check to return another day for a sailing lesson and public sail. Private Yacht Charters have the option to purchase Any Reason or Weather Insurance in advance.

Is there parking in the area?

Like anywhere in the city, parking is at a premium. We have a number of paid lots along the waterfront and have linked to the Waterfront BIA parking map so that you can spend less time finding parking and more time relaxing on your private yacht with us!

The attached link shows all of the public parking lots and parking garages at on the waterfront. When you find a parking lot near to the attraction or business you are visiting, click the “directions” button to open driving directions to the parking lot on google maps. Please also consider public transit, walking or cycling to get to Toronto’s Waterfront!

Is alcohol permitted on the boats?

Alcohol consumption is subject to Ontario Regulations that are strongly enforced by the Toronto Marine Police, OPP & RCMP. Private Yachts that are not licensed by the Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) are only permitted to provide BYOB service and consumption is limited to while at the dock or anchored – not while the boat is moving (most of your sail).

Great News – Our sail boats are licensed by AGCO and as such we sell both beer & wine and you are permitted to consume your beverages at all time while on your yacht charter. Our private motor yachts are subject to standard alcohol regulations above. Our sailing yachts operate the same as a bar and no outside food or alcohol is permitted on any yacht.

Each vessel carries its own licensing and different rules apply. Please see our Food and Beverage Policy .

Do you provide Catering?

We have a special yacht – designed menu prepared fresh from our galley available for private charters and shared sails. We also work with a few outside caterers which require 7 days advance notice. Our menus are available from our website by clicking here.

Please see our Food and Beverage Policy for Private Charters on each individual boat. Our sailing yachts and luxury catamaran have in house catering only while our motor yachts permit self-catering. During Shared Sails, we do not permit outside food brought on board due to the intimacy of the close quarters and potential allergies etc. We do however, provide complimentary bottled water. Snacks and Beverages are available for purchase.

We love celebrations and welcome you to bring cupcakes ONLY. Cakes are difficult to serve on a moving boat. Home baked goods are not permitted. While we don’t charge for this service, you are encouraged to show your extra appreciation to your crew accordingly.

What if I get sea-sick?

The waters on Lake Ontario are generally light with only moderate waves during the summer. Relatively few people suffer from some sort of nausea while sailing Toronto waters.

We recommend two herbal remedies that are non-medicinal, Ginger Gravol and Motion Ease. The Ginger Gravol should be taken in advance and is found at most pharmacies. There is a Shoppers Drug Mart across the road from our dock. You can hop in there before you set out on your sailing adventures with Gone Sailing Adventures. In the unlikely event that you are not feeling well on your yacht charter, our staff will do their best to make you comfortable during your sail.

If you plan on taking any anti-nausea medication – You should do so at least 45 minutes prior to boarding your private yacht. Remember regular gravol or dramamine will cause drowsiness.

Consult your medical advisor prior to taking any medications.

How should I dress for a day or evening sail?

Sailing in Toronto is an outdoor activity!

During your sailing experience you may be exposed to sun, wind and cool breezes. Be prepared and this will make your yacht charter much more enjoyable. We recommend wearing sunscreen and a hat. Additionally, we recommend having layered clothing; a base cool layer, warmer middle layer and waterproof outer layer. The temperature can be much cooler during a breeze and when the sun goes down.

To enhance your Toronto sailing experience, all of our boats are barefoot only.

Please apply sunscreen prior to boarding. Spray-on products may damage the boat finish and are not permitted on our luxury yachts.

Gone Sailing Adventures is proud to be associated with these premier organizations representing the best in the business.

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YOUR SAFETY IS AT RISK

When considering chartering a yacht in Canada, we know you have many options. Some of these options look super exciting and at ridiculously great prices. Recent trends in the industry have opened the door for many unqualified individuals to purchase boats and offer charter services to the unsuspecting public. It’s easy to create a website and even easier to just list a boat on sites such as Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, Getmyboat, Boat Setter and many others.

Unfortunately, many of these operators are NOT licensed, insured or qualified to accept your trust on the water. In order to be licensed and insured a number of items MUST be in place. Listed are just a few.

• The operator must be licensed by Transport Canada with a commercial license known as either: – Limited Master under 60tonne. – Small Vessel Operators Permit (SVOP).
• The name of the vessel must be visible on the stern (back) or the registration number beginning with the letter “C” must be visible on the side of the vessel near the front. Boats with a registration number beginning with “ON” are not licensed for passengers.
• If the vessel is under 12m (40’) it should participate in the Transport Canada Small Vessel Compliance Program and display a “Blue Decal” and have corresponding certificate.
• If the vessel is over 12m (40’) or carries more than 12 passengers, it MUST BE INSPECTED by Transport Canada and have an inspection certificate on board.
• All vessels must have commercial liability insurance and coverage specifically for the number of passengers approved to be carried on board.
• The vessel must comply with commercial safety requirements beyond recreational standards. Many of these illegal operators do not have the proper training, carry proper safety equipment, nor do their recreational boats meet the design/construction requirements of a commercial, passenger carrying vessel. These illegal operators try to stay under the radar of Police/OPP/RCMP/Transport Canada by:
• hiding the name of their vessel by hanging items over the stern
• not letting you know where they will have you board until just before the start of your charter.
• pick you up at a public park (where docking is not permitted).
• suggest to you that you are friends of the owner/operator out for a ride and not a paying customer.
• allow you to drink alcohol while the boat is underway (illegal-same as a car) but tell you to hide your bottles etc.
• insist on a cash transaction or part of it as a way of defrauding the internet listing company.

Over the last few years there have been a number of deaths and even more accidents resulting from these types of operators. Be safe and know who you are getting on a boat with. All licensed operators should willingly display their credentials, and most are members of the Passenger & Commercial Vessel Association (PCVA).

Link to Global News Report on Charter Accidents

Check before you book & Know before you Go!

Lake Ontario Cruises

Best lake ontario cruises & tours for 2024-2025, wild landscapes of west greenland, west greenland ice odyssey: glaciers and icebergs, south greenland adventure: the majestic alpine arctic, gems of west greenland: fjords, icebergs and culture, southern greenland: on the trail of the vikings, northwest passage, greenland odyssey, expedition from greenland to canada via saint pierre and miquelon, top lake ontario travel destinations.

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Live in the moment with by sailing Lake Ontario. Sail Ontario offers sailing lessons, sailboat rentals, or relaxing day-sailing on Lake Ontario on a captained charter boat.

Address: 124 Pike Road City: Sackets Harbor State: NY Zip Code: 13685 Telephone: 315-783-2755 View Website

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Enjoy world-class sailing with KSC

Kingston, Ontario is recognized as the “freshwater sailing capital of the world” offering the best of two cruising  worlds;  open water sailing in Lake Ontario with its many well protected overnight anchorages, including easy access to scenic Prince Edward County, and big river cruising in the unmatched beauty of the Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence river. There, anchorages abound and overnight stops at small riverfront towns are a real treat .

For sailors looking for a relax cruise and comfort. Perfect for couples or a small group of 4

COMFORT ZONE

For sailors extra space but still want a cozy size vessel; perfect for couples or a small group of 5

For adventurers seeking for extra space cabin, fits up to 6 people.

For the sailors seeking both adventure and ultimate comfort. Fits up to 7 people

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Lake Ontario is the smallest and most easterly of the five Great Lakes of North America, that together form one fifth of all the freshwater on the planet. You will enjoy a magnificent setting, enhanced by the Indian summer, for an exceptional voyage on the sparkling waters of this natural treasure, lying 76 metres above sea level. Fed by the waters of Lake Eyrie and the extraordinary Niagara Falls, it flows into the Saint Lawrence River which follows its course. On the border between the United States and Canada, the lake has great cities like Toronto on its shores but also boasts more secret and unspoiled areas, teeming with beaches, forests and small ports in a bucolic atmosphere.

Voyage Along the St. Lawrence: From Québec to the Canadian Maritimes – with Smithsonian Journeys

Fall Foliage on the St. Lawrence: Québec to the Canadian Maritimes – with Smithsonian Journeys

Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.

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Lake Ontario is the smallest and most easterly of the five Great Lakes of North America, that together form one fifth of all the freshwater on the planet. You will enjoy a magnificent setting, enhanced by the Indian summer, for an exceptional voyage on the sparkling waters of this natural treasure, lying 76 metres above sea level. Fed by the waters of Lake Eyrie and the extraordinary Niagara Falls, it flows into the Saint Lawrence River which follows its course. On the border between the United States and Canada, the lake has great cities like Toronto on its shores but also boasts more secret and unspoiled areas, teeming with beaches, forests and small ports in a bucolic atmosphere.

Voyage Along the St. Lawrence: From Québec to the Canadian Maritimes – with Smithsonian Journeys

Fall Foliage on the St. Lawrence: Québec to the Canadian Maritimes – with Smithsonian Journeys

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Catamaran and Trimaran sailing at a dedicated multihull club near Downtown Toronto

Toronto Multihull Cruising Club (TMCC) is the only sailing club on Lake Ontario exclusively for owners of full-sized catamarans, trimarans, dry sail beach catamarans and small trimarans.   

Founded in 1971, TMCC is a self-help, member-run, not-for-profit club located in a scenic setting in Toronto’s Outer Harbour. 

Multihull boats at TMCC range from 40plus foot ocean cruising catamarans and trimarans to folding and trailerable racer/cruiser trimarans to dry-sailed beach catamarans and small trimarans.  New memberships are available for multihull boat owners as senior members and for the ‘multihull curious’ as associate non-boatowner members.  Our fees are some of the lowest in the Toronto area.

Welcome to the LOCCA Website!

Please click on the ‘LOCCA Reciprocal Repository’ above and click on the ‘Club Name’ to see any updates that they have provided regarding their policies and procedures.

We are pleased to present to you a website that continues to evolve to support the needs of Fleet Captains, Yacht Clubs, Commodores and the boaters / sailors of Lake Ontario.  One of the innovations that we introduced in 2016 was the electronic reciprocal page that captures the reciprocal privileges of LOCCA (Lake Ontario Club Cruising Association) member Yacht Clubs.  This innovation eliminated the need for clubs to send and receive reciprocal letters by mail, compile these and ensure that they are available to club members for consultation.  The reciprocal page also allows Yacht Clubs to convert the page to a PDF for use by bosons when greeting visiting boaters. This spring, the reciprocal privileges page will be available to all Yacht Clubs (YCs) on Lake Ontario and Western St-Lawrence Seaway as long as they are members in good standing of LOCCA and Ontario Sailing or a US Regional Sailing Association.

2017 was a terrible year for boaters due to extremely high water levels; because of these water levels, many clubs were closed to visitors. In order to support Yacht Clubs, Boaters / Sailors and Fleet Captains, LOCCA created a dedicated web page that allowed Yacht Clubs to post whether they were open or closed to visiting boats.  This helped boaters and fleet captains in planning their navigation on the lake and also planning club cruises.  We did the same in 2019 and will continue to do so in the future if needed.

Enjoy the site and give us feedback to improve the look and feel of the site.

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How To Sail From The Great Lakes To The Ocean

It’s a feat in and of itself to sail to the Great Lakes. Now you want to take it one step further and reach the ocean, notably, the Atlantic Ocean. How do you chart a sailing course to get to the ocean from one of the Great Lakes?

You can leave the Great Lakes and reach the Atlantic Ocean in one of three ways, via the Mississippi River, the Erie Canal, or the St. Lawrence Seaway.

In this guide, we’ll unravel the mystery of how to traverse the above paths all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. We’ll include plenty of sailor’s insights along the way. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll be ready to plan your sailing trip!

Sailing from the Great Lakes to the Ocean: Here’s How It’s Done

From the mississippi river.

The Great Lakes are a hop, skip, and a jump from the Mississippi River if you take the Illinois and Michigan Canal. 

This route will also introduce you to the Tenn-Tom Waterway, which is short for the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, a 234-mile waterway from the 20 th century.

You may recall our article about sailing the Great Loop. Well, if that’s a course you decided to take after reading our post, then you should definitely start your route to the Atlantic from the Mississippi River. If you haven’t read the post yet, you can read it by clicking here .

The reason? As you go, you’ll cross the western part of the Great Loop, which is about half the loop. Then you’d make an exit south of Lake Michigan at Chicago right when you reach the Chicago River.

If you follow that route, you’ll soon find yourself venturing along the Des Plaines River downstream. You’ll keep going beyond Peoria with sights of the heartland. By the time you reach the Illinois River, you’d be at the Mississippi River right near St. Louis.

You can also depart from St. Louis, heading for Cairo (in Illinois, not Egypt) as you venture north along the Ohio River and then across the Tenn-Tom Waterway.

Yet a third way you can leave from the Mississippi River is to take that river south and keep going until you reach Memphis. From there, sail towards Greenville, Mississippi.

You’ll be closer to New Orleans by the time you reach the Atlantic Ocean, but you will get there.

You can even start from Lake Michigan, venture down the Mississippi River, through the Tenn-Tom Waterway, and then along the gulf coast of Florida.

Sailor’s Insights:

The downstream portion of sailing the Des Plaines River doesn’t require you to put your mast up. Instead, you can allow the gentle breezes here to propel you forward, which is quite helpful.

The Tenn-Tom Waterway, although manmade, is still beautiful and will be one of the best sights on your trip for sure.

When sailing through the Florida Keys, be wary of hurricane season. That starts on June 1 st and lasts until November 30 th .

The downside of taking the Mississippi River is that you’re subject to commercial traffic from other boaters. Plus, some of the stretches of your trip are a little boring without a lot to see.  

From the Erie Canal

The next option you have for reaching the Atlantic Ocean from the Great Lakes is to take the Erie Canal. The canal cuts through Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and Lake Champlain.

You have a few variations of this route that you can take depending on your preferences. When sailing this route from the upper Great Lakes, by the time you reach Lake Huron, you can go one of two ways.

Your first option is the Trent-Severn Waterway, a short canal between Lake Huron, the Georgian Bay, and Lake Ontario at Port Severn.

The waterways that extend from here are the Severn River, Lake Couchiching, Lake Simcoe, Kawartha Lakes, the Otonabee River, and the Trent River.

You’d cross through Lake Simcoe and then over several lakes across Lake Ontario to the north. You can skip Detroit as part of your route on this path, seeing instead the Parry Sound and the North Channel on Lake Huron.

Your second option is to go all the way down south of Lake Huron until you reach St. Clair River. You’d take the river to Lake St. Clair and then go south until you reach the Detroit River to get to Lake Erie.

When departing from Lake Erie or the vicinity, take the Welland Canal to reach Lake Ontario. Then you’d turn east to the Oswego Canal in New York.

By venturing south for 24 miles along the canal, you’d get to the Erie Canal near Liverpool (New York, not England) and the Three Rivers. Sail east to Albany, then go south along the Hudson River until you reach New York Harbor.

You can see plenty of wilderness along the St. Lawrence Gulf as well as picturesque views of New York’s skyline that are usually not afforded to you.

By the time you depart from the Hudson River, you’ve reached the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll be very close to the Caribbean!

Most sailors who wish to reach the ocean from one of the Great Lakes will use the Erie Canal to get there. That’s why you’re likely to see so many boatyards.

Not only is it common to reach the Atlantic Ocean from the Erie Canal, but it’s considered one of the faster routes as well.

That said, be sure to plan for lock and canal closures, which can really put a damper on your sailing plans and possibly force you to go a different route.

You will have to put your mast down at times, and you could be charged for each foot of length your mast has, anywhere from $4 to $8.

From the St. Lawrence Seaway

The third option you have for reaching the Atlantic Ocean from the Great Lakes is to take the St. Lawrence Seaway.

The seaway includes a series of channels, canals, and locks between the United States and Canada.

You typically have to receive permission to sail through, but if you do get it, you can easily reach the Atlantic Ocean. Your sailboat needs to be at least 20 feet and weigh no more than a ton.

About 2,000 boats pass through per year for recreational sailing just like you. These sailors aren’t all necessarily going to the Atlantic Ocean, but surely some are.

The coastline along the seaway is absolutely gorgeous, making this more challenging, even adventurous route absolutely worth your while. 

You’ll see some of the most stunning sights as you reach Maine’s coast as well as when passing through the northeastern provinces of Canada.

Speaking of Canada, it has another natural wonder that you’ll get to witness as you sail the St. Lawrence Seaway, and that’s the Thousand Islands.

As the name implies, this series of islands includes about 1,800 in all between Canada and the US.

To get to the Thousand Islands, leave Lake Ontario and sail along Montreal. Then you can venture on through the St. Lawrence River beyond Quebec to reach the Gulf of St. Lawrence. If you want, take some time to visit New Brunswick, Labrador, and Newfoundland since you have this unique opportunity.

If you need a shortcut, then from the St. Lawrence River, begin sailing the Richelieu River in Quebec. The river will be downstream of Montreal.

Continue to Lake Champlain, then travel along the Hudson River from the lake’s southern end. You’ll reach Albany, New York, cutting out a lot of St. Lawrence River travel in the process.

Although this route is picture-perfect, it’s a longer way to reach the ocean. 

The recommended time to start sailing is around July 1 st . If you’re a couple of days later than that, you might still be okay, but if it’s been more than a week, you should take the other routes instead.

You can keep your mast up the entire time without incurring additional fees, which is another obvious advantage.

The tie-up areas and docks around this route are plentiful due to the beauty and popularity of the area. You can stop overnight or even for several days and not have to worry about your boat.

That said, commercial traffic should be allowed to sail in front of recreational sailors like yourself, so always give them the right of way.

Keep out of the shipping lanes in the down-bound lane near the Atlantic Ocean and the up-bound lane, which is also close to the Atlantic as if you were leaving it.

The sailing here can be quite difficult, especially if your route takes you near the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia. There, the water can rise over 45 feet in a span of only 12 hours. You have to be ready for that as well as rough currents.

Sailing from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean gives you a unique chance to personally experience some of the world’s greatest waterways and canals. Start with the easier routes and work your way up. Enjoy the ride!

I am the owner of sailoradvice. I live in Birmingham, UK and love to sail with my wife and three boys throughout the year.

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Since 1880 - a club for people who love getting out on the water

Welcome to the Toronto Sailing & Canoe Club. We are a non-profit, volunteer-run club located right on Lake Ontario in Toronto's Humber Bay. Founded in 1880, the club offers racing, cruising, sailing instruction, recreational paddling and children's sailing camps. Moor your boat, drysail it, or sail one of our fleet boats. Dragon boat and outrigger teams are resident as w ell.  

TS&CC is an inexpensive, fun sailing and paddling club.

Look under Join Us   for a membership option that suits you. To read more about the club and how it functions, click here . Also, visit our Instagram feed to see what we are up to.

TS&CC Merchandise 

If you’d like to order hats, shirts, burgees or jackets with the TSCC logo, you can do so online .   You can browse photos and order from that page. You can also find merchandise on display in the front hallway of the clubhouse. Once the item is ready you will be notified via email and the merchandise you ordered will be available to pick up at the club. Looking forward to seeing a lot more TSCC gear around the club this year!

Fleet Programs Would you like to sail this summer, but you don’t own your own boat? If you have previous sailing experience you may qualify to join our club as a Fleet Member, which allows you to sail our club-owned boats all summer for one affordable fee! Find more information on our Fleet Membership here .

View full Events Calendar .   Look under Paddling for the Paddling Events.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The woman found dead after a boat capsized Sunday night in Lake Michigan near Winnetka has been identified.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office identified the woman whose body was recovered Monday morning as 53-year-old Cristen Bolan.

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The office did not immediately provide any additional information about Bolan.

On Sunday, Bolan and another woman sailed from Evanston in a 12-foot sailboat, before it capsized at dusk.

Around 2 a.m. Monday, the other woman swam about 2 miles to the shore of Tower Road Beach, asking for help, according to Winnetka fire officials.

The woman told authorities Bolan was still missing.

The Winnetka Fire Department began a search-and-rescue mission shortly after the first woman was found.

After hours of searching, the Coast Guard found Bolan's body around 7 a.m., about a mile off shore, north of Winnetka. She was taken into Chicago's Montrose Harbor.

The sailboat was found about 2 to 3 miles off shore, according to the fire department.

This comes as crews have not yet found a man, who reportedly fell off a boat on Saturday afternoon near the enclosed boating area, also known as the "Playpen," close to downtown Chicago.

A teen boy also died Monday, after falling off a raft near Montrose Beach on Chicago's North Side.

Later Monday, a couple was rescued by a passerby after struggling to swim near Montrose Harbor .

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Evanston RoundTable

Evanston's community newspaper since 1998

Woman pulled from Lake Michigan identified as 53-year-old

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Editor’s note: This story first appeared in  The Record North Shore , a nonprofit community newsroom covering Wilmette and five other North Shore suburbs.

The Cook County Medical Examiner has released the name of the woman who died Monday following a boating accident near Winnetka.

Cristen Bolan, 53, was recovered from Lake Michigan Monday morning about one mile offshore after a sailboat she was on capsized late Sunday night. Bolan had died by the time the Coast Guard transported her to Montrose Harbor, according to the Chicago Fire Department.

By press time (11:50 a.m. Tuesday), the medical examiner had not provided Bolan’s hometown or cause of death.

Two women reportedly set sail on a 12-foot sailboat on Sunday night, launching from Evanston and capsizing near Winnetka around dusk. According to the statement, one passenger swam approximately 2 miles to Tower Road Beach, initiating a search and rescue operation.

The statement says both individuals were wearing life preservers. The boat was reportedly located 2 to 3 miles from shore.

At approximately 2 a.m. Monday, the second woman made it to shore and alerted authorities of a missing woman, eventually identified as Bolan, according to a statement from the Winnetka Fire Department, which with local Coast Guard station in Wilmette and neighboring municipalities launched a search and rescue mission to locate Bolan and the boat.

The Coast Guard eventually pulled Bolan from the water a mile offshore north of Winnetka and transported her to Chicago’s Montrose Harbor, the closest location the 45-foot boat could offload, according to the statement.

According to Coast Guard officials, first responders performed CPR while en route to Montrose Harbor and then the individual was placed under the care of local paramedics. Chicago Fire Department officials said the woman was then pronounced deceased.

The incident is not related to the search for a missing swimmer in Chicago’s “playpen” area near Oak Street Beach and Navy Pier or to another swimmer pulled from Montrose Harbor on Monday morning.

A LinkedIn profile for Bolan lists her as a product and marketing manager for a company in Chicago called bioMérieux . She had also received a master’s degree in marketing from Northwestern University.

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Reminds me of what happened 38 yrs ago…….

WINDSURFER`S BODY FOUND OFF WILMETTE

Chicago Tribune https://www.chicagotribune.com › 1986/10/10 › winds… Oct 10, 1986 — The body of Kathleen Mulvihill, an experienced windsurfer, was plucked from the choppy, 54-degree water by rescuers aboard a Coast Guard …

The Great Lakes are inland oceans and always treated with due respect.

The lake can turn on a dime, having had a harrowing experience myself when my 19 foot Rhodes took on water a foot over the floorboards causing me to lose stability as the waves nearly cause me to capsize on a cold March afternoon many years ago.

After that I made sure that I was up to date with the latest weather forecast.

I’m so sorry for the loss of life…

My condolences to the family and friends of this woman who lost her life on Lake Michigan. The Lake is a beautiful environment, but it presents multiple risks to those who play or work on it.

As a sailor and kayaker on Lake Michigan, I hope the Roundtable will follow up with reporting on how this fatality occurred even though the victim was apparently wearing a life preserver. Was it an unrelated medical emergency? Was the life preserver a poor fit on this person? Hypothermia from the 60 degree temperature of the water? Hoping we can learn a lesson from this tragedy and avoid a repeat…

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Watch CBS News

Family wonders how woman died after sailboat capsized in Lake Michigan

That freighter rescued in Lake Superior? It has a storied past -- and a lot of Cleveland cred

C LEVELAND, Ohio – The Michipicoten, the freighter rescued in Lake Superior after water poured into a mysterious 13-foot gash in its hull last weekend, is forever tied to Cleveland.

Originally named for a Clevelander and owned by Middleburg Heights-based Interlake Steamship, the 698-foot ore boat was once the largest vessel to ever sail the Cuyahoga River. Over the decades, it hit its own anchor, took out a bridge and rescued a pleasure cruiser.

Recently, the 72-year-old freighter had been spending its present days hauling iron ore from one side of Lake Superior to the other, far from Cleveland, and in a region of the Great Lakes that normally doesn’t see a lot of action.

But on Saturday, the Michipicoten was hauling iron ore pellets from Two Harbors, Minnesota, to the Algoma Steel plant in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, when the crew reportedly heard a loud bang.

By 6:18 a.m., the ship was taking on water, and by 6:46 a.m. it was calling for help.

The U.S. Coast Guard dispatched a boat and helicopter. Other vessels, from the U.S. and Canada, responded to the ship off Isle Royale. It was initially reported to be listing at 15 degrees, although it stabilized at about 5 degrees, said Lt. Joseph Snyder of the U.S. Coast Guard in St. Ignace, Michigan.

Nobody was hurt. Half the 22-member crew was evacuated, and the remainder helped get the freighter to Thunder Bay, Ontario, where the vessel rests as an investigation into the incident continues.

“In a lot of ways, it made me think of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” said Michael Hull, a photographer and former Marine who saw the Michipicoten limped into Thunder Bay, referencing the last major freighter sunk in the Great Lakes. “Only in this particular situation there was a happy ending.”

When it was the Elton Hoyt II

The coal-fired steamer was one of the largest ships on the Great Lakes when it was built in 1952. Not in Cleveland, though; bustling Great Lakes shipyards boasted too long of waitlists, so it was the second of three sister ships constructed by Bethlehem Shipbuilding & Drydock in Sparrows Point, Maryland.

It was launched into the Atlantic Ocean and sailed up the Mississippi River to Chicago, before finally entering Lake Michigan, tasked with loading iron ore at Superior, Wisconsin. It could hold 19,595 tons of ore or coal.

Interlake named the ship Elton Hoyt II, after the managing partner of Pickands Mather & Co. , a mining and shipping firm that worked with Interlake on the Great Lakes. The human Hoyt died three years later.

This was the second ship named for Elton Hoyt II. The first was built in 1906 and collided with the Enders M. Voorhees in the Straits of Mackinac between Lakes Huron and Michigan in 1950, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. No one was injured.

The new ship Elton Hoyt II, though, only grew. While it was one of the largest lakers of the time, Interlake decided it could carry loads more efficiently if it were 72 feet longer, according to ShipWatcher News . So at the end of the 1956 season, American Shipbuilding’s South Chicago yard placed the ship in drydock, cut the body in half and added a new mid-body before sections were welded together again. Eight years later, a bow thruster was added to make the ship easier to maneuver.

A series of mishaps

The ship encountered its first major mishap in 1975, when it ran over its own anchor, “holing herself and taking on some water.”

The freighter’s regular route took it from Detroit to Marquette. In 1978, Interlake signed a major deal with LTV Steel that required converting the Elliott Hoyt II to a self-unloader, no longer requiring the help of the bulky Hulett unloaders at the port to do the work. So the following year, the ship was laid up in Toledo, where cargo holds were reconfigured and conveyor belts and elevators were added.In December 1983, just before the end of the Great Lakes shipping season, a crack was discovered in the hull after sailing through a storm on Lake Huron. Repairs were quickly made.

Two years later, the ship struck the 95th Street Bridge over the Calumet River in South Chicago. The boat was repaired; the bridge was out of commission for a whopping five years.

Eventually, slack demand for ore prompted Interlake to use the Hoyt to move other cargo as well. In 1994, the freighter was in the right place at the right time when it rescued eight passengers from a cabin cruiser that was sinking off Stoneport, Michigan, according to Shipwatcher News.

Lower Lakes Towing of Port Dover, Ontario, acquired the Hoyt in 2003 and renamed it “Michipicoten” a word in the Ojibwe language that translates to “high cliffs” or “big bluffs.” It was named in honor of the the island in Lake Superior (which has said bluffs on the northern side of the island) and provincial park – all located in Ontario.

Lower Lakes also gave the freighter a new color scheme.

In December 2010, Rand Logistics, Inc. began a $15 million repowerment initiative on the Michipicoten, which was laid up in Sarnia, Ontario. Rand upgraded the boilers with a twin diesel propulsion system.

The freighter departed Sarnia on May 31, 2011, now classified as a motor vessel.

When the Michipicoten was rescued, Hull said divers were put on task to sorting out the crack in the hull with haste. Residents have been rightly intrigued by the freighter’s arrival.

It was originally thought the ship hit something underwater, but that now appears unlikely, Snyder said. That’s a notion shared by Hull, who said that theory was dismissed fairly quickly by those at the Michipicoten site.

But something caused a 13-foot gash, averaging a quarter inch to a half an inch wide, in the bottom of the boat, allowing lake water to fill two compartments.

“I was pretty stunned to hear about it,” said Roger LeLievre, a board member of boatnerd.com , a website devoted to shipping on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway.

Incidents like the Michipicoten’s cracked hull are pretty rare among lake freighters, he said, speculating that it could have been caused by stress fatigue or perhaps improper loading.

“A lot of people are saying they’re lucky it was as calm as it was,” said Sam Hankinson, a board member of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit , as bad weather could have hindered emergency response and the ship’s ability to steer itself.

Peter Krouse writes about the environment for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. He can be reached at [email protected] .

Peter Chakerian writes about life, food, culture and history for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. He can be reached at [email protected] .

©2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit cleveland.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Welcome to Lake Erie

Click here to jump down to the many ports around Lake Erie OR

Click a location on the map to go to a port.

The smallest of the Great Lakes by volume, Lake Erie lies upstream from Lake Ontario, receiving its water from Lake Huron to the north via the St. Clair River. It gets its name from native peoples who lived along its southern coastline – the Erielhonan.

Here are some facts about the lake:

• length: 241mi / 388km / 209nm
• width: 57mi / 92km / 49nm
• depth: 62ft / 19m
• deepest: 210ft / 64m (shallowest at west end: 7.4m)
• surface area: 9,910 sq mi / 27,7000 km2
• coastline: 871 mi / 1,402 km / 731 nm (incl islands)

Due to its shallow depth, the lake warms rapidly in the summer, reaches higher than average temperatures and frequently freezes over completely in the winter

Lake Erie lies generally along the line of the prevailing winds. This has implications for sailors, especially as this is a very shallow lake – actually, the shallowest of the five Great Lakes. Storms on the lake can be quite intense and waterspouts are not uncommon. 'Fetch' is the distance over which wind can blow unobstructed. Generally, the longer the fetch, the steeper the waves that are generated. On Erie, the water can be as much as 3/4 – 1 m higher at the eastern end than at the western end when the winds are blowing hard.

The Lake Erie basin encompasses parts of Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. This area has very good farmland and has been intensively farmed for over a century. This is also the most heavily industrialized lake in the Great Lakes.

Considering the amount of shipping that this commercial activity generated, it is not surprising that there are a significant number of shipwrecks – some 200 alone off Long Point!

There are approximately two dozen islands in the lake - the majority, and those of any real size, at the western end. These offer excellent waters to explore (and some delicious wines to enjoy from fine island wineries).

The ports and harbours that ring Erie offer everything from great rock and roll music (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland OH) to the solitudes of the world biosphere of Long Point (a favourite sailing ground of mine) to picturesque island villages. Erie is a delight to cruising sailors.

Check out some of these harbours in the following port reviews or plan an interesting cruise to experience all that this great has to offer.

Lake Erie Ports

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Melvin, Findlay and Burnham head the National Sailing Hall of Fame's Class of 2024

By the associated press | posted - june 17, 2024 at 4:01 p.m..

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

NEWPORT, Rhode Island — Pete Melvin and Conn Findlay head the list of 12 inductees in the National Sailing Hall of Fame's Class of 2024. As part of the firm M&M, Melvin helped design the giant trimaran that tech tycoon Larry Ellison's BMW Oracle Racing used to win the 2010 America's Cup in a one-off regatta against Alinghi of Switzerland's giant catamaran. M&M also drafted the design rules for the 72-foot catamarans used in the 2013 America's Cup, which ushered in foiling in sailing's marquee regatta. Findlay won a total of four Olympic medals in sailing and rowing and was an America's Cup winner.

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