World Class Sailing -- Manitoulin Island, Ontario

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Renowned for its natural beauty, great outdoors, friendly people and dynamic Native culture Manitoulin Island attracts visitors to its bucolic villages and harbors all year round. A perfect destination for nature lovers Manitoulin Island's piece de resistance is its world famous sailing. The largest freshwater Island in the world the island possesses gentle waters and cache of sheltered bays and inlets making it the perfect place for anyone who enjoys sailing. It's actually been rated as the second best sailing destinations in the world after the Greek Islands!

Manitoulin Island is a unique cultural region, where Native life and legend meld with European history to provide an unforgettable experience. The island town of Manitowaning was the first European settlement, whilst Wikwemikong remains the only unceded Indian Reserve in Canada. The area is full of interesting Native culture and settlements where you can learn about the Native culture through interpretive centers, museums and craft shops.

The GCAT crew's first stop on Manitoulin Island was beautiful town of Little Current where we bumped into Roy Eaton down on the dock of the yacht club. Roy Eaton, who is a long time resident and lover of the Manitoulin Island, spent the day showing us around and telling us about the part of Canada and the world he calls home. His family goes back three generations on the island and his wife is a First Nations woman who has taught Roy a great deal about the First Nations culture and way of life. Roy can also boast being an avid sailor and former Commodore of Little Current Yacht Club. Having sailed these waters for the past 30 years Roy knows all the places and anchorages that visiting sailors love and long remember. Today, along with all the other activities he is busy doing, throughout the summer months he also spends each morning acting as broadcaster and net controller for the only VHF Marine Radio Cruiser's Net on the Great Lakes.

Boaters look forward to Roy's smart, newsy and warmly delivered broadcasts each morning, delivered at 9AM on Channel 74. It all takes place at "The Anchor Inn Bar and Grill" where local entrepreneur and owner Bruce O'Hare has generously provided a VHF unit and allowed the mounting of a tower and antenna on the hotel roof. Roy starts off each broadcast by asking if there are any emergencies. There have been a few and Roy has successfully supplied those in need with the necessary information and support systems. Now, working with Lakeshore Excursions, Roy acts as a touring host to the people off the cruise ships that dock at Little Current or gives impromptu tours to random visitors he meets in the street, like us, who have ventured to Manitoulin to enjoy all that it offers.

Roy is just one of the many great people you are likely to meet when you visit Manitoulin Island. Whether you drive to the island, sail there on your own or land there on a cruise ship you are going to have a memorable time. Famous throughout Canada and the world as an incredible sailing destination Manitoulin Island has lots more to offer. Natural beauty, a vibrant native culture, friendly people and a laid back atmosphere all make Manitoulin Island a very special place.

And when you visit be sure to stop by at the Anchor Inn in Little Current to say hi to Roy... He's great!