cape vincent ny
Great-Lakes-Sailing.com
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Cape Vincent, NY Lat: 44° 7.896 Long: 076° 19.755 |
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DESCRIPTION Cape Vincent NY is located at the very eastern end of Lake Ontario, where it enters the St. Lawrence River. Originally home to the Onandaga First Nations, the area was well-traversed by French fur traders and later British settlers. Samuel de Champlain, who founded Quebec City and laid the foundations for the French empire in North America, travelled through here in 1615. In the second half of the 18th century, American settlers began to arrive. In 1788, James Le Ray de Chaumont became involved in area. And this is where a fascinating history tale begins. James' father was Jacques Le Ray, a very wealthy French businessman and courtier at the court of Louis XVI. He owned, among many other assets, the fabulous Chaumont castle in the Loire Valley. When the United States declared independence, Benjamin Franklin led a diplomatic mission to France to seek support from the French government. Le Ray provided a huge amount of help, ranging from quarters for Franklin, interventions with the king, very large sums of money and, among other things, a French merchant ship converted to a warship named the Bonhomme Richard under the command of John Paul Jones. For his tremendous help to the fledgling American government, Le Ray is often referred to as a 'Father of the American Revolution'. Following independence, Le Ray purchased 800,000 acres of land, a tract that extends from the present day Fort Drum to the town of Chaumont, NY and including Cape Vincent NY. The family mansion is now the VIP center at Fort Drum. After the French revolution, Le Ray and a number of French friends, (including some of Napoleon's generals), planned to liberate Napoleon from his prison on St. Helena Island. The plan was to bring him to Le Ray's estate surrounding Cape Vincent. Unfortunately, Napoleon died before the plan could be put into effect. Imagine the reaction of the British a few short miles away in Kingston! Imagine how Napoleon's presence may have affected the course of American history! Today, Cape Vincent NY is a small village with an economy based on tourism and agriculture. It is a beautiful place to visit. As you stroll its quiet streets, reflect on how this quiet little community is so connected to the tumultuous events that led to the downfall of the French royalty, the founding of the United States and the Napoleonic Wars. |
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APPROACHES The approaches to Cape Vincent NY are clear from Lake Ontario and from the St. Lawrence. The harbor is protected by a 1,384 ft/422 m breakwater running parallel to the shoreline. You can enter from either end. The western end is marked with a Fl RED light, visible 5.2 nm. The eastern end is marked with a Q WHITE light, visible 5.2 nm. Coming from Lake Ontario, stay north of buoy G245, showing a Fl GREEN light and marking a shoal off Tibbets Point. Coming up the St. Lawrence River, keep to the north side of Carleton Island and follow the charted channel. (Passage along the south side of Carleton Island takes you along Feather Bed Shoal, with charted depths as little as 2 feet.) Be aware of the ferry that makes regular crossings between Cape Vincent NY and Wolffe Island, ON. There is a US Customs office located in the ferry terminal. |
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MARINAS, YACHT CLUBS, MOORINGS, ANCHORAGES Cape Vincent Village Dock (315) 654-2533 Cape Vincent NY maintains a community dock that is approximately 200 ft/64 m in length. It is opposite the western end of the breakwater. Transient sailors can tie up for one or two nights at no charge. There is no fuel dock nor pumpout facility. Water and power are not available. There are restrooms in a nearby park and laundry facilities in the village. Shops and restaurants in the village are steps away. Anchor Marina (315) 654-2300 Anchor Marina is located across from the eastern end of the breakwater. They have about 130 slips with 12-15 set aside for transient sailors. There is a fuel dock (diesel and gasoline) and pumpout facilities. Water and power are available at slips.There are restrooms and showers. Laundry facilities are available in the village. Basic marine repair services are available. There is a small ship's store and the marina has a travel lift. Cape Vincent Marina (315) 654-2001 Cape Vincent Marina is located at the western end of the village, before you reach the harbor. This small marina has 3-4 transient slips for boats up to 28 feet in length. There is no fuel dock nor any pumpout facility. Water and power are available. There are also restroom facilities. Cape Vincent Fisheries Station (315) 654-2147 Cape Vincent Fisheries Station is situated immediately west of Anchor Marina. There is space for 5-6 boats to tie up at no charge. There is no fuel dock nor a pumpout facility. There are restrooms and showers. Amenities in the village are just steps away. Anchorage Anchoring is permitted throughout the harbor. However, a strong SW wind (the prevailing wind) can make this a very uncomfortable experience. |
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REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE, PROVISIONING, BANKS/ATM's Anchor Marina (See above) Precision Marine, located 4 mi/6.4 km downstream from the village, can carry out mechanical, electrical and fibreglass repairs. Aubrey's Super Market is located about 3 blocks from Anchor Marina. Citizens Bank, located about 4 blocks from Anchor Marina, has counter and ATM service. There is free internet service at the public library in the village. |
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MEDICAL SERVICES Cape Vincent Family Health Center (315) 654-2530 offers primary care services. It is located about 2 blocks from Anchor Marina. The nearest hospital is in Watertown NY, about 30 mi/48 km south of Cape Vincent NY. There is no pharmacy in Cape Vincent NY. The closest pharmacy is Kinney Drugs (315) 686-5121, located 15 mi/24 km east in Clayton NY |
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PLACES TO EAT Monaghan's Irish Pub is located right in the center of the village in the century-old Roxy Hotel. The Pub has an extensive menu and an outside verandah where diners can enjoy a meal or a cold drink on a warm summer day. Captain Jack's is located down by the waterfront. Open for lunch and dinner, it serves burgers, steaks and seafood. Ann's Fisherman's Fare, located near the Roxy Hotel, is well-known for their excellent breakfasts. Aubrey's Inn offers family dining all week long. Start your day with a hearty breakfast or finish with a good pub dinner, accompanied by live entertainment. |
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THINGS TO DO/SEE/VISIT From its earliest days, Cape Vincent NY has been proud of its French heritage. Every July, it celebrates this with the French Festival. A Nouvelle France parade with dozens of floats and bands is led by none other than Napoleon himself (remember - he nearly made it here for real!). There are crafts and and exhibits and LOTS of French pasteries and breads to sample. August sees the Autos On The River car show. There is a Farmers' Market on the Village Green every Saturday throughout the summer. There is a full calendar of events throughout the summer months. The Cape Vincent NY tourism site will give you many more ideas on how you can enjoy your time here. Return from Cape Vincent NY to Lake Ontario Return to Home Page |
