Sailing, Buffalo, NY

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Canals

• Information about the Erie and Welland Canals.

Government Agencies

Canada

• Canada Border Services Agency.
  • CANPASS - Private Boats: Telephone Reporting.  "Do you frequently travel to Canada directly from the United States on a small private pleasure boat? If so, the CANPASS - Private Boats program could be for you. The program provides expedited customs and immigration clearance for low-risk, pre-screened boaters entering Canada. It is a joint initiative of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Citizenship and Immigration Canada." 
  • Directory of Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Offices. 
• Canadian Coast Guard.  "Given the importance of Canada’s oceans and interrelated inland waterways, the federal government is mandated to play a lead role in ensuring their sustainable use and development. In turn, Canadians expect the federal government to protect the marine environment, to facilitate economic growth, to ensure public safety on the water, and to exert a strong federal presence to ensure the sovereignty and security of Canadian waters.
  
  It is within this context that the Canadian Coast Guard has become a key national institution by which Canada exerts its influence over its water and its coasts and delivers on public expectations of clean, safe, secure, healthy and productive waters and coastlines. A vital symbol of Canada’s sovereignty as a maritime nation, the Coast Guard delivers services to Canada and Canadians on four equally important levels:

  • delivering Coast Guard programs;
  • supporting departmental programs;
  • supporting other government departments; and
  • serving the broader Canadian interest..." 

  • Marine Rescue Telephone Numbers
    • 1-800-463-4393 or (418) 648-3599
       
• Canadian Hydrographic Service.  "Mission: To provide clients with up-to-date, timely, and accurate Hydrographic publications necessary for safe and efficient navigation for navigable waters of Canada in the most cost effective and efficient manner and to represent Canadian hydrographic interests nationally and internationally." 
• Canadian Transportation Agency.  "Mission: The Canadian Transportation Agency's mission is to administer transportation legislation and Government of Canada policies to help achieve an efficient and accessible transportation system by education, consultation and essential regulation." 
• Environment Canada.  "We deliver national programs tailored to respond to regional and local issues; implement Great Lakes 2000 and the Canada-Ontario Agreement (COA) Respecting Great Lakes; and represent Environment Canada corporately in binational, national, regional and local partnerships." 
  • Great Lakes. 
• Government of Canada Marine Services Online.  "Marine Services On-line (MSO) is a citizen-driven single window to government marine services and information. The MSO seeks to better serve marine clients (Recreational Boaters, Commercial Fishers and those within the Marine Infrastructure) by offering information products and services through a single point of access. It is convenient, bilingual and accessible 24 hours, 7 days a week irrespective of geographic location." 
• Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System.
  • Pleasure Craft Guide. "This Guide provides information for the operation of pleasure craft of up to 317.5 tonnes displacement in Seaway locks between Montreal and Lake Ontario and in the Welland Canal, across the Niagara peninsula. It is recommended that a copy be kept on board."  Available online in PDF format.
  • Vessel Transit Information.  "Map of Current Vessel Positions (active in last 30 days and not in port).  Comment:  This information is valuable if you may be crossing shipping lanes." 
• Ontario Ministry of Transportation. 
• Transport Canada.  "Transport Canada's mission is to develop and administer policies, regulations and services for the best transportation system for Canada and Canadians — one that is safe and secure, efficient, affordable, integrated and environmentally friendly. Learn more about who we are by looking at our organization and senior management structure. Or learn more about what we do by browsing our departmental publications, list of programs and services, or acts and regulations for which the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities is responsible." 
• Transports Qu�bec.  "Mission: To ensure the mobility of people and goods throughout Qu�bec with an efficient and safe transportation system that contributes to the economic, social, and sustainable development of Qu�bec." 

United States

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  "The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is made up of approximately 34,600 Civilian and 650 military members. Our military and civilian engineers, scientists and other specialists work hand in hand as leaders in engineering and environmental matters. Our diverse workforce of biologists, engineers, geologists, hydrologists, natural resource managers and other professionals meets the demands of changing times and requirements as a vital part of America's Army. "    
• U.S. Coast Guard.  "The United States Coast Guard is a military, multimission, maritime service and one of the nation’s five Armed Services. Its mission is to protect the public, the environment, and U.S. economic interests – in the nation’s ports and waterways, along the coast, on international waters, or in any maritime region as required to support national security." 
• U.S. Maritime Administration.  "Mission:  To improve and strengthen the U.S. marine transportation system - including infrastructure, industry and labor - to meet the economic and security needs of the Nation.
  
  MARAD programs promote the development and maintenance of an adequate, well-balanced United States merchant marine, sufficient to carry the Nation’s domestic waterborne commerce and a substantial portion of its waterborne foreign commerce, and capable of service as a naval and military auxiliary in time of war or national emergency. MARAD also seeks to ensure that the United States maintains adequate shipbuilding and repair services, efficient ports, effective intermodal water and land transportation systems, and reserve shipping capacity for use in time of national emergency..." 
• United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.  "The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was established by Congress in 1939 to assist the Coast Guard in promoting boating safety. It includes more than 30,000 members.... from all walks of life who receive special training so that they may be a functional part of Coast Guard Forces. Auxiliarists assist the Coast Guard in non-law enforcement programs such as public education, vessel safety checks, safety patrols, search and rescue, maritime security and environmental protection and Coast Guard Academy introduction programs for youth. Auxiliarists volunteer more than 2 million hours annually to benefit other boaters and their families." 

New York State

• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  "The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation exists to: 'conserve, improve, and protect New York State's natural resources and environment, and control water, land and air pollution, in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and their overall economic and social well being.'"   
• New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation.  "Mission: The Environmental Facilities Corporation's mission is to promote environmental quality by providing low-cost capital and expert technical assistance to municipalities, businesses and State agencies for environmental projects in New York State. Its purpose is to help public and private entities comply with federal and State environmental requirements." 

Instruction

• America's Boating Course.  Offered by The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.  "America's Boating Course is a unique study program covering the fundamentals of boating. The course is designed for skippers and crew of all types of watercraft. The course material covers seven chapters, which touch on:
   
  • general information about boats and maintenance
  • information to make your boating experience
  • safer and more comfortable
  • tips on being a more courteous boat operator
  • laws and regulations to which you must adhere

  The course materials include both an 80 page full color manual and interactive "courseware". The manual is your textbook, and the "courseware" is your virtual instructor. Both cover the same topics but each in its own way. The manual includes extensive diagrams, graphics and boating tips. The courseware is narrated and interactive, making use of animation, video, and sound. Both manual and courseware provide review questions so that you can verify that you truly understand the material. In addition to the lessons, the courseware includes resources, which will come in handy long after you have completed the course; printable forms (checklists, accident reports, float plans, etc.) and links to reference documents such as the Navigation Rules." 

• Seven Seas Sailing School.  "This is your opportunity to begin a lifelong celebration of our Buffalo waterfront by learning to sail. With new classes starting each week, we welcome newcomers to join in our many exciting educational and recreational sailing activities. Open seven days and seven nights a week." 

Lake Ontario

• Silver Waters of Lake Ontario.  "Our goal is to raise awareness of, and appreciation for, our great lake through writing, sailing instruction, nature study, and other means." 

Marinas

• Sugarloaf Harbour Marina.  Port Colborne.  "The Sugarloaf Harbour Marina is a joint public/private sector development. It includes a 900 slip marina, up-graded park facilities and a marina centre with restaurant.
  
  Just 90 minutes from Toronto or 20 minutes from Buffalo lies one of Lake Erie's finest harbour with more activities than you can fit in one summer: Fishing tournaments, sailing regattas, folk festivals, car shows, a boat parade of lights, Poker Run, beach party & scuba treasure hunt. There's kite flying, summer theatre, a marine museum, shopping galore and some great little restaurants.
  
  If you've been waiting for an invitation to visit the Marina: this is it."  

Shopping

• Max's Sailing Store.  An online store with thousands of sailing and boating items. 

• Somerset Sails.  "Our Prices for American made sails are low. Yet we do not import sails from China and the Pacific Rim like so many lofts in the US have resorted to, to eliminate labor costs and increase profits. 
  
  We guarantee our sails and have invested in the software, equipment and facilities to build sails with a great crew.
  
  We specialize in building sails and shipping them around North America and Internationally.
  
  We also ship Furling Units and convert sails to roller furling use.
  
  Eighty-five percent of our sails are shipped outside New York and out of the remaining fifteen percent, most of them are shipped to various parts of New York.
  
  So shipping sails and hardware is our way of operating in this new age.
  
  We've shipped our SAILS to Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Canada, England, Nice, France and recently to Thailand....  Our main territory is from Florida to Alaska, Maine to Hawaii
  and every state in between.
  
  Our sails are constructed by sailmakers with modern equipment and current software to cut great sails with the best variety of sailcloth ever available in this industry and we assemble them here at our loft in Western New York and ship them to you." 
   

Towing

• Sea Tow Services International, Inc.  "Sea Tow Services International, Inc.—Your Road Service at Sea�—is the international leader in the marine assistance industry. With franchise locations through out the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe, Bahamas, Puerto Rico and Jamaica. Sea Tow's members are backed by 24-hour service regardless of where they travel.
  
  Sea Tow Services International is dedicated to providing members with a variety of on-the-water services, including multiple area towing, jump starts, covered ungroundings, fuel drops and more. In fact, Sea Tow increased its member benefits in 2003.
  
  In addition to non-emergency marine assistance, Sea Tow offers trailer and boat protection on the road with the Sea Tow Trailer Care™ program, and member discounts at over 1,600 businesses worldwide through its Sea Tow Advantage Network™."

Water Levels

• Great Lakes Water Levels from the National Weather Service, Detroit, Michigan. 

Weather

• Buffalo Weather. 
• Canada Weather Office.
  • Canada Weather Office Five Day Forecast for Ottawa.
  • Canada Weather Office Five Day Forecast for Toronto.
• NOAA Weather forecast for Lake Ontario.  

Yacht Clubs

• Buffalo Canoe Club.  "Since 1882, the Buffalo Canoe Club has been promoting friendships and athletics in Western New York and Southern Ontario. We're proud of our heritage; we're hard at work on our future...
  
  ...The objects of the club are to develop a knowledge of, and a taste for, canoeing, boating, yachting, sailing and other aquatic sports; to promote the study of seamanship and navigation, to encourage and foster athletic sports, and promote social intercourse among its members."   
• Buffalo Harbor Sailing Club.  "The Buffalo Harbor Sailing Club consists of a group of sailors who have joined together to enjoy and promote sailing and sailboat racing in the Buffalo area. The club's main focus is our racing program, which is the largest, and we think, one of the best in the area. The club also sponsors various seminars, speakers, and other educational activities to promote sailing and sailboat racing, and to enhance public awareness and knowledge of these activities."
• Buffalo Yacht Club.  "The members and staff of the Buffalo Yacht Club welcome you to our Club. We hope to make your stay with us as enjoyable as possible. The information listed below contains answers to most of the common questions visitors have concerning our facilities. If you don't find what you're looking for we encourage you to contact the Club." 
• Erie Yacht Club.  "Presque Isle Bay is the home and safe harbor of the Erie Yacht Club. It is a commonly held opinion that the EYC is one of the finest and friendliest privately owned clubs on the Great Lakes. Chartered in 1895, our membership of 1000+ is committed to improving the yachting and boating facilities of the Erie Yacht Club and the Erie Harbor. The EYC has a tradition of hosting events such as the Lake Erie Interclub Race, MS Regatta, I-LYA Jr. Traveler Series and the Trans Erie Race.
  
  We are most proud of the Reyburn Sailing School, now in its sixth decade of teaching juniors and adults sailing and water safety. The Erie Yacht Club offers a full service boating facility. Fuel, boat storage, haul out, fleet racing, junior and adult sailing lessons, fine dining and catering are available under the care of a friendly and professional staff. For more details on our services, please browse this web site. We welcome our fellow boating enthusiasts to enjoy Erie and the Erie Yacht Club with us." 
• Island Yacht Club.  Wilson, NY.  "Belong to an established, respected, chartered Yacht Club on Lake Ontario
  Have reciprocal privileges with over 80 Yacht Clubs around the Great Lakes and the world
  Have a Quality Club House, picnic area and in ground heated pool to bring family and friends and enjoy the Yacht Club atmosphere and activities
  Enjoy multiple social functions per year
  Race in Wilson Harbor Yacht Racing Association (WHYRA) sailing regattas
  Receive a discount on food and beverages at the Sunset Grille Restaurant"
• LaSalle Yacht Club.  "LaSalle Yacht Club is situated on the most beautiful section of the Upper Niagara River. The Club is located in the City of Niagara Falls, NY, directly across from Buckhorn State Park and just upstream of the North Grand Island Bridges." 
• Niagara-On-The- Lake Sailing Club.  "The Niagara-On-The- Lake Sailing Club is located on the Niagara River, in Niagara-On-The- Lake, Ontario, Canada. As an member of both CYA and OSA, the Niagara-On-The-Lake Sailing Club has an active racing community, which participates in weekly races, and many regattas."  
• Niagara Sailing Club.  "Established in 1934 "to encourage the sport of boating; to promote the science of seamanship and navigation and to provide and maintain a suitable clubhouse (and grounds) for the use and recreation of it's members."
  
  The NSC is a family oriented, self-sustaining club in which members and their families work together to maintain the facilities and grounds, chair social activities, or simply serve the club in the best possible manner.
  
  The large clubhouse has a fully equipped kitchen, stocked bar, large meeting/dining room, dressing and shower rooms for men and women, a playroom for children, and a fully covered wrap-around porch with a truly splendid view
  of the majestic Niagara River."   
• Olcott Yacht Club.  "Objective:  "To encourage the sport of Yachting, promote the science of Seamanship and Navigation; and to provide a suitable Club House and Anchorage for the recreation and use of its members." 
• Sandy Beach Yacht Club.  "Sandy Beach Yacht Club was founded in 1939 by eight intrepid sailors who decided that a location only three miles from the brink of Niagara Falls would be a perfect location for a boating club.
  
  Today, after more than sixty five years of growth, Sandy Beach’s 100 plus members are the proud owners of a beautiful clubhouse and fifty boat slips located on Grand Island. Founded on the ideal of being a do-it-yourself organization, we are proud that our members with little or no outside help have built our clubhouse and most of our facilities.
  
  We are an unpretentious, family-oriented club, devoted to better boating and sailing as well as enjoying life and the camaraderie of our fellow members." 
• Tuscarora Yacht Club.  "Welcome to the Tuscarora Yacht Club. TYC was established in 1968 and has been home for hundreds of families since then. We are located in beautiful Wilson, New York on the south shore of Lake Ontario 11 miles east of Youngstown and 29 miles southeast of Toronto. Wilson has always been a favorite stopover for cruisers on the south shore. Our quaint little village compliments our beautiful harbor. Be sure to look our site over and be sure to stop and visit sometime." 
• Youngstown Yacht Club.  "Located below Niagara Falls, where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario, YYC is guarded by Old Fort Niagara. The Fort, which since the 1700's has been occupied by the French, English and now Americans, continues to serve as a strong reminder of our local heritage. Don’t be surprised to hear cannons and muskets firing away as you’re sailing by on a lovely sunny day — the many reenactments staged throughout the summer draw participants nationwide!
  
  Lake Ontario offers some of the best sailing in the Northeast. While Ontario is an inland lake, it’s not characterized by the shifty, puffy breezes of most inland lakes; it’s more akin to sailing on a small fresh water ocean, without the fog, tide or cold water! Prevailing winds are 8-10 knots from the southwest, providing smooth seas and easy-to-read puffs, and the lower Niagara River offers several miles of splendid sailing on protected waters, making for lovely afternoon sails and comfortable evening cruises.
  
  YYC’s location places cruising and racing sailors in close proximity to numerous delightful ports, well worth visiting on an overnight venture or a more extended vacation. Lake Ontario offers interesting cruising grounds, virtually its entire circumference, from Port Dalhousie, only 12 miles from the mouth of the river, to Toronto Harbor only 26 miles away, to the incredible Thousand Islands at the far-most corner of the lake..."