Departing on Wednesday

We've had a great stay in Yarmouth. We are still seeing a lot of fog in the evenings, the days for the last couple have been generally clear and warm. The weather is calling for SW winds on Wednesday and NW winds on Thursday and Friday...so we decided to leave on Wednesday for Brier Island and then make the run across the Bay of Fundy back to either Grand Manan or Campobello depending on the conditions. It has been a good stay here, Enhydra (Steve & Janice) from Fredericton, departed for Cape St. Mary's today...We may meet them on Friday on Brier Island. Not much else new...just shopping and wandering around the town.

Later...

Dave & Danielle

Hurricane Bill is coming...and left

It was an interesting last few days on the docks in Yarmouth. The docks were very sheltered from the hurricane winds (actually it was diminished to about 50-55 knots) -but still a good blow. A young boy kept coming down to the docks announcing that "Bill is coming..." for two days before the blow. I guess that would make no reason not to be prepared. We had basically stripped the boat to bare poles and removed the bimini, etc... Doubled all the lines, placed doubled fenders. I remained on the boat while Danielle took an invitation to remain ashore for the evening and day of the blow. The boat handled it fairly well, chafed a few lines, but no damage to speak of. T'was an experience. We had a chance to drive out to Cape Forchu to watch the surf pounding the shore. Seas were running at about 8 meters. By late afternoon, you'd never know that a hurricane past within 100 miles of shore. Sunny & Calm, a beautiful evening.

Plans now to depart Yarmouth and head back to St. Andrews by the weekend. More than likely to depart here either Wednesday or Thursday, depending on the winds. -Still foggy.

We'll post again when back.

Dave & Danielle

Beautiful Sail to Yarmouth

We made Yarmouth....finally, after several attempts over the summer. Now that we are here we have to find shelter from Hurricane Bill. We have a mooring secured and will strip the boat if the winds are going to be over 60knots as forcasted at this point. Seas were very calm for most of the day today...we sailed have way and used the iron genoa for the last part. Yarmouth has always been a favourite layover and place to spend several days. We shall post more later... Attached is a picture of the Cape Forchu Light at the entrance to Yarmouth Sound. This is the house my father was born in.

'Til next time...

Dave & Danielle

Making Passage to Yarmouth

Saturday night we left our new home port of St. Andrews for a "take 2" on our journey to Yarmouth. Weather has greatly improved. We made our way to Campobello, then Grand Manan, Sandy Cove deep in St Marys Bay and today we find ourselves in Westport, Brier Island, NS. Up until today we were accompanied by first, 3 then, 2 other boats from the yacht club. We have had many adventures already including a whale that surfaced within 20 feet of our boat and was heading right for us! It was a bit scarey but very thrilling at the same time! Last evening we went to the home of Steven and Maryann who served us fresh haddock, grilled green beans, fresh out the garden potatoes and then blueberry pie. It was quite the feast! We did not go back to our boats with hungry bellies, I tell you that! We were able to sail for the most part except for today where the wind would not permit it as it insisted on blowing directly at us! I got to have my usual amusement ride on the bow, however. It's off to Yarmouth tomorrow and heaven's knows what will happen with "Hurricane Bill" on the loose in our region!

We'll post in a couple days.

Dave & Danielle

Short trip out to Campobello Island

Back on the boat after travelling the coast in a trailer. Heading off to SW Nova Scotia on Saturday. Weather has definitely improved since a couple weeks ago on the bay. Spent Wednesday evening in Head Harbour on Campobello Island. Saw several whales on the way on and out on the next day. They show up at the slack tides less than a mile from the light. As always, they are amazing creatures to watch.

More to follow when interenet access permits.

Saturday Evening...it has been a drying out day. Finally had a day that it didn't rain. Looking at the forcast for the next while, it doesn't seem much better. We have decided to pull the plug on this part of the trip because of the weather patterns. Locals are saying that they haven't seen a summer like this in years. We are switching from the sailboat to the Land Yacht. We are taking a week to go to Cape Breton in the Camper and see the highlands. Hopefully in a week and a half the weather will take its normal seasonal change to dryer and clearer weather more suitable to sailing. The two photos attached: Seastar doing a pole dance on a pier of the St Andrews wharf... a second of the Green Point Lighthouse at the Bay of Fundy side of the entrance to Letite Passage. Currents pushed us through here running at about 6 or 7 knots (supposedly at slack tide).

We'll post once we're back on board in a week or so. :-)

Cheers.

Still in St. Andrews

Well, the weather has done us in again...Still in St. Andrews with forecasts of winds to 35 knots on the bay. Looking at now getting out on either Sunday or Monday if there is a change in these weather patterns. What a wet summer! We are enjoying St. Andrews and people we are getting to know that are a part of the St. Andrews Yacht Club and the Marina. This will be a nice place to call the home port.

More later...

Finally in St. Andrews, weather has been, well, very Maritime, Lots of fog and rain. A bit depressing. We are looking at leaving St. Andrews for Grand Manan tomorrow with the tide at about noon local time. Weather hopefully will be a it more favourable. The plan is to be in Yarmouth for Saturday if everything goes as it should. Had a great day sailing into St. Andrews from Dipper Harbour with winds SW 15-20 knots..,and it was actually sunny for that afternoon. We have a nice mooring next to Navy Island just off the scenic St. Andrews wharf. This will be home to the boat from here on. Probably get another post up when we are settled into Yarmouth.

Cheers.

Summer is quickly moving on. Here it is the middle of July already and we are just pulling out for 3 - 4 weeks cruising along the coast of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The plan is to stop at some of our favorite spots; St. Andrews, NB, Brier Island, NS, Yarmouth, NS at first. As we have internet access we will update this blog... Departing our mooring in Douglas Harbour, Grand Lake, NB tomorrow late in the day for Gagetown for the first night...then to Saint John. More to follow... Cheers.

Well the sailing season is just about wrapping up with just over one month before the haul-outs begin. Had a great 4 day weekend on the boat on the Labour Day weekend sailing the river system. Belleisle Bay was the destination this time. For the first time we sailed down to the end of the bay to the small community of Hatfield's Point. We were met by some very friendly locals that said we were the first boats in of the summer. For the most part this point was always a place where sailboats weren't supposed to be able to get into...learned differently. What a beautiful tiny harbour to spend a weekend. Only three boats take residence on moorings there. One being this beautifully Nova Scotia built dory sailing boat owned by a local resident. This place rates high on my list of places to come back to.

Aside from sticking to the river this summer and sailing on an the Route Halifax / St. Pierre Ocean Race, not much else was done this year...one of those years.

"Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit."-Quote by: Brooks Atkinson