1000 Islands Cruise

Pictures by Barbara Garland

The last week of June we participated in a cruise of the 1000 Islands with members of the Trailer/Sailors Association. The Trailer/Sailors Association is a group of Trailer Sailors (not just MacGregors) based in the Midwest. The eastern most members of the group have done this Cruise for a number of years. This year the group was all MacGregors. They were from Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario Canada (and us from New Hampshire). For some of us this was our first visit to the 1000 Islands. For others, this was a return trip. We were 2 - M23's 2 - M25's 4 - M26's and 1- M26X

The 1000 Islands is an area of the St. Lawrence River just east of Lake Ontario - bordering New York and Ontario Canada.

After torrential rains on Saturday, we headed out from our home in NH at 5:30am on Sunday, June 24 and arrived at Wellesley Island 1:00pm. Since the group had assembled the day before, we were behind schedule. We launched and headed out. We contacted them on the VHF and found out they were about 6 Miles west of us headed for Kingston Ontario. We motored for an hour before we could see them. We sailed for 4 hours and then the wind began to fade so the group motored past Fort Henry the rest of the way.


Motoring to Kingston at end of day


Fort Henry in Kingston

The reason for the destination was to check in with customs. Since it was so late, we spent the night at the city run marina and ate out.


Kingston Docks

The next morning (Monday) 6 of us decided to sail to Cape Vincent NY. We started out with very light winds


Mike ghosting along

The first half of the trip was a beat out the St. Lawrence River and around Nine Mile Point Light House


Nine Mile Point Lighthouse

A reach south on Lake Ontario to Tibbetts Point


Tibbetts Point Light House

and then up in the main shipping channel of the St. Lawrence. The weather was gorgeous. It was warm and the wind was 10-12 knots. Cape Vincent is a small town with a general store and a few restaurants.

As we arrived, there was a tall ship practicing tacking under full sail - a great photo opportunity. We took pictures of Jim and Martha's M26 and the tall ship while they took pictures of us.


Jim and Martha's 26 and the tall ship

At Cape Vincent we stayed at the town docks which are free.


Mike staying cool on the dock at Cape Vincent

The next day (Tuesday) we sailed to Clayton, which was downwind.


Downwind to Clayton


Downwind some more


two 23's

After touring the town (free tie up at the town dock during the day) we headed to Canoe Point State Park to spend the night.

Wednesday the group headed west to Milton Island and we headed east because we wanted to see the Boldt Castle. We sailed up the Canadian Mid Channel, under the Canadian bridge


1000 islands bridge Canadian side

and cut through to the shipping channel on the American side. We sailed passed Sunken Rock Lighthouse

Sunken Rock Lighthouse

to Boldt Castle. The Castle was started in 1900 by George Boldt, proprietor of the Waldorf-Astoria in NY. His wife died and the castle was never completed. Since 1977, there has been an effort to restore and complete the castle.

one of the Castle out buildings


Boldt Castle


The boat house

We then continued west up the shipping channel, under the New York bridge

1000 islands bridge US side

past Rock Island Lighthouse

Rock Island Lighthouse

and back to Canoe Point. Thursday we headed to Kingstown to see the tall ships which were due to arrive in the afternoon. The group got there before us but there was another slip for us. There were many more tall ships than I expected there would be.




Friday we all went through the Gananoque Channel


Windblown M25              Dauntless


Rose V23

on our way back to Canoe Point. That was so we would be near Wellesley Island so we could haul out on Saturday.


Sunrise on Saturday morning

The group arrived at Wellesley Island, mid morning, hauled out and gathered in the parking lot to unrig.


Saturday Haul Out

There was no rain the entire time we were there and the wind was light in the morning and 10 to 15 in the afternoon. We met another group of wonderful people. Some MOANE members are already talking about wanting to head up there next year. We would like to thank Bob Borden and Anne and Carroll Seibert for leading us on a wonderful week of adventure.

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1000 islands cruise

1000 Islands Cruise

Pictures by Barbara Garland

The last week of June we participated in a cruise of the 1000 Islands with members of the Trailer/Sailors Association. The Trailer/Sailors Association is a group of Trailer Sailors (not just MacGregors) based in the Midwest. The eastern most members of the group have done this Cruise for a number of years. This year the group was all MacGregors. They were from Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario Canada (and us from New Hampshire). For some of us this was our first visit to the 1000 Islands. For others, this was a return trip. We were 2 - M23's 2 - M25's 4 - M26's and 1- M26X

The 1000 Islands is an area of the St. Lawrence River just east of Lake Ontario - bordering New York and Ontario Canada.

After torrential rains on Saturday, we headed out from our home in NH at 5:30am on Sunday, June 24 and arrived at Wellesley Island 1:00pm. Since the group had assembled the day before, we were behind schedule. We launched and headed out. We contacted them on the VHF and found out they were about 6 Miles west of us headed for Kingston Ontario. We motored for an hour before we could see them. We sailed for 4 hours and then the wind began to fade so the group motored past Fort Henry the rest of the way.


Motoring to Kingston at end of day


Fort Henry in Kingston

The reason for the destination was to check in with customs. Since it was so late, we spent the night at the city run marina and ate out.


Kingston Docks

The next morning (Monday) 6 of us decided to sail to Cape Vincent NY. We started out with very light winds


Mike ghosting along

The first half of the trip was a beat out the St. Lawrence River and around Nine Mile Point Light House


Nine Mile Point Lighthouse

A reach south on Lake Ontario to Tibbetts Point


Tibbetts Point Light House

and then up in the main shipping channel of the St. Lawrence. The weather was gorgeous. It was warm and the wind was 10-12 knots. Cape Vincent is a small town with a general store and a few restaurants.

As we arrived, there was a tall ship practicing tacking under full sail - a great photo opportunity. We took pictures of Jim and Martha's M26 and the tall ship while they took pictures of us.


Jim and Martha's 26 and the tall ship

At Cape Vincent we stayed at the town docks which are free.


Mike staying cool on the dock at Cape Vincent

The next day (Tuesday) we sailed to Clayton, which was downwind.


Downwind to Clayton


Downwind some more


two 23's

After touring the town (free tie up at the town dock during the day) we headed to Canoe Point State Park to spend the night.

Wednesday the group headed west to Milton Island and we headed east because we wanted to see the Boldt Castle. We sailed up the Canadian Mid Channel, under the Canadian bridge


1000 islands bridge Canadian side

and cut through to the shipping channel on the American side. We sailed passed Sunken Rock Lighthouse

Sunken Rock Lighthouse

to Boldt Castle. The Castle was started in 1900 by George Boldt, proprietor of the Waldorf-Astoria in NY. His wife died and the castle was never completed. Since 1977, there has been an effort to restore and complete the castle.

one of the Castle out buildings


Boldt Castle


The boat house

We then continued west up the shipping channel, under the New York bridge

1000 islands bridge US side

past Rock Island Lighthouse

Rock Island Lighthouse

and back to Canoe Point. Thursday we headed to Kingstown to see the tall ships which were due to arrive in the afternoon. The group got there before us but there was another slip for us. There were many more tall ships than I expected there would be.




Friday we all went through the Gananoque Channel


Windblown M25              Dauntless


Rose V23

on our way back to Canoe Point. That was so we would be near Wellesley Island so we could haul out on Saturday.


Sunrise on Saturday morning

The group arrived at Wellesley Island, mid morning, hauled out and gathered in the parking lot to unrig.


Saturday Haul Out

There was no rain the entire time we were there and the wind was light in the morning and 10 to 15 in the afternoon. We met another group of wonderful people. Some MOANE members are already talking about wanting to head up there next year. We would like to thank Bob Borden and Anne and Carroll Seibert for leading us on a wonderful week of adventure.

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