Back on the Mooring in St. Andrews, NB



Entering Head Harbour, Campobello Island, NB

This summer was great. Cruised over 650 nautical miles around the coast of Nova Scotia. Had great weather, attended several festivals from Classic Boat & Pirate Festivals to the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival and of course the Tall Ships were in various ports over the month of July and early August. The boat worked fine and I was able to make a list of things that I would like to work on over the fall & winter to make Moon Dancer II ready for longer cruises in the future.

Upon arriving home was able to meet up with our daughter and my brother and his wife & son to go back out to Campobello for the weekend.  Saw a few whales and porpoise and enjoyed a beautiful evening in Head Harbour of East Quoddy Head.  Sailing home the next day we had SW winds from 10-20 kts and were able to have a nice sail back to the moorings.  Another wonderful weekend...

Now we are down to short little cruises over the weekends until haul-out in October.

Under full Sail in light winds looking for Fin Backs
between Campobello & Grand Manan, NB

Cheers,

Dave & Wharfy

"The sea finds out everything you did wrong." Francis Stokes

Arrived in Yarnouth From Shelburne

Yesterday was a long day, left Shelburne Marina out bound for Yarmouth Harbour.  Trip was 76 nautical miles and took us about 14 hours to do.  Departed knowing the first leg of the trip would be against the tide before reaching the end of Cape Sable. Rounded the buoy , N Mo(A), about 5 miles off Cape Sable and were able to put the sails up and sail for the first 3 or 4 hours this was nice until the winds died off almost completely. Currents on the SW side of Cape Sable then started to pick up as the boat motored on to Yarmouth.  The whole day was in thick fog until actually reaching the entrance Yarmouth Harbour when it dissipated almost instantly. Currents over the shallows off Yarmouth carried the boat toward Yarmouth up to 10knots with the 2-3knot lift.  Upon reaching Yarmouth, Zoom & Kauwela O'hana were already moored with the anchor lights on for us. 

Today the tiem was spent doing laundry, cleaning the deck, sewing sail covers, etc. Tomorrow, heading to John's Cove to anchor and enjoy the white sand beach.  The plan is to depart Yarmouth for Westport, Brier Island on Tuesday (Aug 21st).

All else good as we continue back to St. Andrews by the weekend.

Cheers,
Dave & The Wharf Cat



Off Cape Sable when the Fog Lifted for a moment.

Back in Shelburne, NS



Anchored just off Carter Island,
Port Mouton, NS

Yesterday was spent motor sailing from our anchorage in Port Mouton back to the Shelburne Harbour Marina. Winds were forecasted to be SW, but stayed steady 10-15kts from the NE, which was great for motor sailing at about 7 knots with the wind right from the stern.  At the marina, my brother Chris showed up for supper aboard, and watch the sailboat races. Chris was on a business trip to Yarmouth so returning to Halifax area was on the way for him.  We had Curried Meat Balls & Rice with a Blueberry Grunt for dessert.  Nice to see family when out.  Staying put today and going to make the run to Yarmouth tomorrow. In Yarmouth the Sailboats Zoom & Kauwela O'hana will be waiting on moorings for the rest of the return trip to St. Andrews, NB.

White sand beaches of Port Mouton
(VERY cold water)

I've figured so far made about 428NM and if time were not an issue, it would be "keep on going".  Other than missing family, settling into the routine aboard is pretty easy. This trip we've explored a number of new places and just spent time anchored in quiet coves, meeting new people and attending a few festivals. Love the coast of Nova Scotia. People everywhere very friendly and helpful.

Back in Liverpool at the Brooklyn Marina



Wharfy not really sure if he should jump yet...

So the return happens... From Lunenburg this morning we departed at 1000hrs for Liverpool, NS.  The forecast looked good calling for winds from the SW 10-15 knots,  When we actually motored out into Lunenburg bay, we thought we would be lucky to see 10 knots.  About two hours after that winds came up steady and held at 20 gusting to 25 for the rest of the trip.  Only issue was that it was in our teeth (or on the nose).  We tacked off shore for about 5 miles then tacked back up the coast as close to windward as the boat would allow.  This was good for the most part til we decided for the sake of time we'd motor sail with the mizzen set.  We were able to make about 5 knots into the wind.. Wharfy kind of laid low for the most part between the 25 degree heel and the lumpy seas.



Brooklyn Marina was great, sheltered and a place to tie up and get a real shower for a change.  We will stay the night here then move off to anchor behind Port Mouton along the white sand beaches, if winds are favourable for soing so, otherwise we head to Shelburne where we can reprovision and get some laundry done. 

All else is good.  Happy Birthday Jen! 

Cheers,

Dave & Wharfy

"The sail, the play of its pulse so like our own lives: so thin and yet
so full of life, so noiseless when it labors hardest, so noisy and
impatient when least effective." -Henry David Thoreau

Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival



Wharfy on Watch by the open Dodger

Today was a relaxing day onboard. The Saturday morning starts with chores aboard. Had to take the time to vacuum huge amounts cat hair from the floor, etc.  Weather was actually fairly nice after a few showers first thing this morning.  The skies were overcast but that kept the heat of the day down a bit.  Toured the Atlantic Fisheries Museum and attended the Main attraction tent of the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival. Heard some really good groups and individuals, including Dave Gunning.  Stayed until midnight at that venue. Back on board now awaiting the generator to heat the hot water tank for a shower.

I am thinking Folk Festival for tomorrow as more great performers are doing their thing around Lunenburg.

Wharfy is quite at home now and prefers staying aboard as opposed to going ashore where there are a lot of strangers.

All else well.  Looks like Monday or Tuesday for starting back toward Liverpool.

Cheers,

Dave & Wharfy

Chester Area Sail

Haven't had internet access for a few days...Here's an update.  Left Mahone Bay after the Pirate Festival on Tuesday, August 7th, weather conditions were such that we knew we would be motoring all day...so we decided to take an inside route to Chester.  That turned out to be a great plan. Lots of places for anchoring and spending an evening.  One particular placed we passed, Round Island, had several moorings so we decided to take up and have lunch and a swim. Have been in contact with my son who was driving from Cape Breton to meet in Chester for a couple days of sailing and whatever. A nice restaurant on the waterfront in Chester, called "The Rope Loft", had dock space available and advised we were welcome to spend the night if we ate at the restaurant...that made up our minds...Excellent food! Dan met us there and we had a chance to catch up on a few errands and have a nice meal.  We stayed on the dock that night.

Wednesday, August 8th, we had breakfast on the dock, picked up a few grocery items and went out for a sail. 10-15kt winds gave a great opportunity to see a lot of the basin.  We landed at Round Island at about 2:20pm and picked up the mooring for the evening.  Spent the afternoon swimming, walking around the beach, then a campfire in the evening after dark.  By dark, the 2 or 3 other boats that were there had departed leaving us alone.  Nice spot, very relaxing.

Thursday, August 9th, dropped Dan at his truck back in Chester as he had to be back to Fredericton to get ready to fly back out to Alberta on Friday.  Enjoyed the time!  I headed back to the Island where we spent the another night.

T'was a remarkable place.

From The Mooring off Round Island
44  29.0985'N / 064  16.4850'W

Sailing off Chester, NS

Will Post again soon.

Dave & Wharfy



"The ocean... exemplifies the background against which, both at the start and at the finish, we see our lives as cast."  Charlton Ogburn, Jr.

Wharfy The Pirate Cat

Oh Yes... Wharfy is a pirate. The scourge of the Sailing Community...Had to post this picture by order of the Admiral.

Dave

Wharfy Commanding the Tender!

Wharfy After too much Rum & Grog

Pirate Festival in Mahone Bay, NS

I know a few days have past since the last post... Have spent an amazing weekend in the beautiful town of Mahone Bay, NS.  This past weekend was the annual Pirate Festival & Regatta.  There was one of the tall ships from Nova Scotia that was here for the duration of the festival.  We had the privilege of meeting the Owners, Captain & Crew of the vessel and the opportunity to socialize aboard with them.  Had a lovely feed of fresh steamed mussels one evening (3 buckets of them).  They were tasty! So fresh! 

Tomorrow we haul anchor and head into Chester just to explore and enjoy sailing the area.  Doubt we will get much Internet access, but we'll update as we can. 

Wharfy has become quite the boat cat. He learned where I keep his treats, I caught him the other morning digging through a basket hauling his nibblets out and chewing open the bag.., Bad Cat!

Anyway, All is good, we are thoroughly enjoying the meeting of new friends & sailing about the area.

'til next time.

Dave

Nova Scotia Tall Ship "Larinda"

Moon Dancer II At Anchor in Mahone Bay
Pirate Flags A Fly'in

Brooklyn Marina in Liverpool, NS



Wharfy keeping watch at Brooklyn Marina
in Liverpool, NS

Yesterday was a great sail from Shelburne to Liverpool, NS.  Winds were basically coming directly from the stern...SW @ 15-20 knots.  Ran most of the trip Wing-on-Wing after motoring out from Shelburne in the fog and calm conditions.  Winds picked up as forecasted to give a beautiful sail. We covered 56NM in about 9 hours.  The route took us off shore a bit, then Gibe the boat to make the run toward Western Head and the opening to Liverpool.  Steering in the following seas, always fun as the boat wanders a bit.  It became work as we finally neared Liverpool.  A 3 foot chop one after the other with a swell from the SE.  Two other boats made the trip, which were in site for most of the day. On the Dock at the Brooklyn Marina (Yacht Club), and as usual a very friendly place to visit. We've tied up here for a couple days as the weather is supposed to be bad until Friday.  Friday we head to Lunenburg. Forecasts are favourable for another sail day. Just going to lay low, stay on the boat today. Get a few little jobs done.

Cheers,
Dave & Wharfy

"I must go down to the sea again
For the call of the running tide
It's a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied."
John Masefield

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Attacked by a fleet of 5 yr old
Scally Wags in Shelburne

Old Sea Dog Pub (Yellow) in Shelburne
Harbour. (Execellent Eats)

Wing-on-Wing heading towards Liverpool.