Sailing Home Page
Whether you own a boat or not, are novice or experienced, prefer paddle, power or sail, Kingston Yacht Club is a perfect venue for those who enjoy being on the water. KYC is situated on the north-eastern shore of Lake Ontario at the head of the St Lawrence River. From here you can explore the world-famous Thousand Islands, discover the charms of Prince Edward County, experience the open waters of Lake Ontario and visit the cities and towns that dot its shoreline. We are fortunate to have access to the “best fresh water sailing in the world”!
If you are just starting out, check out our Learn to Sail programs for all age groups!
Kingston Yacht Club offers a varied racing program run at a high level. Many members are national and world championship sailors and others have experience with international level race course management. Although that sounds serious, we still know how to have fun each week and welcome new participants, whether you are a seasoned sailor or just starting out.
Club Racing
Beginning the first week after launch, KYC runs races on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings (6pm Start) for three keelboat fleets: Shark 24, PHRF 1 (ratings <165), PHRF 2 (ratings >165). On weekends there are several long-distance races scheduled.
Race Committee Duty
As a largely volunteer-based club, crews take turns performing the duties of Race Management. This has an excellent side effect of improving everyone’s skillset!
Crew Bank
KYC has an informal crew bank. New members looking to crew are encouraged to introduce themselves to a <member of the sailing committee>, who can put them in touch with a skipper who is looking for crew. But, if you come 45 minutes before the start, ready to go racing, there’s probably someone looking for another crew that night!
Regattas
KYC hosts several regattas each year. If you are not competing, feel free to contact the Sailing Committee as we certainly welcome volunteers to assist with the events.
The location of Kingston Yacht Club is an ideal home base for cruising. We are fortunate to be located in such beautiful cruising grounds, from Prince Edward County and the Bay of Quinte to the Thousand Islands and, of course, our own Jemmett’s Landing on the NE shore of Wolfe Island.
The cruising fleet at KYC supports all types of activities; it is a great way to get to know other club members, make new friends, and share cruising and boating information, even if you don’t have a boat.
Beginning the first week after launch, until the ice moves in, KYC runs DragonForce 65 fleet races on Mondays (Start: 1800hrs) and IOM fleet races Wednesday evenings (Start: 1800hrs). Both fleets invite all KYC members to come by and give it a try. Information on boat building, buying, sailing and racing is available through the Canadian Radio Yachting Association website (WWW.CRYA.CA) or by contacting the fleet captains. See you at the start line!
Sailing Instructions
There will be 8 heats (races) in each race night, with a minimum of 3 boats and 3 races to constitute a race night. Racing will be scored in accordance with RRS Appendix A4, Low Point Scoring System and governed by the ISAF 2017-2020 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), including Appendix E; Fleet determined Sailing Instructions (SI), Bylaws of the Kingston Yacht Club, the Rules of the International One Metre Class and DragonForce 65 Class as warranted.
Both IOM and DragonForce 65 Fleets will sail their regular scheduled race nights off the breakwall at KYC. There is recognition for the top three racers in each series for both fleets and awards for the top three racers for the overall season in both fleets.
Schedule
Fleet: DragonForce 65| Series | Day | Start Time |
| Series A: May-June-July
Series B: August-September-October |
Monday evenings |
1800 hrs |
Fleet: IOM
|
Series |
Day |
Start time |
|
Series A: May-June-July *A perpetual trophy is housed at Kingston Yacht Club and awarded to the Frostbite Champion each year. |
Wednesday |
1800 hrs |
If you want to sail, but don’t have your own boat, Community Club Sailing at Kingston Yacht Club is for you! Community Club boats can be signed out by qualified skippers. All boats can be used for a day sail, but some are equipped for club racing and one is equipped to be out overnight and sleep aboard. Kingston is situated in one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the world with much to enjoy.
Destinations
Kingston Yacht Club is centrally located with quick access to the Greater Kingston Harbour. Here are some nearby destinations your can explore with the Community Club boats.
- Kingston Waterfront - while there’s no place to dock or moor between KYC and Portsmouth, you get a wonderful view of our historic city from the water.
- To the west you’ll see Richardson Beach, the Murney Tower National Historic Site, Kingston General Hospital’s helicopter landing pad and heating plant chimney (a landmark for miles on the water), Breakwater Park, Gord Downie Pier, water filtration plant, Tett Centre, Isabel Bader Centre, Kingston Penitentiary, Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, Rockwood Asylum of the Criminally Insane (closed), Lake Ontario Park and Providence Care.
- To the east you’ll see An Gorta Mor Park, PumpHouse museum, Delta Hotel, Shoal Tower National Historic Site and Kingston City hall. But be sure to steer clear of the Battery Park break wall and Wolfe Island Ferry!
- Deadman Bay and Cedar Island – Just off the Fort Henry National Historic site, you get an unobstructed view of the fort. Cedar Island is one of the Thousand Islands Park islands. Equipped with docks, you can go ashore and explore the trails and Martello Tower.
- Milton Island – Another nearby Park island for you to explore.
- Simcoe Island – a longer excursion would be to circumnavigate Simcoe Island. The shores of the Boat Channel are flanked by farmlands and are very pretty, plus you get a closer view of the Wolfe Island windmills. This trip requires close attention to channel markers, depths near shore, and time your sail over the ferry cable. Being a narrow, the winds in the Boat Channel can be shifty.
- Jemmett’s Landing – a full day outing would be a sail to <Jemmett’s Landing> and back (a reach in 10 knots of wind would take a Community Club boat at least 3 hrs).
Qualifications
Full membership, Pleasure Craft Operator Certification (PCOC) and proven skills as a skipper give you access to the Community Club fleet. Applicants with previous sailing experience can apply to the Community Club by providing a sailing resume. An on-water orientation and evaluation will be arranged by KYC office to certify qualification as Community Club skipper. If you have little or no sailing experience, successfully completing the <KYC Adult Learn to Sail program> can prepare and certify you as Community Club Skipper.
Our CC Fleet
The Community Club fleet is comprised of well-maintained, properly equipped boats. Known for their seaworthiness and versatility, Shark 24s were designed and built in Canada. It has a history of providing families with decades of fun on the water, and is also an internationally recognized racing fleet. Some have crossed the Atlantic and Canadian sailors have wintered in the tropics aboard their Sharks.
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Boat |
Make |
Availability |
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Day sails |
Club racing |
Overnight |
||
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Leprechaun |
Shark 24 |
x |
x |
|
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Moonshine |
Shark 24 |
x |
x |
|
|
3? |
Shark 24 |
x |
x |
|
|
4? |
Shark 24 |
X |
X |
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|
Jesse |
C&C 24 |
X |
x |
|
Able Sail brings the joy of sailing to people who are unable to move about as they would in other sailboats. Learn more about Able Sail at KYC.
From Wednesday night sailing, building sailing skills, racing, and dingy sailing, Women in Wind is a popular for many women at KYC. Learn more about Women in Wind at KYC.
KYC has 118 Years of Yacht Club History in an online display. This project is still a work in progress. In the meantime, please enjoy the Virtual Trophy Room with over one hundred Club sailing and racing trophies, with images, dedications and winners.