Ontario Summer Games 2008 (Sailing) - Venue

The Nepean Sailing Club is located on one of Canada's major rivers, the Ottawa River. It flows for approximately 1,120 km (696 mi), rising in the Canadian Shield and eventually flowing into the St. Lawrence River near Montréal. For most of its length it forms the boundary between the provinces of Québec and Ontario.

The river has a very rich history. The first European to visit the river was probably the French explorer Étienne Brûlé, in 1610. It was an important early transportation route into the western interior, and was controlled by the Algonquins. It became the primary route for the fur trade until the early 19th century, when the Rideau Canal, linking the Ottawa River and Lake Ontario, was built. Lumbering then became the river valley's chief industry for the next hundred years. The river is also notable for its extensive hydroelectric development.

Lac Deschênes is a widening of the Ottawa River, caused by a constriction of the flow of the river through the Deschênes Rapids. The lake stretches about 5 km from the rapids to Aylmer Island at which point the river begins to narrow down again. At its widest point, the lake is approximately 4 km wide.

The lake is a popular sailing area with over 1000 boats located in 5 sailing clubs around the shoreline of the lake. The prevailing winds are usually from the northwest and in the high ranges can cause a fair wave action down the river since it is oriented northwest - southeast at this point.

For more information on sailing on the Ottawa River, go to the Sailquest Web Site or the Nepean Sailing Club's racing Web page.