A Man and His Catamaran

Sail Superior's Welcome Ship

Gregory Heroux stands at the helm of his 47,000-pound catamaran. His T-shirt reads “The lake is calling, so I must go.” After 15 minutes of speaking with him, I understood why.

Sail Superior began operating in 2005. With over 40 years of sailing experience, Heroux is thrilled to bring his new sailing addition, aptly named Welcome, to his growing fleet of touring ships. The “Cat” as the crew calls it, arrived last August. As a modern-day parallel to the Welcome ship that used to call the Thunder Bay area home, the Cat is here to stay. Built for relaxing harbour tours and charcuterie and wine trips, the catamaran is a sight to see. A wide build offers plenty of space for party hosting and a stunning 360-degree view of the lake, wherever you are.

It takes about two to three people to get the ship out on the water, and as I watch the crew tie and untie lines, swing around the deck, and manoeuver out of the pier like a well-oiled machine, I begin to see the dance that has to happen for the Cat to sail. Amongst the crew, 100 years of experience on the water peeks through their calculated moves and instinctual steps.

“When you’re on the water, the anxiety and tension melt away.

It’s almost a type of meditation,” Heroux says of his love of sailing. With the boat moving at about 16 kilometres an hour, passengers have plenty of time to enjoy Lake Superior’s sights. Spots like Sawyer’s Bay, Loon Harbour, and the Otter Cove waterfalls are some of Heroux’s favourites. He says that birdwatchers love the tours for the quiet and calm passage, perfect for taking pictures.

Private parties of up to 16 people can currently board the boat. Tours are usually about two hours, with plenty of time to see all that the lake has to offer. Although the catamaran is currently operating as a BYOB boat, Sail Superior also offers tours on their Frodo ship with a liquor licence.

I walk the deck and ask crew members about their favourite and least favourite parts of sailing. Leanne Miller has been with the company for about four and a half years. Her favourite part about sailing the Cat is Lake Superior’s constant winds. Rodney Swatton, part of the crew since 2017, says tour groups “love to see our city from the water.” Heroux’s least favourite thing about sailing is “finding the bottom of the lake unexpectedly.”

Don’t worry though, the catamaran only needs five feet of water to float. Lovers of Nanabijou’s hiking trails also enjoy taking the day trip to the beach and returning after the five-hour hike to the mountaintop.