Boating Adventures

The family of Jeff Fullerton, 63, is deeply saddened to share the news of his death with his blog community of friends and followers. Jeff died on Saturday, October 17, at the end of a full day of racing and celebrating with friends at the Bedford Basin Yacht Club in Nova Scotia, the club where he first learned to sail as a youth and through his high school years. We are so glad that Jeff retired early and had many years of travel on his boat, but we grieve that there will be no more boating adventures.

I arrived in Bedford last night.  Light east winds for the trip down the coast.

That’s it.  The shake down trip is done.  I was underway for 30 days, and it was entirely pleasant and uneventful.  I was expecting more challenging conditions at some point along the way, but am not going to complain.

I’ll be here for a bit.  My plan is to secure a winter slip at AYC. 

That was a delightful day cruising through the islands. I stopped in Sheet Harbour for late lunch, then continued on to anchor here at dusk.  Sunny and light winds all day.

Tomorrow I’ll head for Halifax. 

I’m anchored here.  Today I came down the river after lunch ashore, and followed the mainland as closely as possible.  Light winds and mostly sunny, but not warm.  I started up the heater for the first time this evening.  Tomorrow I’ll do much the same to get to Sheet Harbour, threading through the islands.   I’ll dash down the coast to Halifax Friday, with NE winds forecast.

It’s very empty.  The only boats I’ve seen underway recently were a couple of guys harvesting seaweed from small boats along the shore. 

Beautiful day, with an offshore breeze of about 15 knots on the beam as I sailed down the coast.  This is the first time I’ve turned the motor off for any length of time.   The picture above was taken standing on the stern, the one time I ventured out of the cockpit. 

As planned, I came up the Saint Mary’s River to Sherbrooke, and anchored here about 6:00.  I’ll go ashore tomorrow and have a meal out and a walk around.  Sunny and light winds for the next two days, then strong easterlies Friday. 

Today was overcast with SE wind about 10 knots.  As planned I was through the St Peter’s lock mid morning, and went around the west side of Isle Madame.  I toured the harbour in Petit de Gras, then went over to Canso.  From there it was a nice trip through Andrew Passage and then through Little Dover Run into Dover. 

I’m now anchored here, not far from where we stopped last year in Escapade.  Tomorrow’s destination is Sherbrooke Village, about 40 miles straight down the coast and 8 miles up a river.  Skies have cleared and it looks like it might be a decent sailing day.

I’ve been hanging out near St Peter’s Marina the last few days, with a couple of side trips.  Nice spot, with cruisers coming and going.  Lots of foreign boats as well as some from Ontario and Quebec.

My plan is to go through the locks tomorrow, and start heading down the mainland coast.  Weather looks cooperative for the next few days, with light north winds.

I’m back in Baddeck.  As planned I fueled up and got underway Friday, and went up to Wycocomagh where I spent the night.  There is a nice French bakery/cafe right next to the welcome center where I had breakfast yesterday, then I cruised back and up Baddeck Bay then back here yesterday.

Fuel stats: 800 NM motorsailing, 132 hours, 303 litres/80 gal. 

Fuel price is shocking, at $3.20/l.  I guess I can take comfort in knowing that I used less than half what I would have in Escapade.  

I’m going to noodle around the Lakes for the next few days, then through the St Peter’s Canal.  I’d like to make stops on Isle Madame and Canso.  Rain tonight then another few days of settled weather.

I like this area.  It’s quiet this time of year.  A couple of US cruisers were here earlier, but left yesterday.  I’m now sharing the anchorage with a Dutch cruiser.  I raced in Baddeck a few times, and came through here in Escapade in ’21.  It’s great to get to explore it a bit more completely.

I had a lovely downwind sail here yesterday.  It’s the first time I’ve had the motor off for any length of time.  I anchored in front of the yacht club.  Sailed by the Bird Islands but didn’t see the activity from last time through 5 years ago.  Late in the season I guess.  I did see quite a few Puffins in NL, as well as a leatherback turtle.

Today was windy and rainy, so I’ve stayed put.  The next couple of days look lovely.  Tomorrow I’ll fuel up and do a grocery run and move along.

The delivery part of the trip is over.  I’m going to noodle more between here and Halifax.

I’m anchored here in Ingonish.  Today I sailed across the Cabot Strait from Isle aux-Morts where I stayed last night.

It was a lovely trip across.  NW winds built to about 20 knots and we had nice sailing most of the way.

Tomorrow looks nice for the run down to Baddeck.  I had thought about sailing around the Atlantic side of Cape Breton, but I need to top up on fuel and food.

Pics from Burgeo and yesterday

And today