Social Day-Cruising

Mmmm!

It’s a hot summer afternoon in the National Capital Region. But there’s a cooling breeze out on Lac Deschênes. Work can wait… You see yourself at the helm of a sailboat, beating into the wind, making good speed toward an island off in the distance. The talk onboard is about head-sail trim, navigation hazards, or simply how relaxing the sound of water lapping against a boat hull can be. At the end of an afternoon of social day-cruising, you gather with fellow sailors to share stories of your adventures out on the water…

If this sounds like something you would enjoy, then you can sign up for one (or more) of our social day cruises. Social Day-Cruising on Lac Deschênes matches crews of all skill levels with skippers for a 3-4-hour sailing adventure on the lake. Cruises are fun events, whether you are just getting into sailing or have years of experience and knowledge to share.

What it’s about

The aim of the Social Day-cruising program is to foster a supportive community of cruising sailors at all levels of skill and experience, from those who have never set foot on a sailboat before to those with many years of boat ownership behind them (and everything in between).

The format is a weekly cruise on Lac Deschênes, followed by a gathering on the club deck.

How to participate

Event dates and crew assignments are listed in the calendar, which can be accessed by clicking on the link below.
Register in the program using the online form, which can be accessed by clicking on the link below.
If your availability changes, use the online form that can be accessed by clicking on the link below. Changes will be reflected in the calendar after a short delay.
Please be aware that we are unable to accommodate requests to sail on a particular boat or with particular crew mates.

Cost

There is no fee to join. However, if you sail with us more than a few times, you should become a Crewing Member of Nepean Sailing Club.

Weather conditions

If the forecast conditions are unsafe, e.g., lightning, strong wind gusts, or poor air quality, the event will be cancelled. We will attempt to contact you beforehand. Otherwise, it is our intention for the event to go ahead, even if the winds are very light.

On the day

Meet under the blue tent on the west lawn of the Nepean Sailing Club clubhouse by 12:45.

You will not receive a reminder. Consult the calendar to see whether a space has been reserved for you or you are on the wait list. As others register and cancel in the days before the event, crew assignments will vary. However, they will be stable shortly after 10:00 AM on the day of the event. If you were assigned a space seven days in advance of the event, then you will not lose that space, except in the event a boat is forced to drop out.
Please be aware that:

• The program’s email inbox is not monitored after 10:00 AM on the day of the event.
• A no-show is anyone who cancels after 10:00 AM or who doesn’t show up at the designated time. No-shows are not uncommon.
• Those on the wait-list may standby at the event venue in case space becomes available. Entries on the wait-list are in priority order.
• Boat owners set the maximum number of crew they can accommodate and their judgment is respected.

So, if you are running late, don’t send email; no one will see your message.
If you aren’t at the venue at the designated time, we can’t tell whether you are running a few minutes late or you have no intention of showing up. We will assume that you won’t be showing up. No-shows are de-prioritized in future events. Anyone who is a no-show on multiple occasions will be removed from the program.
These considerations lead to the unavoidable conclusion that if you are late (even by a minute), you probably won’t be sailing. Factor this into your journey planning.
This outcome is not intended to be a punishment for lateness; it’s simply an inevitable consequence of the constraints under which the program operates. i.e. there are more crew than available spaces and we strive to get people on a boat if they are available.
If you have ever travelled by air, you’ll be familiar with the protocol; if you aren’t in the gate area before the gate closes, your seat has already been assigned to a standby traveller.
A ticket for each space will be available for pick up at 12;45. If, shortly after 10:00 AM on the day of the event, the calendar shows you have been assigned to a boat, then there will be a ticket for you. Unclaimed tickets will be given to standbys.
You will need a ticket to get on a boat, or (stated equivalently) if you aren’t holding a ticket, you won’t be sailing.

What to bring

• Hat.
• Sunscreen.
• A Personal Flotation Device (PFD), if you have one; otherwise, we can provide one.
• Secure, non-slip footwear with a closed toe. Please ensure the soles do not leave marks on the deck—white is good. Hint: check by dragging the edge of the sole across the back of an envelope.
• If you are susceptible to motion sickness, have your favourite remedy on hand. But if you feel unwell, don’t hesitate to tell your skipper, and they will take you straight back to the dock.

What to wear

Consult the weather forecast, as conditions can change throughout the day and it can feel cooler on the water. You can stow extra clothing below deck.

Don’t forget that loose clothing and long hair can be a safety hazard when working with winches.

“Après Sail”

Cruises typically last three to four hours. Afterwards, crews, skippers, their family and friends meet up on the club deck to share their experiences and make further plans.

Saturday cruises

Saturday cruises include a raft-up, usually at Aylmer Island. On these occasions, bring a dish to share and something for yourself to drink. It’s also a great opportunity for a swim, especially if it’s a hot day!

Cancelling

If you are unable to participate, please update your availability as early as possible, but certainly before 10:00 a.m. on the day of the event. Sometimes, there is a waiting list, and we want to offer someone else the chance to sail in your place.

Also, if you make an arrangement directly with a boat owner to sail on their boat for the cruise, please do not register in the program for that day.

Oversubscription

In the event of oversubscription, priority is given to club members and those who have sailed with us the fewest times in the season. There is a waiting list for others.

Get involved

We want you to think of Social Day-Cruising as ‘your’ program, so we encourage you to participate in its organization if you can. For instance, you may like to act as an event coordinator for one of the events—the job of an event coordinator is described in the FAQ—or help organize the end-of-season celebration and photo contest. There are also opportunities to help maintain the program web pages and crew assignment software.

Get in touch if you are able to help.

Questions?

Check the FAQ.

Register Here

Events

Questions? Get in touch with us.

Resource

Check out the program’s media repository.
(If you have an objection to any of the contents, contact the program coordinator.)

Watch a video of an afternoon on the river.

View the video of the program’s 2025 winter flotilla.

Happy sailing! 🌊⛵️