At Anchor in Mahone Bay




"Fast & Furious" Boat Building Competition
as part of the Lunenburg Classic Boat Festival

Yesterday, sailed from Lunenburg Harbour into Mahone Bay (Town). Only about a 20NM run, we were able to sail the whole way once outside Lunenburg Harbour. Winds were forecasted to be SW 20-25 knots with 2-3m seas. Seas actually were between 1-2m and winds were pretty steady at 25-30 knots. The beauty of the ketch is, she ran wonderfully with the mizzen sail set and about 40% of the jib unfurled.  Made about 6 knots through the water.  Another ketch rig from Rhode Island ran out ahead.  She was a beautiful 45-50 Ketch with red sails. She too, as I found out later, was heading for Mahone Bay.  Once rounding East Point (on East Point Island) and turning into Mahone Bay winds were on the beam and I unfurled the whole jib and made good time into the Town.



Another Ketch leaving Lunenburg for
Mahone Bay.

There was a bit of an issue with the roller furling, the line around the drum must have jumped a turn making it impossible to roll the headsail in.  I had to untangle that while Auto (autohelm) held the boat into the wind. Dropped the anchor on the east side of the harbour and took the cat in the dinghy to shore.  

This weekend is the Annual Pirate Festival and Mahone Bay Regatta. Entertainment and displays will make for a good time. Will post more later. Weather is not real nice, but there’s no snow in the forecast and no hurricanes blowing down on us… so can’t be that bad.

Later,

Dave & Wharfy






Hard Days work being a typical Cat
aboard Moon Dancer II

Classic Boat Reunion in Lunenburg





One of the Wooden Boats of the Festival

Still in Lunenburg, been at anchor for almost a week. Have been enjoying the weather and this weekend is the Classic Wooden Boat Reunion. Beautiful, and historic, boats from all over Nova Scotia have been showing up for the last two days. Attended some live entertainment on the dock in the evening just 100m from where Moon Dancer II is anchored.

Wharfy seems to catch the eye of a lot of people when we get ashore. He found a 50 year wooden schooner to jump aboard and explore at the invitation of the owner. He snooped from stem to stern while the owner & I chatted. Beautiful and classic.

Today is a classic sailboat race and dory races. Tomorrow (Sunday) is a “Fast & Furious” Boat Building competition –then race- if they indeed float. Staying stay put now until Monday or Tuesday after which I'll cast off for Mahone Bay to spend the week cruising around some of the small islands. Looking to anchor behind Round Island for a few days to enjoy a few days on this small uninhabited island.

Next weekend is the Pirate (Privateer) Festival in the Town of Mahone Bay. That has always proved a fun time. Weather has been spectacular… few showers one evening and that’s it since arriving here.



Wooden Sailboat Regatta: Everything from
Schooners to Sloops

Looks like a bit of rain forecast for Monday, which will be used to read or get little jobs done aboard.

Fair Winds,



Dave & Wharfy

“That's what sailing is, a dance, and your partner is the sea. And with the sea you never take liberties. You ask her, you don't tell her. You have to remember always that she's the leader, not you. You and your boat are dancing to her tune.” ― Michael Morpurgo, Alone on a Wide Wide Sea



The Captain & Wharfy (In Lunenburg Harbour)

McNabbs Island Light and abandoned houses
off Shelburne, NS

Landed in Lunenburg last evening after a long day of a 2 meter swells and no wind. Spent most of the trip so far motoring.

Since the last posting in Yarmouth we've had one interesting day at sea rounding Cape Sable, and one other day of running diesels all day long with very little sailing. Cape Sable turned out to be pretty rough. We knew it would be a bit bumpy. Gryphon and Moon Dancer II went through fine, some of the crew felt a little green in the gills. We departed Yarmouth at 0330hrs and traveled 75NM to landed early evening in Shelburne. They must have been expecting us, fireworks and the burning of a prop pirate ship after getting moored and anchored. Well, I guess we showed up for Pirate Days.

The next morning we departed Shelburne for Lunenburg. A 77NM day. Not much wind, motored most of the way, trip turned into a delivery run because of the layover in Yarmouth. Calm night at anchor in Lunenburg last evening.

Gryphon headed alone for South Shore Marine in Chester at 0930hrs this morning. By 1030hrs, Chris calls me on the radio with what appears to be a broken engine mount. I haul anchor and head out to Lunenburg Bay to assist and tow him toward Chester, as Queen Ann's Revenge heads from Chester to take over the tow into South Shore Marine. I turn about and head back to Lunenburg alone. Light (but there was some) winds let me spend the afternoon until 1500hrs sailing back to the anchorage in Lunenburg Harbour. Very peaceful sail, Wharfy even came out and sat in the cockpit for most the trip back.

More Later,

Dave & Wharfy.



Wharfy keeping watch in Lunenburg Harbour

In Yarmouth for Brief Layover

In Yarmouth after a brief delay in trying to leave for Chester (Mahone Bay) this past week.  As Hurricane Arthhur made is presense known in St. Andrews.  Approx. 14 boats had broke free from moorings with a number being a total loss. After deciding not to stay aboard (good decission) and the Post Tropical storm hit with a fury. Gusts of up to 67knots were recorded through out the day.

This caused a brief delay in departing as weather had to clear and we could do the small jobs that had to be done to the boat prior to leaving.



Wharfy Settles in among halibut gear
on a boat we rafted to in Westport, Brier Island, NS



Tied up along side a fishing boat
in Northhead, Grand Manan, NB



Wharfy the Cat & Cody (my Nephew) accompanied me on my boat as Gryphon & Moon Dancer II set sail for Yarmouth.  All 3 days to Yarmouth were beautiful days ... especially if you owned a power boat. We had to motor the whole way... First day put us in Northhead, Grand Manan. Second day we motored to  (about 27 NM). Second day we headed across the Bay of Fundy and landed in Westport, Brier Island, NS (about 37 NM). Third day we departed Westport for the calmest of crossing to Yarmouth. Seas were like a mill pond. We made Yarmouth by about 1600hrs on Saturday (about 35 NM). ...and here we have been since because of weather conditions and small craft warnings in the area of Cape Sable where we are heading.

Smooth waters while crossing
St. Marys Bay, NS

Weather is supposed to turn better either this Thursday or Friday to be able to make the rest of the crossing to deliver Gryphon to it's new home in Chester, NS.

More later once we can get moving again.

Cheers,

Dave