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The Montreal Area

Around the island of Montreal there are three main launches. When the wind is between southeast to west, everyone heads to Boulevard Cartier in Pointe Claire. From west to due north, everyone is at L'Anse a L'Orme in Pierrefonds. Northeast to east: check out the launch in Vaudreuil.

Cartier has some pretty knarly chop when the wind blows over 20 knots. L'Anse a L'Orme has the advantage of being relatively shallow on the inside, but make sure you know where the rocks are, even the ones way offshore! During the summer, the winds are predominately out of the southwest (Cartier). If it's a windy day and you arrive to find the windline about a half mile offshore (slightly northwest), everyone will be at L'Anse a L'Orme. It's a 15 minute ride from one to the other. The winds usually drop around 5 o'clock, so it helps to have a flexible schedule.

I find the west island part of Montréal the best in the entire province. You can catch dominant summer winds (NW) at l'Anse-à-l'Orme, 10-15 minutes from just about anywhere in west island. Or you get the E-to-SW on the St.Lawrence (Lac St-Louis), same travel time. So you're never far off, whatever the direction, very convenient for sailing after work. You couldn't do that from most other areas around Montreal.

From most areas on the island of Montreal, including west island, you also get an easy weekend ride further out to Oka, or Lake Champlain, or Bassin Chambly, all within 1-2 hours. Kingston Ontario, which has much better wind than here, is 3 hours away, great for weekend trip.

The Quebec City Area

With an average of 15 shortboard sailing days per month during the windsurfing season (late April to early November), and conditions that rival the Gorge on occasion, the windsurfing in the Quebec City is top rate.

Baie de Beauport

The following hotspot highlights are a guide to the best windsurfing sites in the area. Baie de Beauport Located less than five kilometres from downtown Quebec City, Baie de Beauport is the most popular windsurfing site. The launch area is located in a park that's operated by the city of Beauport. You can park very close to the one-km-long sandy beach and grassy rigging area.

It's usually slalom sailing on 5.5 to 7.5's in the Bay during typical westerly breezes. When the wind comes from the east, swells and waves build up rapidly, bringing smiles to the faces of high wind and bump and jump sailors. The effect on the swells is amplified during incoming tides that oppose the current of the St. Lawrence River.

There is a daily entrance fee of about $6 (season passes are also available for about $100), but it's well worth it. There are many facilities: swimming pool, showers, rest rooms, restaurant, bar and a marina where you can rent sailboats and catamarans. A rescue boat is also available.

From Autoroute de la Capitale (HWY 40), take exit Henri-Bourassa south, go to the end, you will arrive atthe gate.

St-Jean, Ile d'Orleans

When fishermen meet, they tell big fish stories. When we (the local windsurfers) meet, we reminisce about epic St-Jean days. Here is a typical story. On Sunday, May 15th 1994, at St-Jean, the wind shifted abruptly from the northwest to the northeast due to a large low pressure system that originated in the Cape Hatteras area. As the system headed north through the northeastern US and the Maritimes, the wind just kept building. The ripping northeasterly wind synchronized with a tide that opposes the two to three knot current of the St. Lawrence made for seven hours of windsurfing that would make any Gorge sailor jealous.

On that day, sailors started with 5.0 m2 sails and by the end of the afternoon they had to switch to 4.5. We were affected by the low pressure system for the next four days, and as it got closer, the wind speed increased and increased. On Monday, most sailors were using 4.0, on Tuesday, 3.7 was the average, and on Wednesday 40 to 50 knot winds blew as sailors tried to survive with 3.0m2 sails. Wednesday was still a good (using a 3.7) as the system finally vanished into the Atlantic.

St-Jean is located on Ile d'Orleans, just 35 km east of Quebec city. St-Jean is not a place for beginners. Waterstarting is a must since uphauling in the swells is close to impossible. A few years ago, St-Jean was considered an experts-only site, but now more and more people are coming to experience it. St.-Jean's reputation has aroused sailors from the Montreal area who make the three-hour drive when they expect a strong Northeaster.

The sailing is incredible; on big days the swell will reach 10 feet plus, and you can go for mega air jumps on port tack ramps. Starboard jumps are also possible, but good ramps are more difficult to find. There is also a nice area with fairly flat water close to shore where you can practice gybes tricks and all kinds of transitions.

On any northeasterly, a natural funnel in the St-Lawrence River valley amplifies the wind speed at St-Jean. We have seen 3.5 + conditions at St-Jean that were only 5.5 in Quebec City just 35 Km to the west.

The low pressure systems that cause these amazing northeasterly winds occur mainly in the spring and fall. May and June are the best months. Don't forget the tide! You want to sail on an outgoing tide, or you may quickly be on your way to Quebec City.

Go through Quebec City on Autoroute de la Capitale (HWY 40) and follow the direction of Ste-Anne de Beaupre. Then follow the signs for Ile d'Orleans. After you cross the bridge, follow the direction for St-Laurent and St-Jean. In St-Jean, the sailing site is at the end of "Route du Quai", at the wharf. You can't miss it.

Ste-Anne

Ste-Anne is located, on the north shore of the St-Lawrence, 35 km east of Quebec City, close to the well-known ski resort at Mont Ste-Anne. In some early spring sessions we have seen skiers stopping by to see us sailing.

Ste-Anne is a favourite for many locals. On a typical day at St-Anne, many are sailing 8'4" to 8'8" wave-slalom boards on a 4.7 wave or single cam sail.

At Ste-Anne, the river current is influenced greatly by tides. Since this is a spot for southwest wind, you ideally want to start your sailing session at low tide. This allows you to sail for five to six hours, as long as there is wind. Although the tides and wind may not always work together favourably, the tide currents do create amazing bump and jump conditions, with swells ranging from 4 to 6 feet.

Go through Quebec City on Autoroute de la Capitale (HWY 40) and go in the direction of Ste-Anne de Beaupre. When you reach Ste-Anne, look for the sailing site that is behind the "Centre Sportif St-Anne", a red building located after the Cathedral.

Other Spots

3 km west of Pierre Laporte Bridge, is a good spot for west, southwest and northeast winds. It's close to town, the current is strong and the wind is generally lighter than Ste-Anne or St- Jean. Lac St-Joseph and Lac Jacques-Cartier are good place to go when the wind is from the northwest. St-Laurent on Ile d'Orleans is good on west or southwest wind but, you sail through the huge ships that use the St. Lawrence Seaway. There are also other good spots (sailed mainly by residents of the south shore) like St-Michel, Berthier and St-Vallier.

Pierre Chagnon is co-owner of 30 Knots - Quebec, a Windsurfing shop located in Charlesbourg, a suburb of Quebec City. There are other 30 Knots windsurfing shop locations in St-Laurent, St-Mathias and Sherbrooke.

Click here if you're looking to get out of Quebec for a perfect windsurfing get away