Kingston Yacht Club - Kingston, Ontario

Andrew S.

I had high hopes, but sorry to say in my humble opinion best to AVOID !!! An extremely over priced and unfriendly "sailing club" !!! Extremely pretentious, pompous members, rude bar staff and administration. It was almost an imposition to get the bar staff to give me glass of cold water after working on my boat, even after asking politely !!! Moreover, in the entire time I was there (one season) no one ever replied when I said hello and wasn't buying something !!! The Club and restaurant were always pushing for ways to get more money out of the members!!! Completely cold and soulless club with poor bathrooms and general facilities. Save your money and time - there are lots of other alternatives nearby !!!

Sarthak P.

KYC offers the best sailing experience with the strongest winds in Ontario! The sailing conditions are unparalleled.
The food is outstanding, the staff are incredibly friendly and attentive, and the ambience is perfect.

Don't miss out on visiting this amazing yacht club!

Dayna P.

I just completed the KYC Adult Learn to Sail course taught by Emma. I started with no prior knowledge or experience with sailboats, just curiousity. Emma was extremely knowledgeable, encouraging and enthusiastic. The classes were fun, a great social experience with other adults new to the sport. Emma's positive encouragement and ease both on the water and in the classroom made for a welcoming environment to learn a complex and challenging new skill. I thoroughly enjoyed the course, highly recommend.

Steve G.

I paid the fuel 2.39 when they sell it at 1.49 at the Portsmouth olympic Harbor which is 1.6 miles further . I felt like I have been stole, i will never go there again.

Jeremy F.

Absolutely stunning view of the river. Not that often the wind and sun play nicely together. I’m
Recovering from an accident I broke my ankle and on crutches. The people
We’re friendly and kind, we’re generous to offer places to sit! Very appreciative. I’ll return before I leave and include some
More pics and hopefully some aerial shots too!

Juliet M.

Such a beautiful spot to watch watercraft and take a leisurely stroll.

Colin S.

This evening, we had quite the unsettling experience that any current or prospective members of the Kingston Yacht Club should be aware of! Yikes.

After a delightful anniversary dinner downtown, my wife and I, who reside off King Street, took our usual walk home along the waterfront. Given our interest in acquiring a boat, we decided to take a closer look at the Kingston Yacht Club (KYC) as we passed by.

At just before 9 PM, we noticed the area was deserted and notably, there was no gate securing the premises—unlike any other yacht club we’ve encountered, which typically requires a code for entry. A few people were swimming right by the water but otherwise the area was as quiet as could be. As we walked past the club on the pier, the situation quickly became absurd.

Since it was unclear whether we were on public property still, and with the club entirely dark and abandoned, we decided to sit on some chairs by the water for a break on our walk and discussion. It was at this moment that we truly discovered the character of this establishment.

A woman, whom I believe was named Mary, approached us with a dog quickly out of nowhere... She immediately expressed that she did not recognize us and, without any pleasantries, identified herself as the head of the membership committee. Her primary concern seemed to be questioning our presence at the end of a public street which turns into the KYC property, despite the lack of any visible signage or gate indicating restricted access. Mary mentioned a sign stating that the area is for members only, yet neither my wife nor I could see such a sign, more-so, the small sign there apparently is there, is beside the fully open walkway.

We got up and left without any kind of problem; just mostly in a state of shock that someone as cold and forbiddding as that was the first and only interaction we would have there.

If Mary truly holds a significant position within the club, her stark rude demeanour was a poor representation of the KYC. It’s disheartening to think that a club reliant on attracting new members would allow such an unwelcoming individual to be in charge of memberships in general. My wife and I, both of whom are friendly comfortable downtown Kingston locals, were appalled by her behavior and could not envision becoming members of an organization led by someone so discourteous.

I would strongly advise against joining this club. Moreover, the KYC should reconsider Mary’s role in membership responsibilities, as her approach is likely to further deter potential members rather than attract them. Installing a proper gate would help establish the exclusivity of the club, rather than leaving it open like any public pier.

In summary, the KYC’s current approach to membership and security is severely lacking. The unfriendly treatment of local residents and prospective members does not bode well for the future of this establishment. I wish them luck, but significant changes are needed.

Kenneth M.

My wife and I signed up for the "Intro to Sailing" Adult Sailing Lessons, not knowing what to expect at all. We were BLOWN AWAY (pun intended!) by how much fun we had out there on the water. Our instructor (Bob Colborne) was fantastic. It was so much fun to learn the basics through hands-on training, and I would recommend this to anyone. $100 for 6 hours of courses is a steal - I wish we had discovered this sooner! We will be back for sure.