Canadian Boating June 2024 - 31

in the playoffs, but the importance of the
river has not changed even if the uses
thereon have.
It remains vital to trade as shipping is
the most effi cient form of transportation
both by emissions and cost per ton. In
fact: there are ships so massive that they
don't fi t into the 766-foot-long Welland
Canal locks. The largest on the Great
Lakes is the truly enormous MV Paul R.
Tregurtha measuring in at 1,013.5 feet
(308.96 metres) with a beam of 105 feet
(32 metres) and a capacity of 68,000 tons
of coal or iron ore.
If you've never boated past one of these
behemoths, I can assure you it's a sight to
behold. If you think they are large from
land, they seem many times larger from
the water.
Of course, you should give
these monsters as wide of a berth as possible.
You should give freighters a wide
berth because their large size and mass
result in signifi cantly longer stopping distances
and wider turning radii, making it
diffi cult for them to maneuver quickly to
avoid smaller vessels or obstacles.
You can get out on the water with
Windsor Premiere Cruises to enjoy the
sights of the skylines and slide by these
ships without having to worry about anything
if you want another cocktail.
If you want to take the helm, you can
rent a PWC, fi shing boat or a pontoon and
head to, spoiler alert, the shores of Lake
St. Clair. That's where you'll fi nd RAW
Watersports which also offers guided
tours so you can sit back and relax.
If you do head out on Lake St. Clair, I
have two recommendations for you: pizza
and Peche Island.
Windsor pizza is a thing. Seriously!
There's even a documentary fi lm on
it. And there's a pizza place right at
Riverside Marina - beside Windsor Yacht
Club - with transient docks.
Just a few hundred metres away is
the 86-acre island that a whisky distilling
magnate purchased in 1883 to build
a home. In 1974 it became a provincial
park and in 1999 the City of Windsor took
it over. It's only accessible by boat and
there's a fl oating dock and mooring wall
for larger vessels. Much of the island is
marshy. It's a great spot to kayak too, just
be aware that there is a current fl owing
from Lake St. Clair to - and through - the
Detroit River.
Before I sign off, I need to apologize to
the Stand-Up Paddleboard. Not the community,
but the board and sport itself. I
tried it once years ago and did not have
a good experience. But Chris at Urban
Surf, just fi ve kilometres west of RAW
Watersports, busted out the biggest SUP
I've ever seen, and the stability made me
relax, which allowed me to stand up and
genuinely enjoy the experience. And a
sunset paddle is certainly an experience
worth having!
While I love the exotic locations that I
am sometimes lucky enough to explore,
there's something magical about discovering
- or is it rediscovering? - somewhere
you thought you knew.
Try it yourself. You won't be
disappointed!
WE TAKE
SAFETY
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stock up on the latest electronics, hardware, clothing
and safety gear at binnacle.com. Of course,
you'll get free shipping on most items over $99
because S.O.S. also means: SAVE ON SHIPPING.
Sirius
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binnacle.com 1065 PURCELL'S COVE ROAD, HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA 1.800.665.6464
CANADIANBOATING.CA
31
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Canadian Boating June 2024

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