KSC sets sail on 49th season

DUNROBIN – The weather prognosticators called for rain, but on Saturday (May 4) the sailing gods delivered sun for a perfect day on the Ottawa River and the Kanata Sailing Club (KSC) Open House.

The small sailing club located on the Ottawa River just east of Dunrobin is getting ready for its 49th season, and as is tradition, held its open house on May 4 to introduce the club to the public and share the many unique benefits of being a member.

The KSC board says the small size of the club, compared to the Nepean and Britania sailing clubs, gives it a cottage feel, and the fact that members don’t have to have their own sailing boats to participate, make the club popular to people across the city.

“We’re very lucky for the weather today, because the forecast wasn’t vey good,” longtime club member Frank Boyaner told West Carleton Online from the shore. “We’re getting a lot of people dropping by. I’ve given several tours, and some people are joining, either for lessons or the membership.”

Boyaner, who is a big fan of catamarans and serves on the Catamaran Maintenance committee at the club, says he looks forward to returning each summer.

“The thing that first attracted me, was being able to sail catamarans near where I live in Ottawa, without having to own a boat and all the headaches that go along with that,” he said. “Because I’m retired, we spend a lot of time here and the social scene is very strong. There’s regulars and were always making new friends as well. It’s like having a cottage in the city. We have a very rustic feel here. The water here is really good. We swim in it all the time.”

From the dock of the KSC (which go in the first week of June), you can sale to the Deschenes Rapids near Britannia in the east, and west to the Chats Falls near Fitzroy Harbour.

“We can go in either direction,” Boyaner said. “We can go out some distance toward Quebec. We have a friendly contest here. There’s an island about 15 km up that way, and we have a contest to see who can sale up and around that island the most.”

He says you get all types of winds at this location as well.

Boyaner says he loves the “speed and the power” of the catamarans.

“They are a whole other league,” he said. “It’s thrilling.”

If you become a KSC member, and become qualified, you can try a catamaran, or any of the other sail boats in the KSC fleet.

“We have a modern, rejuvenated fleet,” Boyaner said. “All different sizes of monohulls. Catamarans, once you joined, it’s all included. There’s no extra cost. It’s a very affordable way to sail, and the Ottawa River is so beautiful.”

For more information on the KSC including membership, click here.