[Ken Bracewell]

Hello Forum,
Since I've been here I have offered lots of advice to people looking for help. Now I am hoping that I can garner some inside information.
We are heading up to Nova Scotia (possibly even PEI or Newfoundland too) in July and I am looking for some experienced guidance. So far we plan to visit Campobello, Yarmouth, Halifax, St. Peters, Baddeck, and Louisbourg. I suspect that there are some other spectacular places that are a little off the beaten path.
I welcome any and all suggestions? We are cruising on a 145' motoryacht with a 7.5' draft, 26' beam, and a height of 47'. We're quite happy to anchor out, so dockage isn't really a consideration so long as there is a settled place to drop the pick.

[NYCAP123]

Originally Posted by Ken Bracewell

Hello Forum,
Since I've been here I have offered lots of advice to people looking for help. Now I am hoping that I can garner some inside information.
We are heading up to Nova Scotia (possibly even PEI or Newfoundland too) in July and I am looking for some experienced guidance. So far we plan to visit Campobello, Yarmouth, Halifax, St. Peters, Baddeck, and Louisbourg. I suspect that there are some other spectacular places that are a little off the beaten path.
I welcome any and all suggestions? We are cruising on a 145' motoryacht with a 7.5' draft, 26' beam, and a height of 47'. We're quite happy to anchor out, so dockage isn't really a consideration so long as there is a settled place to drop the pick.

Once put in at the Straits of Canso. Mulgrave (Post office & liquor store and a long hill up to an old grave yard) and Pt. Tupper (provisioning). Nice scenery and real nice people, but we were a bit the celebrity with a 140' dinner yacht which was nice in a way. Watch the lobster traps going past Pt. Sable. Lots and lots of pots.

[Seafarer]

We never got that far up with the Huckins, the old man was leery of the shoreline up there. The Bay of Fundy and Campobello's Atlantic side are notoriously rocky with swift tides of ~25' swing between high and low and fogs that can last for days. Went up by car to Roosevelt's home and the Campobello light one year, and found everything he was concerned about to be true.

Spent three days in the area, and garnered over two dozen whale sightings. Lots of excursion boats plowing around off Campobello from first light to last.

Wish I could offer more useful advice.

[NYCAP123]

Seafarer makes a good point about the fog. We spent 36 hours not being able to see our bow as we went through the minefield of traps south of Cape Sable. You're going at a good time though. We went in late March. BIG MISTAKE. Iced in at the Straits; nearly getting our aluminum skin pealed by ice on the way in. As we passed a southboud ship north of Halifax he asked where we were heading. "Sydney". "Not in that little boat you're not".

[Ken Bracewell]

Thanks for this so far. I'm hoping some others will chime in as well.
As for fog- we've seen our fair share in our normal cruising grounds as well (Nantucket is "Fog Island" afterall). We're always cautious and make use of all our equipment, so hopefully our strategy will continue to work and we won't get lost in Canada

[WannabeeYhtsman]

I can not help you with travel conditions in that area but if you are planning on going to Louisbourg then your best harbour is the Port of Sydney. Use Sydney as a base to rent a car and travel to Louisbourg, it will take approx. 1 ½ hrs to get there. Keep the car(s) for two days because you will want to drive the Cabot Trail Loop on the North tip of Cape Breton. This is a 185 mile round trip loop on the edge of the ocean that some feel is in the top 10 drives of the world (ok, maybe they are Canadian too).

Halifax is a great city to see in summer and if you have the time while there it is worth it to take a short half day trip into Peggy’s Cove, a small fishing village built up on a very rocky terrain.

http://www.portofsydney.ca/index.php?menu=2&p=2.2

http://www.cabottrail.com/

http://www.peggyscove.ca/

Hope this helps
Cheers

[Ken Bracewell]

Originally Posted by WannabeeYhtsman

I can not help you with travel conditions in that area but if you are planning on going to Louisbourg then your best harbour is the Port of Sydney.
Cheers

Louisbourg looks to have a decent harbor of it's own. Has anyone been there?

Great info on Peggy's Cove- that's been added to the list

[e55fan]

We would love to have you up here in our neck of the woods.

Once place you may consider is coming a bit further up the Bay of Fundy to Saint John and explore the St John River. It has been called the Rhine of NA and is fantastic. We are very spoiled to have it.

You can go all the way from Saint John up the River as far as Fredericton the provincal capital.

We generrally ahve a few large yachts visit each summer.

If you have any specific question or need a tour guide should you visit i would be pleased to help anyway that i can.

tim

[ShediacMoe]

Hi there!

First time poster, long time reader

I'm from New Brunswick, Shediac area. If you are going around Cape Breton or through the Canso Canal, here are a few suggestions for you:

-Charlottetown PEI, the provincial capital, a very historical small city with a nice waterfront;
-Confederation Bridge: an 8 mile long bridge (and 150' to 200' high)connecting PEI to the mainland, quite impressive to see.
-Shediac Bay: (where I'm from hehe) a very nice area with 2 marinas, Pointe-du-Chene warf is a nice spot with clubs and restaurants.

Moe

[ychtcptn]

Hey Ken,
Been awhile since I have been up there, but I 2nd St. John's and the river. It is quite incredible to transit the reversing falls on slack tide then go back by car and see how violent they are when the tide is moveing, Beautiful cruise up the river.
Halifax is another great stop, not a bad place to lay over if you need to wait for guests, tie up at the Maritime Museum.
I have not done them, but the Bras D'or lakes are supposed to be great cruising, as well as the Canso canal area and on up to PEI.
More than likely going to need a pilot for a lot of the Canadian waters as well, glad to see you are doing something different.
Oh yeah, check out Lunenburgh as well I think.
Cheers

[Ken Bracewell]

Originally Posted by ychtcptn

Hey Ken,
Been awhile since I have been up there, but I 2nd St. John's and the river. It is quite incredible to transit the reversing falls on slack tide then go back by car and see how violent they are when the tide is moveing, Beautiful cruise up the river.
Halifax is another great stop, not a bad place to lay over if you need to wait for guests, tie up at the Maritime Museum.
I have not done them, but the Bras D'or lakes are supposed to be great cruising, as well as the Canso canal area and on up to PEI.
More than likely going to need a pilot for a lot of the Canadian waters as well, glad to see you are doing something different.
Oh yeah, check out Lunenburgh as well I think.
Cheers

Thanks Randy! I will add the St. John's to the list.
FYI- Pilots are only compulsory for pleasure craft over 500T on the Atlantic Coast in Canada

[e55fan]

Just make sure you make your way to Saint John not St John's or you could have a much longer cruise than planned.

Saint John is in New Brunswick althoug it is the ST John river
St John's is in Newfoundland

If you do come to Saint John and need any advice on things or the river don't hesitate to get in touch. I would be happy to help however I could, I grew up here on the river and love it to death.

Even if it is just to drop down and say Hello if you are in town.

[Ken Bracewell]

Originally Posted by e55fan

Just make sure you make your way to Saint John not St John's or you could have a much longer cruise than planned.

Saint John is in New Brunswick althoug it is the ST John river
St John's is in Newfoundland

If you do come to Saint John and need any advice on things or the river don't hesitate to get in touch. I would be happy to help however I could, I grew up here on the river and love it to death.

Even if it is just to drop down and say Hello if you are in town.

my faux pas
Thanks very much for your offer of hospitality- that makes me proud to be a Canadian!
I will do a little research and then may have some questions for you.
Cheers
Ken

[e55fan]

No Problem, the two cities get mixed up quite often and we are all quite proud of where we live.

Don't hesitate to PM or email with any questions. It is in our Maritime makeup to help.

tim

[Marmot]

Lunenburg