Charting a Course to the Bay of Quinte
Life at Trent Port Marina
In 2019, my wife Debbie and I decided that we should cruise the Trent-Severn Waterway in the summer of 2020. The fact that we live just outside Calgary, Alberta, did not pose a problem for us, as we had already hauled our 2011 MacGregor 26M trailer/sailor sailboat across country two years before to cruise the Rideau Canal in time for Canada’s 150th birthday. We didn’t know at the time that this would result in us becoming part of the local boating scene for the next five years.
Written by Gordon Leek
Read time: 5 min
I originally grew up in Ontario and was posted to Calgary with the Army, where I eventually joined the Calgary Police Service and met Debbie. Being a fifth-generation prairie girl living in Alberta was, at the time, a condition of marriage. Over the years, I would lament about the lack of water and trees until, in 2012, Debbie gave in, and we bought our 26-foot MacGregor, Môr Cenau. With this boat, we felt we could travel anywhere.
In planning for our trip, we visited the Toronto Boat Show, visiting marina booths and taking in presentations. It was here that we visited the Trent Port Marina booth and learned that their marina was located at the beginning of the Trent Severn Waterway. They described how the marina was new and had wonderful facilities for boaters. Not only that, but they enticed us to visit by giving us two coupons for ice cream at the marina canteen.
So, in the summer of 2020, at the beginning of COVID, we launched at Trent Port Marina, leaving our trailer and mast in the marina’s locked compound for four weeks as we cruised up and back down the Waterway. When we returned, we then discovered that we could store our boat at the compound over the winter and come out for the summer. Citing the fact that there is more water here than in Calgary, we readily agreed to do.
As new boaters to the area, we took the time to do our research on the Bay of Quinte. In addition to having charts of the Bay, we found that guides such as the Ports Guides provide lots of information about the towns, marinas and anchorages available. Travelling through the Murray Canal, we learned that the fee is collected by the bridge controller for every swing coming and going. Although it is a novel thing to pay the fee by putting cash in the pail held out to your boat at the end of a boat hook, we usually purchase a season pass. Other sources of information we use are the Bay of Quinte and Quinte West Discovery Guides. These little gems provide a treasure trove of information and ideas of things to do!
Over the last four years, we have spent our summers living on Môr Cenau in our slip at the Trent Port Marina. We feel fortunate to have discovered the marina as the amenities available to boaters are first rate, with ten walk-in showers, laundry facilities, and a small boaters lounge with a television and computers for boaters to use. Andrew and his staff have always been beyond friendly and helpful, whether it is helping to tie up at the dock or keeping the docks and grounds clean and free of muskrats and geese. It is also the best place to take your dog for a walk or to sit and watch the Canada Day fireworks and drone shows. The canteen is an added benefit, where anyone can purchase a variety of snacks and indulge in the largest single-scoop ice cream cones I have ever experienced! It is also a major provisioning stop for boaters who are doing America’s Great Loop.
The winds on the Bay can be varied, from light airs to strong winds straight down the Bay that can present some challenges when sailing. As I mentioned, Debbie is relatively new to boating, especially sailing. Having to constantly tack and “chase the wind” makes for a great learning opportunity for both of us. However, by doing day sails on the Bay, motoring to Belleville and Meyers Pier for lunch or travelling through the Murray Canal and dining at the Whistling Duck restaurant, Debbie is becoming more comfortable on the water. This year, we plan to do more actual sailing rather than motoring, with Debbie “learning the ropes.”
When we are not cruising, we take the time to discover events in the community. We can walk downtown and join in the free concerts at Fraser Park (note: moved to Centennial Park for 2025 due to construction), sit in during an open-mic session at the Cardinal or meet newfound friends at the Legion. We also explore the area, listening to concerts in Frankford, attending events like the Belleville Caribbean Festival and discovering farmers’ markets.
The past four years sailing the Bay of Quinte and living aboard Môr Cenau have provided us with wonderful summers. And to anyone who was wondering, yes, we did enjoy our free ice cream cone.
