Venue 

Kingston

Kingston, Ontario, is at the east end of the Great Lakes, just before they drain into the St. Lawrence River. By North American standards, Kingston is an ‘old city’, and served as the first capital of the United Province of Canada. Kingston is a city of over 100,000 people and hosts world renowned institutions including Queen’s University and the Royal Military College of Canada.

Portsmouth Olympic Harbour

Portsmouth Olympic Harbour (POH) was built for the 1976 Montreal Olympic sailing event. It occupies a portion of the north shore of Kingston Harbour a few km west of downtown Kingston. Portsmouth Harbour has ample space for rigging and launching international 14 foot skiffs. The harbour as adjacent to the Kingston Penitentiary, a historic decomissioned penal institute. POH has hosted I14 Worlds multiple times, most recently in 1991.

Sailing on Kingston Harbour

The thermal breeze on Lake Ontario starts at its west end near Buffalo NY, builds along the lake, and reaches its peak strength near Kingston. Kingston Harbour is shielded from the lake by the outlying islands and reefs, and sailors are often treated to 15-18 kt breezes and a moderate sea state. During August, the water is warm (20 degC), and the air temperature is comfortable to hot. Competitors should expect a range of conditions during this time of the year, but we all hope for the classic Kingston thermal.