Starting Out from Ottawa

[Rooster77]

Hey all,
I've been sailing on and off with family for a couple of years, out of Ottawa and in the Thousand Islands, and have definatly enjoyed every minute of it. Am finishing up my university degree and looking for a gap year/maybe more of cruising and hopefully eventually a RTW or circumnavigate trip. Don't yet have a boat, (school is too damn expensive). Am worried I dont have the experience to do this but how better to gain it. I don't want to be sitting on my ass in a cubicle for the rest of my days and getting out there now is the only thing I can think of doing. Free Lancer and I are looking at boats and such. Any suggestions for those starting out on this so very exciting path?

Rooster77

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Rooster,
Welcome aboard! Take a beginning sailing class and start reading. I'd recommend the book "Start Sailing Right." Many folks buy a boat first then learn how to sail. That's very much like buying a car then learning how to drive and I don't recommend it. You might find yourself in a very dangerous situation early on.
Its always fun to look at boats and see all the glossy ads in the magazines and you can still do that while you learn to sail on someone else's boat.
Kind regards,
JohnL

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard Rooster.
If you’re in Ottawa, you should understand that you can’t get there (wherever that may be) from here (Ottawa).
I suppose that the short answer to your query is:
buy a boat, and go.

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Greetings and welcome aboard Rooster.
If you’re in Ottawa, you should understand that you can’t get there (wherever that may be) from here (Ottawa).
I suppose that the short answer to your query is:
buy a boat, and go.

Actually Gord, the Ottawa River joins the St Lawrence at Montreal. As long as you start East of the rapids it's do-able. The Voyage of the Northern Magic started and ended at Petrie Is.

[Ocean Girl]

Am finishing up my university degree

Congrats!!

Welcome to the forum,
Erika

[jdoe71]

Originally Posted by Lodesman

Actually Gord, the Ottawa River joins the St Lawrence at Montreal. As long as you start East of the rapids it's do-able. The Voyage of the Northern Magic started and ended at Petrie Is.

Ah, I could be wrong, but I suspect Gord knows his Cdn geography pretty well. I'm thinking his comment, having to do with Ottawa, and Ottawa being the seat of federal government, and government, especially federal being known for operating in less than straight lines and mostly in a convoluted unfathomable fashion that often takes one in circles, is suggesting a different meaning than the geographical one.

Or not?

[peter.bomberg]

Hi to another neighbor (Ottawa here as well) and yes if your boat fits trough the locks you can get there, if not you may have an issue (or transport it), if you were thinking a Cat, you may want to look at Kingston as the home berth.

[swagman]

G'Day Rooster,
I'd suggest you read, read, read plus go get a crew spot on some ones small race yacht so you can gain some time on the water. Makes good sense to be sure you like what you find before buying anything.
But I'd equally suggest that once you know for sure that sailing is for you, you go get a small yacht and take charge of it yourself for a further season.
If you continue to study right through that period, you'll then be prettywell placed to decide what boat will suit you - and off you go!
Enjoy. When I look back it is this period of exploration and learning that you're about to start that is one of the very best times when sailing.
Cheers
JOHN

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Lodesman

Actually Gord, the Ottawa River joins the St Lawrence at Montreal. As long as you start East of the rapids it's do-able. The Voyage of the Northern Magic started and ended at Petrie Is.

Originally Posted by jdoe71

I'm thinking his comment, having to do with Ottawa, and Ottawa being the seat of federal government, and government, especially federal being known for operating in less than straight lines and mostly in a convoluted unfathomable fashion that often takes one in circles, is suggesting a different meaning than the geographical one.
Or not?

I couldn’t have (and DIDN’T) say it better myself, jdoe. It was just a humorously intended, but mangled, paraphrasing of an old Freddie Fender song - but I’d like to adopt your interpretation.

Does anyone know how things turned out for Jonathan Steumer?

The park at Petrie Island is officially named Stuemer Park, after the Ottawa family* that sailed “Northern Magic” from Petrie Island (departed in 1997) around the world, returning to Petrie to complete their voyage (in 2001).

* Herbert and Diane Steumer, and their three sons: Michael, Jonathan, and Christopher. Actually, the park is named after Diane, who died of cancer in March 2003. See her book about their adventures entitled, “Voyage of the Northern Magic: A Family Odyssey”.

See also, their Northern Magic fund
➥ www.northernmagic.ca