posted September 13, 2002 03:31 AM            

You launch your boat at the Village of Rosseau public ramp. There's a pier and beach there as well that is great for swimming. The local bakery just up the hill from the dock has the best butter tarts in the Provence (You don't want to starve out on the water). You might also buy a plastic coated chart at the local marina next to the public dock. Lake Rosseau is a good size lake so the winds are steady on the larger open areas. It also has literally hundreds of bays to explore. The winds are a tad more shifty in the bays so you will get some good tacking practice playing the shifts up the shorelines.

We sailed south along the east shore towards Four Mile Point (named because its four miles from The Village of Rosseau.

I'm really into architecture and sailing down the shore gives you some views of amazing cottages located on magnificent granite cliffs. If you don't like to snoop, go down the centre of the lake. You pass one of only four remaining boathouses that was built for sailboats. You also get a slendid view of the Rosseau light house.

Just before Four Mile Point we turned east into Munchinbacker Bay which is actually several smaller bays. The Rosseau Falls empties into one and you'll find a number of boats anchored there. One bay south of the falls is a small park with a beautiful sandy beach. It's quite shallow so Sandpipers should crank up that board a bit. I met a couple who were cruising in their small cabin cruiser there. This area doesn't seem to openly advertise anchoring, but a number of people do it. The unwritten rule is anchor where you can't see a cottage or tie up at the public docks.

From Munchinbacker Bay we went north up the west side of the lake. There is another bay to the north west called Morgan's Bay. Just before entering the bay we tied up at Picnic Island. It's a rocky island with high cliffs but one of the camps has put in a small dock so you can tie up there and explore this small island without fear of damaging your boat. Great place for picking berries.

Going further into Morgan's Bay you should take the east wider chanel. A fresh westerly wind usually funnels down this bay into the lake so the sailing is great. When you head up the channel (upwind) past two more island the bay divides into several other bays. My favorite was Bass Bay because when you get to the end of it there is a small portage over a country road to another lake. The first time we sailed here it was in a Laser so we carried the boat over the road into the other lake.

Heading back to the Village of Rosseau, we passed magnificent cliffs on the south side of the bay drenched in the late afternoon sun. There in a small cove we saw an Edel sailboat at anchor for the night. They would have a spectacular view of the setting sun. We continued running down the narrower channel back out to the main lake.

Most of my sailing has been done in harbours of cities on Lake Ontario or the Pacific so these northern lakes are a real treat: Clean warm water, without tides to contend with. I've really enjoyed exploring them by boat. With a boat that's easily trailered you can do some amazing trips. I could probably spend the rest of my life just exploring the Muskoka Lakes, launching at different places for the day.

Regards, D'Arcy

Great point in sailing in smaller boats. "The big boats get the glory but the small boats make the sailor" I believe that is a phrase accredited to Peter Montgomery was an Aussie commentator during the '83 America's Cup campaign. (The year Australia won)

I've been doing a lot of sailing in a Hobie 16 lately. This boat is specially designed to accomodate sailors with disabilities. Lately I've been crewing a lot with my friend (Dale) who lost the use of his legs in an unsolved hit-and-run motorcycle accident ten years ago. I find that catamaran sailing has really enhanced my skill in trimming the jib, as well as learning to be patient when tacking. (The mainsail is the power,but the jib is the precision) We were even able to sail upwind into a narrow meandering river!!

The trapeze is fun too once you overcome the anxiety of pushing yourself away from the boat while putting all faith in a cotter pin that holds the trapeze wire.

While I was hanging on the wire, Dale informed me that I was the first one to use the trapeze on his boat. I guess I was the Guinea Pig.

posted September 30, 2002 11:44 AM            

My starting point on the Rosseau map was south of Windermere, on Horseshoe Bay; just east of the tip of Tobin's Island. The long narrow bay on the north-eastern shore was my destination on Skeleton Bay.