Canadian Yachting February 2023 - 34

Hamilton is known as Steeltown to many, and the massive
steel plants still dominate the southern shores of the bay.
The Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority, HOPA, says the Port of
Hamilton is visited by 700 vessels annually and it handles 12
million tons of cargo.
This may be the most overlooked spot on all of Lake Ontario
for recreational boats though. Which to me, is a shame. I love it
here! The Royal Hamilton Yacht Club can be visited if you're
a member of a reciprocal club on the lake and its facilities are
truly fantastic. Founded in 1888, it's one of ten clubs in Canada
granted a royal designation.
There are other clubs in here from boat share to smaller yacht
clubs around the bay as well. You'll also fi nd Harbour West
Marina, a public marina which has undergone massive renovations.
In fact, the whole waterfront is in the midst of a reimaging
and in the coming years, the city's $140-million plan will have
turned this into a real gem of the Lake.
Along the southern shores of Lake Ontario, you'll fi nd Fifty
Point, that is, if you know where to look! This may be the bestkept
secret simply because you wouldn't know it's here if you
were cruising by. Two rocky breakwaters, one with a small lighthouse,
mark the entrance to this conservation area surrounded
by lush greenery. Back here is a marina with more than 300 slips
and the Fifty Point Yacht Club surrounded by the Fifty Point
Conservation Area.
Further east is historic Port Dalhousie in St. Catharines. The fi rst
important thing to note is how it's pronounced. Unlike Dalhousie
University " dal-HOUZ-ee " , this is known as " dal-OO-zee " .
The entrance to Port Dalhousie is unmistakable with piers that
stretch hundreds of metres into the lake, the western of which is
marked with a lighthouse at the farthest reach and another on the
mainland. Between Port Dalhousie Pier Marina and Dalhousie
Yacht Club, you have hundreds of boats, including many fi shing
boats and charters that operate out of here. Here too is the
home of the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. It has been going
since 1880 and as of 1903, it has found a permanent home on
Martindale Pond. If you spend some time here, check out the
century-old Lakeside Park Carousel, a Charles Looff handcarved
original, that still charges a nickel-per-ride.
Port Dalhousie was the original Lake Ontario terminus for the
Welland Canal's fi rst three iterations. The current one is about
three nautical miles further west and an adventure worthy of an
entirely new article.
Like Dalhousie University, it was named after General George
Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie, who was Governor General of
British North America from 1820-1828. I was told the difference
in pronunciation stems from the way the local Scottish population
- shipbuilders and sailors - would have said it. Ramsay
used the high-brow British pronunciation himself. (Now is an
appropriate time to apologize to whomever is sat beside you for
your inevitable verbalizations of both accents aloud, no doubt!)
I know I'm biased because it's my boating backyard, but I've
got a decade of boating Western Lake Ontario under my belt and
I've barely scratched the surface. There are more yacht clubs,
marinas, and adventures to be had. Hopefully, I'll be seeing some
of you along the way!
More than boat insurance-
peace-of-mind solutions
for boaters.
With Gallagher Skippers' Plan advantage, you get
the most comprehensive boat insurance coverage
available for all types of boats. Our licensed
professionals act as your personal advisors,
providing expert advice and custom coverage for
your personal needs.
Protect your boat today.
Visit SkippersPlan.com
Skippers'
Plan
© 2023 Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. | Arthur J. Gallagher Canada Limited
34 CANADIAN YACHTING | FEBRUARY 2023
http://www.SkippersPlan.com
Canadian Yachting February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Yachting February 2023
