Sailing VATA: The Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence River

We left Kingston with a fresh pump-out and full of diesel (Portsmouth Olympic Park Marina is the only facility in the Kingston area providing these services due to high water levels). We sailed past Old Fort Henry, and so it was that after 188 nautical miles, we left Lake Ontario and began our downstream journey on the great St. Lawrence River.

Ferry with Old Fort Henry in the distance

Inflating the dinghy while underway to the Thousand Islands

Flying under the Thousand Island Bridge

It was a good sailing day with plenty of wind, and we entered the Thousand Islands and found shelter for the night behind Sugar Island. There was lots of boat traffic and Gananoque Tour boats following the nearby small craft route.

A traditional gaff-rigged cat boat from New York in the anchorage at Sugar Island

The next morning, we woke up to wind! At 9:00 we set sail for Brockville under a tiny piece of jib and we FLEW! We passed under the Thousand Island Bridge at 10:00, and finished by anchoring behind Smith Island west of Brockville at 1:00.

Everything you do on the boat is a little more difficult than on land, but it is a beautiful, simple living – from grocery shopping to doing laundry by hand. Today we were spoiled in Brockville! Tim’s Dad Jan drove from Ottawa with Liz Plath, a long-time family friend, and drove us to grocery stores, etc., and treated us to lunch! We said our farewells, and we’re off again.