Social Day-Cruising

At the helm of a sailboat on Social Day-Cruising on Lac Deschênes

Sailboats out on Social Day-Cruising on Lac Deschênes

People enjoying Social Day-Cruising on Lac Deschênes

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 should 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 Lac Deschênes. Cruises are fun events, whether you are just getting into sailing or have years of experience and knowledge to share.

NEW FOR 2025: SELF-SERVICE CREW ASSIGNMENT

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 sail boat 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 in social day-cruising

Crew assignments take into account the needs of both the boat owner and all the boat’s crew while furthering the program’s aims. The task is performed using a neural network. For these reasons, 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.

Where to meet

On the day of the cruise, meet at the blue tent on the club’s west lawn at 12:45. Don’t be late, or your place may get reassigned.

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 a piece of white paper.
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 Sailing”

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.