11th July 2005

Currently in Saint-Pierre (Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, France) at the dock, "Quai Eric Tabarly". Feels good to be in France, there is something about it. From Francois, we sailed to Rencontre Bay, and Devil Bay where we spent the night at the head of the bay, then to Facheux Bay. We anchored at Allan Cove ; beautiful setting. Continued on to Bay d'Espoir, through the Lampidoes Passage to Miltown at the head of the bay. There were strong thermal southwest winds in the different arms of the bay. At Miltown, a friendly local let us have his mooring for a comfortable night. We sailed out of the bay through the Little Passage, to Gaultois, and Piccaire. In Piccaire, we anchored at Pink Cove with a line to shore and walked the beautiful trail to Gaultois. It is a good hour one way. On the morning we sailed to Miquelon. We had strong east wind getting out of Hermitage Bay, but it died later on. Miquelon was thick in fog, we could hardly see the beach which was just a few meters behind our stern, and had to use the radar to find which way to paddle our dinghy to the wharf. Miquelon to Saint-Pierre was an easy sail in light winds.

5th July 2005

On a mooring at François, Newfoundland. We left Baddeck, Bras d'Or on Saturday morning. A low was traveling North of us through Labrador, and 20-25 kts winds were forecasted for the Cabo Straight . During the night the wind strengthened to 35 kts, and we took our second reef under lightning. Bonaire was still going at nine knots after that. Later the wind abated but the seas were quite uncomfortable. At least we got a fast passage and were rewarded with beautiful weather in the incredible setting of Aviron Bay, with its waterfall and scramble up the steep hills. From Aviron, we sailed to Francois, just a few miles further. No road to this beautiful little community tucked at the end of the bay.

29th June 2005

Currently in Cape Breton. Departed Halifax on June 25th, east bound to take advantage of forecasted west winds. Winds were lights, weather clement, and we arrived at St Peters on the next day. We tied up at the concrete dock at the entrance of the canal for a quiet and comfortable night. St Peters is at the entrance of the Bras d'Or lake, Cape Breton, accessible through a 1/2 mile narrow canal. When getting to St Peters at dusk, the entrance of the canal was not at all visible, and first we thought we were at the wrong place (our c-map chart does not show the canal).  On the next morning, after a hike through the trails of Battery Provincial Park, we passed the lock, and motored through the canal to reach St Peter's Inlet, then sailed through the Bras d'Or lake to the village of Baddeck. The whole area is of a rare beauty.

24th June 2005

Currently in Halifax at the Armdale Yacht Club (AYC) up the Northwest Arm. Met Kotic II on its way to Labrador were they would escort an expedition of HC18 crossing from Labrador to Greenland. From Shelburne, we sailed along the SW shore of Nova Scotia to here where we arrived a week ago. The entrance to the harbor was thick with fog as we neared Bell Rock. Halifax Traffic called us on VHF 16 to tell us we were about to sail in front of a mega tanker going out. I had seen the echo on the radar but I had not realized yet that it was not just a shore island. Good thing those guys are watching.

Before that we sailed in hops to  Little Harbour at the entrance of Sable River, where we spent a night on good holding sand and clear water. Then to Port Mouton (with a lunch stop at Little Port Hebert); we anchored outside the harbor and went in on the morning. Then to Port Medway; we spent the night in the cove west of the harbor. On the morning some strong east wind had risen up (20-25kts); we beat that to Mosher Island at the entrance of LaHave River, and ran down the river Lahave River Yacht Club (LRYC) at Pernette Cove where we anchored. Next morning, we beat again to Lunenburg this time, but with a breakfast stop at La Have famous bakery. A lot of that trip on the south coast was in cold weather, fog, and head/east winds. But since we arrived here in Halifax, the weather has turned warm (during the day) and beautiful; we are about to lift our hook again and head east on our route back to Europe.

9th June 2005

Just arrived in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, on the south coast. What a beautiful and friendly place! Anchored right in town off the J.C. Williams Dory Shop working museum. Sailed from Newport, RI, through Cape Cod canal and east to Cape Sable. Winds were very light, air quite cool, it took a long time (2 1/2 days) for the 280/300 or so miles.