SAILING ADVENTURES IN ONTARIO - Odysea Sailing The Great Lakes
The Sailing Blogs of Martin Antkowiak while sailing a Hughes 29' Sloop amongst The Great Lakes.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Sailing Georgian Bay - Odysea Adventures
The long summer sail from Toronto Ontario, to Pickering Frenchmans Bay , to Cobourg, to Trenton/ Severn Waterway, to Victoria Harbour Public Pier, to Doral Marine, to Beckwith Island, to Christian Island, across Georgian Bay, to Owen Sound. All sailing story's from 1999 to 2011 and beyond, will be published Winter 2011.
Don't forget to "like" or share this blog. Cheers, Martin (facebook)

MARTIN ANTKOWIAK SAILING ODYSEA ACROSS
GEORGIAN BAY - Documented
Beckwith Island Beach sunset ... what a beautiful location to sail to and spend a few nights camped out on a beach. Perfect anchorage approach with crystal clear waters, and sand bottom holding. Don't forget to pay the native for camping on pristine beach shore, and always never leave trash behind.
ODYSEA INTERIOR under candle light
BECKWITH ISLAND TO
OWEN SOUND
OWEN SOUND HARBOR SAILING
Experienced some excellent shore camping. Very off the beaten path.
THE LAST LOCK OR THE FIRST IN PORT SEVERN
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
OWEN SOUND SAILING ADVENTURES
Sailing Excursions for Georgian College Students of Owen Sound Campus.
Contact mactavious@hotmail.com for sailing schedules. Hope to see you out crewing.
After a 3 1/2 week trip from Toronto, Odysea is currently in Owen Sound Ontario. For more information about sailing schedules, please contact mactavious@hotmail.com
Unfortunately for all the people asking about sailing trips in Port Stanley Ontario, they will no longer be offered there. The new location for the next 3 years will be Owen Sound Georgian Bay. ( The water is much cleaner and by far more islands to explore). I will be attending Georgian College taking the Marine Navigation Technology program, and hope to make time to take clients sailing for evening, day and multi-day excursions.
GEORGIAN SHORES MARINA
Contact mactavious@hotmail.com for sailing schedules. Hope to see you out crewing.
After a 3 1/2 week trip from Toronto, Odysea is currently in Owen Sound Ontario. For more information about sailing schedules, please contact mactavious@hotmail.com
Unfortunately for all the people asking about sailing trips in Port Stanley Ontario, they will no longer be offered there. The new location for the next 3 years will be Owen Sound Georgian Bay. ( The water is much cleaner and by far more islands to explore). I will be attending Georgian College taking the Marine Navigation Technology program, and hope to make time to take clients sailing for evening, day and multi-day excursions.
GEORGIAN SHORES MARINA
Sincerely, Martin Antkowiak
Thursday, July 21, 2011
TORONTO TO TRENTON BY SAIL 2011
TORONTO HARBOUR TO TRENTON ONTARIO BY SAIL
Depart by Saturday July 23, 2011 out of Toronto Docks





Entrance to the Trent-Severn Waterway.
For chartering information please contact me through facebook.
Add : THEMODASTUDIO MARTIN ANTKOWIAK
Marine Photography at THEMODASTUDIO
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Sailing The Great Lakes - Port Stanley to Toronto Harbour
ODYSEA ADVENTURES - Sailing from Port Stanley to Owen Sound
Sailing Odysea, a 29' hughes Sloop in 24 hours from Port Stanley Ontario to Port Colborne.
The first leg of the journey was gruelling. Coming out of Port Stanley, after trying to get some sleep
anchored for the past week, the spinnaker lines burned through my hands while raising. I never expected the wind to shift and my helms-woman to steer left when asked to steer right. I opted for the Genaker for the rest of the voyage. The going was slow ( 2-4 knots ) until sunset around the horn of Long Point. The wind was blowing 25
plus knots North, with 7' wave peeks slapping the port of the vessel. The lady eventually went to sleep in the V-berth after reassuring her that we were safe and in good hands. Not once in the pitch of darkness and fleets of freighters, did I feel concerned. When the clouds cleared around 3am, the vessels mast veered back and forth amongst the billion points of celestial brilliance. At one point I felt euphoric mixed with bliss at the thought of sailing through the vast Universe.
The eastern sunrise sail towards Port Colborne was a golden colour to remember for an eternity. After 96 Nautical Miles in 24 hours, I felt a true sense of relief to dock Odysea at the Port Colborne Marina and sleep for a few hours.

The next leg of the journey was from Port Colborne to
Port Dalhousie, St.Catherines via the Welland Canal. The trip consisted the passage of 8 locks through-out the Welland Canal. Going down the shoot is much easier than going up for a pleasure craft. The operators which pass you lines describe it as removing water from the tub, which is slower and less violent in comparison to the turbulence created by filling the locks. The last lock operator suggested tying up to the "check in wall" considering it was 2am and it started at 10am the previous day.

The sail to Port Dalhousie from the Welland Canal was a pleasing slow 2 knot training session for my crew.
I zipped around on the
8 ' inflatable ( Zodiac) , washed cushions with bio-degradable soap, and kept cool with swims, or a simple dump of water with the bucket.
We anchored as close as we could in 5 foot water across from the beach. Had a deep fried fish dinner with rice accompanied by a bottle of red wine ( Castillero Del Diablo ).
Spent 3 nights at the Port Dalhousie Yacht club, met some good people, unfortunately their cook had issues with guests using the complimentary BBQ's. Four T-bone steaks went RAW waiting for the approval to use the BBQ. I ended up tying up along the Pier wall with the Port Dalhousie Marina. The atmosphere was so relaxed, and the best seats to view fireworks during Canada Day, that we stayed 2 weeks.

The sail from Port Dalhousie to Toronto Island was a short 28 Nautical Miles with light 5 to 10 knot winds from the west. I fished along the way and landed my-self a salmon which I enjoyed very much lightly cooked. The day was full of sunshine and the crew was in good spirit. The approach to Toronto was engrossing. Towers of glass and stone pinnacle the sky. The CN Tower used to be the tallest free standing structure ever built. It can be seen across the lake in Port Dalhousie on a clear day, and makes for a wonderful aid to navigation.

Once in Toronto, I found two areas to
anchor. One being the most southern point of the Toronto Islands and the other in a tiny inlet which leads to a wildlife sanctuary, called Doughnut Islands by the local islanders that work at the Toronto Islands Marina.
This little piece of sanctuary is a piece of paradise in surrounded by the steal and concrete of the city of Toronto. Regularly the kayakers would paddle through the area and rest on Doughnut Islands small but sufficient beach front, accompanied by a rope on a tree that led the brave into the surprisingly clear water.
The next leg of the journey will be towards Trenton Canal.
The next leg of the journey will be towards Trenton Canal.
ODYSEA ADVENTURES IS CURRENTLY SETTING SAIL FROM TORONTO HARBOUR TOWARDS FRENCHMANS BAY TO COBOURG TO BRIGHTON TO TRENTON TO PORT SEVERN TO MIDLAND TO CHRISTIAN ISLAND TO OWEN SOUND.
If anyone interested in crewing or learning seamanship skills, navigation, or just out to enjoy the sun, contact me.
I will be offering chartering day, evening and weekend sails out of Owen Sound as of
September 1, 2011.
Feel free to add me on Facebook :
Search - THEMODASTUDIO MARTIN ANTKOWIAK
Monday, May 31, 2010
SAILING THE GREAT LAKES - Port Stanley Detroit Goderich Tobermory Killarney North Channel
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