Our starting point is Historic Kingston, where the Rideau Canal empties into Lake Ontario and the lake begins to narrow as it flows towards the Atlantic. While many people identify this as the start of the St. Lawrence River, the river does not officially begin until you reach the Thousand Islands Bridge, just east of Ivy Lea.
Known as the freshwater sailing capital of the world, Kington has hosted everything from Olympic sailing events to smaller regattas. It is a popular destination for boaters, so plan to take some time to explore everything the city has to offer.
There’s Fort Henry, an imposing structure easily seen from the water, as well as many unique museums, such as the Penitentiary Museum, the International Ice Hockey Federation Museum and the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes. Kingston also offers visitors weekend special events, cinemas, shopping, golf courses and a superb nightlife.
Boaters can easily explore the city from any of the three waterfront marinas.
Located on the west end of the city, Collins Bay Marina is located inside Collins Bay, which is easy to find and enter. It is advisable to stay to the port side as you head in, and watch for the private markers guiding traffic in and out of the marina.
Portsmouth Olympic Harbour is home to many sailing events and features a large concrete breakwater at its entrance.Look for the Flashing Green Light at the tip of the breakwater.
Flora MacDonald Confederation Basin, located in the heart of historic Kingston in front of City Hall, has 400 slip finger docks that can accommodate both power and sail boats to a maximum length of 100 feet.
For transients, Confederation Basin is entered at the gap in the breakwater at the green marker that is most southwest at Carruthers Shoal – directly across the harbour from Point Frederick.The entrance near the Martello Tower is for permanent slip holders.
Leaving Kingston as you head towards Brockville, you are faced with choices. You can take the long way around Wolfe Island, if the weather is calm, to join the American and Seaway Shipping Channels and cruise past Cape Vincent, Clayton and Alexandria Bay. You can take the Canadian Middle Channel and cross over to the American and Seaway Shipping Channel at one of several locations. You can take the Canadian Middle Channel all the way past Rockport, Ontario, and join the main shipping channel east of Alexandria Bay. Or you can take the Bateaux Channel, which locals refer to as the North Channel, and meander your way in relatively protected water to Gananoque, Ontario. Beyond Gananoque you can take uncharted and charted channels along the north shore of the river all the way past Mallorytown landing on the way to Brockville.
We will look at these channels one at a time, focusing primarily on the Canadian routes.