background
The flotilla is simply a fleet of sailboats (albacores, lasers, cats, you name it) that sail together. The Flotilla is NOT a race. No start line, no winner, no loser. We just sail together, and if a boat goes much faster than the others, she just turns back to regroup with the ones at the back, or we just meet at the destination. No competition here; just enjoying a friendly sail together.
Another draw is that we will cast off in the morning and stop at another sailing club, where we will step off the boats for lunch before heading back in the afternoon.
To give you a glimpse into what this looks like, take a look at the pictures of previous Flotillas.
REGISTRATION
Please sign-up using the ticket types to indicate whether you wish to crew or helm and what boat. Please note that sailors may always swap positions while on the water, if they judge that it is safe to do so. As well, we may need to shuffle sailors on the day of to account for high demand and/or boat availability.
sign-out Requirements
Please take note of the "sign-out requirements" and the "exceptions" which apply to this event. In particular please note that sailors wishing to use a catamaran for this event may require a dedicated coach boat with a catamaran examiner on board to accompany them.
While anyone is welcome, and participating in a fleet wide sail, does provide some extra safety, sailing outside the familiar area of the outer harbor has its own challenges, such as sailing on the lake, the Western channel, the busy inner harbor and docking in unfamiliar places. If you haven’t sailed since your CanSail 1&2 course, it is strongly recommended that you pair with someone who has more experience or practice.
SAFETY BOAT SUPPORT
We also need safety boat support. The safety boat helm must have:
- PCOC (Power Boat Licence); and
- PVOP (Toronto Harbour Licence); and
- ROC-M (VHF Radio Licence).
- Additionally, completion of a coach boat course, or safety/crash boat course is strongly recommended because supporting a fleet of sailboats requires some specialised knowledge.
Each safety boat requires at least one helm, and one crew, although two crew is strongly recommended. Please sign up using the appropriate ticket type.
MEALS & FOOD
Bring your own food for lunch at destination. Upon return, you are invited to participate in a potluck.
Weather
The flotilla is a weather dependent event. On top of the usual lower and upper wind limits, the flotilla has a destination, which may require favorable wind strength and direction to get there and back. All that to say that there is a higher chance of last minute cancellation of the Flotilla because of unfavorable weather conditions.
Communication
Check the calendar event description for briefing and start date, as it may vary from event to event.
Feel free to join the whatsapp group to communicate about the Flotilla, before, during or even after the event, for any information, to ask questions and to reach out to other participants.
Participants holding a ROC-M certificate may wish to bring their own handheld VHF radio for communication with safety boats.
Appendix: description of the destination clubs
Toronto Island Sailing Club
Recommend landing at Beach 1 and overflow at 2 on the map below.
It’s less than a minute walk to this club from there. On weekends, there is a lot of traffic in the channel. Also the channel needs to be dredged and has a fairly narrow path down the middle for keel boats. The western shore of the channel is quite shallow and albacore centreboards will get beached.
If we have lots of boats might be tricky to go down the channel with keel boats and tourist charters coming through. They have right of way in the channel, even under motor.
National Yacht Club
-
There is no place to beach the boats.
-
They have a green space with picnic tables, BBQ’s /gazebo area, tents, fire pit/grill area (firewood/bbq grate supplied), look out area and a licensed dining room and patio (please note hats cannot be worn in the dining room but can be worn on the patio).
-
No personal alcohol can be consumed in any of the licensed areas (signs posted + the marine staff/OOD can assist our group).
-
Have all of the boats rafting together off our west wall and off B307W. The west wall is between A and B dock, however no boats can park in front of the white crane. Click hereto see our 2024 dock map or see below.
Ashbridge’s Bay Sailing Club
The fleet can dock along the junior sailing docks and launch area. It is east of the gas dock. You will see the lasers stored and there is a docking area along that eastern area. We must pass by the entrance to the main harbour and take the passage to the gas dock.
The trip there and back took around 4:30 hours, plus 1-1:30 hour stopover.
Toronto Sailing and Canoe Club
To access TSCC, we have to first go through the water wall. The club can be contacted on VHF channel 72
TSCC has three docks, we dock at the smallest, middle one.
TSCC has a restaurant (closed late September), an outdoor patio and indoor tables for lunch.
