Welcome to the participants Webpage:
Scott Cameron invites you to Rideau Ferry, to participate in the
Rideau Ferry Regatta 2009 !!!
This event is sanctioned by the APBA Vintage & Historic Division.
Click here for more information
Regatta Association - Est. 1909
Rideau
Ferry Regatta 2009![]()
Antique and Vintage Class
&
CBF National Championship Outboard Races
August 14-16, 2009

Come join us celebrate and relive the trills of the Historical Rideau Ferry Regatta !!!
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The Rideau Ferry Yacht Club is pleased to announce that the historical Rideau Ferry Regatta is back on the Big Rideau Lake this summer. For years, Rideau Ferry was home to one of the largest race boat regattas in Eastern Canada.
The first regatta dates back to 1897, when canoes, skiffs and steam yachts were gaily decorated, paddles and oars painted and varnished, oarlocks greased, engines overhauled and oilers filled, coal bunkers packed with the best steam coal, and brasswork polished until it shone as bright as the sun itself.
The regattas became increasingly popular in the 20s and 30s with record crowds of over 4,000 people attending the one day event in a village with a population of less than 100. In the late 40s the RFYC Regattas were sanctioned under APBA and attracted many outstanding drivers such as J.L. Schoolcroft, Schenectady, N.Y.; Don Chase, Northhampton, Mass.; E.P. Burger, Sydney, N.Y.; and W.H. Backner, from Gloversville, N.Y. Shortly after, other racers joined in, Chester Olcott, Dover N.H.; H.P. Shakescraft, White Plains, N.J.; and Gaston Facteau, Montreal, Que.
In the early 50s many of the local boat builders and racing enthusiasts were well into the racing scene. The Ramsey brothers, Peter Burchell and Don Johnston, Ralph Wiseman, Gale and Bev Hall to name a few were pioneering new ideas and testing the various techniques of boat racing year after year. The regatta was well known for both inboard and outboard races.
Racing continued at Rideau Ferry up until the mid 70s. Bigger, better, and faster came with a cost. The Yacht Club hosted its last regatta in 1976, and sold the property to the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (for $1.00), to be utilized as a public beach, boat launch and picnic area for the community and summer guests.
Fortunately, members of the RFYC placed a condition within the land sale agreement, allowing the Club use of the property once a year if they wish. Although thirty years have past, the old agreement still stands and the RFYC has been given the green light to host a regatta this summer.
The Canadian Boating Federation has chosen Rideau Ferry to host two Canadian National Championship Races this year. There will also be other CBF races that weekend where the drivers will be racing for points. The regatta has been structured to showcase the Vintage and Antique race boats throughout both days. There will be lots of water time for all, on the 1 Ό mile course.
Parks Canada is celebrating the 175th Anniversary of the history of the Rideau Canal this year. The RFYC regatta has been included within their festivities as a significant event, and they will be joining us for the weekend promoting the canal for tourism etc. Due to the historic nature of the regatta, we have purposely targeted the Vintage and Antique boats for this event
We offer free camping on-site, there is a motel with small cabins one mile away, and plenty of hotels within 10 miles of the site. There will be a welcoming reception Friday evening at the regatta site, and a dinner/dance at the Shipwreck restaurant in Rideau Ferry on Saturday night. There are plenty of shopping opportunities, and historical sights to see in the numerous small towns within the area, Perth, Westport, and Smiths Falls.
We do hope you will consider Rideau Ferry as one of your destinations for racing this year. Come and enjoy, you wont be disappointed.
If you are interested in joining us for this festive event, and re-create a special time in our past, please contact:
Scott Cameron
613-283-9107
Rideau Ferry Yacht Club
#52, Road R6,
RR#1 Lombardy, Ontario
K0G 1L0
Race Format
Opening ceremonies will feature Antique and Classic mahogany boats, typical of what raced at Rideau Ferry in the 20s and 30s. Joint sanction outboard races will run first, featuring the Canadian National Championships, followed by Big Hydro, Small Hydro, Jersey Skiffs, and Flat Bottom/Speedsters. The various outboards will run again, followed by the APBA Vintage Class which will close the show. This will be the format for both days.
Click here for course layout !!!
Schedule of Events
Friday August 14th
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Welcoming Reception at Yacht Club Picnic Shelter at Race Site
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Regatta Registration at RFYC Tent at Race Site
Saturday August15th
8:00 am to 10:00 am - Regatta Registration at RFYC Tent at Race Site
10:00 am to 10:30 am Mandatory Driver/Crew meeting at Yacht Club Picnic Shelter
11:00 am to 5:00 pm Opening Ceremonies, Vintage Fly-bys and Outboard Races
5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Flotilla ride up the Lake and back (optional)
6:30 pm Cocktail Party and Diner at Shipwreck Restaurant, Rideau Ferry
Sunday August 16th
8:00 am to 10:00 am - Final Registration at RFYC Tent at Race Site
10:00 am to 10:30 am Mandatory Driver/Crew meeting at Yacht Club Picnic Shelter
11:00 am to 5:00 pm Opening Ceremonies, Vintage Fly-bys and Outboard Races
Safety is THE major concern at all APBA Vintage events, and Brian Small and his APBA Safety/Rescue Team will be at Rideau Ferry !!!
Participants at our most recent,
Rideau Ferry Vintage Race Boat Regatta - 2007
A note to all participants !!!
For insurance and safety reasons, to run your vintage race boat at speed on the course, you must be a current APBA member (American Power Boat Association) and your vintage boat must qualify and pass our APBA Safety Inspection. If you do not pass Safety Inspection, you will stay on the trailer. Safety is the #1 priority of this event.
Accommodations: - Please mention you are with the Regatta when you call for reservations
Rideau Ferry
Maple Crest Motel & Cabins
South side of Bridge on County Rd 1,
www.maplecrestmotelandcabins.ca
613-283-4804 (Doug and Maggie Moore)
On-Site Camping beside Yacht Club Property
Bring your own accommodations
Lots of room!!!
Smiths Falls (15min. +/-)
Best Western (Colonel By Inn)
On Hwy 15, across from Canadian Tire and Beer Store
613-284-0001
Rogers Motel
On Hwy 15, Ό mile west of Best Western
1-613-283-5200
Perth (15 min. +/-)
Aquarius Motel
On Hwy No. 7, Across from Tim Hortons
613-267-4261, or toll free 1-866-232-2342
Website www.aquariusmotel.ca
Directions:
From: Toronto: (4 Hrs +/-)
- East on Prov. Hwy 401 to Kingston
- N.East on Prov. Hwy 15 to Lombardy
- North on County Rd. 1 To Rideau Ferry
- Cross the Bridge go ½ mile turn right on Yacht Club Rd
- Go 1 mile to the end of road at Regatta Site
From: Montreal: (3 Hrs +/-)
- West on Prov. Hwy 401 to Brockville
- North on County Rd. 29 to Smiths Falls
- West on Prov. Hwy 15 to Lombardy
- North on County Rd. 1 To Rideau Ferry
- Cross the Bridge go ½ mile turn right on Yacht Club Rd
- Go 1 mile to the end of road at Regatta Site
From: Ivy Lea Bridge at Hwy 81 (1 Hr +/-)
- East on Prov. Hwy 401 to Brockville
- North on County Rd. 29 to Smiths Falls
- West on Prov. Hwy 15 to Lombardy
- North on County Rd. 1 To Rideau Ferry
- Cross the Bridge go ½ mile turn right on Yacht Club Rd
- Go 1 mile to the end of road at Regatta Site
From: Kingston (1 Hr +/-)
- N.East on Prov. Hwy 15 to Lombardy
- North on County Rd. 1 To Rideau Ferry
- Cross the Bridge go ½ mile turn right on Yacht Club Rd
- Go 1 mile to the end of road at Regatta Site
From: Ottawa (1 Hr +/-)
- S West on Prov. Hwy 7 to Perth
- South on County Rd. 1 to Rideau Ferry
- Turn left on Yacht Club Rd
- Go 1 mile to the end of road at Regatta Site