sailing the st laurence.between MTL & TR

[otherthan]

wander if the curent is strong enough to warent an engin??
its only for this spring-summer...other then this I want to go enginless.

while I am here...is there alote of anchoring in this section of the river?

rgds

[KrazySailing]

I sailed and motored from Buffalo to Rimouski in 2008. At the Richelieu Rapids ( If I remember the name correctly) we were doing 11 knots ( 5 knots motor and knots current). Other places a lot less current.

My guess, you could sail upstream but lots of tacking and slow progress.

Heres a link ot the Seaway Seaway System - Recreational Boating.

The Pleasure Craft Guide states :
"Pleasure craft which transit the Seaway canals and locks must be
adequately motor-powered.

Vessels under sail are not allowed to

transit Seaway canals and locks."

[Bill S]

I came down the entire St. Lawrence last year. It is a beautiful trip. Current starts at Montreal where it is about 5 knots and continues with variations until about Rimouski. The current varies a lot and the tidal flow starts below Montreal. At Quebec city the tide is 18 feet, so the current reverses with the tide. We had about 7 knots current when we departed Quebec City. Sailboats with an engine must move with the outgoing tide and stop on the incoming. Very difficult to make this trip without an engine, hard to sail until well below Quebec City. There are not very many anchoring opportunities except in some limited areas. Plan on some marinas. There is an atlas that shows the current flows in relation to the tide, very worthwhile.

[marlinespike]

Hello,
I agree with Bill, you really need to "play the current" when travelling the St. Lawrence River from MTL to TR... in fact, all the way to Tadoussac.

You should get the Canadian Government current atlas for these waters and you should get "Cruising Guide to the Down East Circle Route". There is a new edition of this guide coming out in the spring. As well as anchorages, marinas etc it explains how to use the current to your advantage. Depending on your boat speed you will learn what time of the tide to leave a certain port.
If you google Down East Circle Route you will find a lot of sights come up by people who have done the trip recently and given remarks.

I have done the trip several times, it is an interesting trip through a beautiful part of the country.

Don

[otherthan]

thanks for the information guys
rgds