Final Days of Summer Vacation Aboard



S/V Coot approaching North Head, Grand Manan, NB



Over the last week the weather has made a bit of a change. Cooler days and cool evenings where I've had to start running the propane fireplace.

August 19^th left Yarmouth for Brier Island.  Motored out of the harbour and set sails about a mile from the Yarmouth Light. Winds & weather were very favourable and enjoyed a full day of sailing for the 35NM trip arriving in Westport at 1800hrs where the sails were dropped just outside of the breakwater. Clear, calm seas and winds blowing SW 15 knots …it doesn’t get much better than that.  Sailed with another boat from Montreal on their way to the Bahamas for the winter. The boat was a Hunter 35 that quickly out sailed our boat. Appreciated meeting Denis & Louis aboard their boat D’Artagnan, sharing sailing stories back & forth with them.

Upon reaching Westport, met a couple aboard the sailboat “Coot” from North Ferrisburgh, Vermont. This sailboat initially saw in Mahone Bay and Lunenburg, then again in Yarmouth. Rafted Moon Dancer up to a fishing boat on the dock and D’Artagnan to me ready for a departure early afternoon the next day.

August 20^th weather was beautiful again, dry air and clear calm conditions with winds from the SW again about 10 knots.  Great sailing day! D’Artagnan, Coot, and Moon Dancer II all departed Westport for North Head, Grand Manan.  Another roughly 35NM day which most was spent sailing. A couple sightings of whales (one showing his tail) made for a nice crossing. At North Head we tied up inside the breakwater to a couple fishing boats. Took Wharfy for a short walk up on the main wharf and watched the International Space Station orbit overhead for about 5 minutes.  Early to bed.

August 21^st had a gam with Denis & Louis just before they left to head down the Grand Manan channel for their journey down New England.  Silas & Lisa came over to discuss charts and navigating in around the Passamaquoddy Bay.  Sat and talked until it was time to leave for St. Andrews.  They may be coming in to visit St. Andrews next week at some point before heading to south to Maine for haul-out. Enjoyed chatting with them.

So now, the boat is back on the mooring in St. Andrews, cleaning and getting ready to come off the boat on Sunday morning.  Home and back to work. Great sailing memories were made this year.

Hopefully weather will hold for another few weekends before the boats come out to enjoy some short cruises here in the Passamaquoddy Bay.  Looks like the end of September for our lift.

All tolled for the summer, sailed about 605 miles, in mostly amazing weather. Very pleased considering how the season started with Arthur nailing our port in St. Andrews.

Cheers,

Dave & Pudding Butt (Wharfy)



Beating into the wind enroute to Westport, Brier Island, NS



Back In Yarmouth Harbour



Wharfy on watch on the foredeck (watching seabirds)
as we round Cape  Sable, NS

It's always a indication that summer is drawing to a close and having to think about going back to work, well, don't want to go there yet...

Made two good days from Lunenburg last Sunday making Shelburne on Sunday evening, then Yarmouth on Monday evening about 2200hrs.  Two beautiful days made it easy to make some miles. Prior to rounding Cape Sable, spotted 2 very large sea turtles, first time for me. Tried to circle around and get a picture of this creature.  He dove after getting about 20 feet from him. Happened to get a picture of just his shell.

The plan is to stay put here for a week before heading back across the bay via Brier Island and either Grand Manan or Campobello.  Weather certainly has been nice so far with a the exception of a few days of needed rain.

Yesterday spent the day with my Uncle Dougie & Aunt Sheri and Cousin Bryce. Nice to spend a day ashore and with family. Dougie & Sheri always make one feel very welcome in Yarmouth! Yarmouth always holds a special place in my heart as the place where the family is from.  Hoping to take the cat back to the wharf where he came from... just to remind him how good he has it aboard the boat...  but really to visit Bobby & Marilyn.


Sunset on the Atlantic about 20 miles
outside of Yarmouth, NS

Dougie & Sheri gave the use of one of their cars for the next couple days to run errands and do a bit of visiting. Hoping to get down to the cape and look around for a bit.

The next few days a music festival starts at the marina where we are.  Folk (Irish, Acadienne, etc.) Two big tents with entertainment all weekend.

More Later,

Dave & Wharfy

"I hate storms, but calms undermine my spirits." Bernard Moitessier, The Long Way

Back in Lunenburg starting for Home Port

Sadly,  now starting to make way back towards home. Still have a couple weeks to gunkhole around.  The last few days were a lot of fun. Jen, Nick & the Grand kids (Chloe, Asher & Rylen (aka Sea Legs) came for the day on Thursday. We motored from Chester (The Rope Loft) out to Round Island for an afternoon of swimming and laying around on the beach. It was so nice to see them, time went too quick and we head back into Chester to have supper at the Rope Loft and berth over night on their docks.



Poor Duck, completely worse for the wear
after Rylen played him out while aboard.



Friday heading from Chester to South Shore Marine for water & Fuel.  Passed by many beautiful anchorages, love to just stay put and sail these parts for another month... After fueling, started back for Lunenburg to do laundry & re-provision the boat for the trip back. Upon entering Lunenburg Bay, a severe thunderstorm blew down onto us, from 5 knots to 35 in seconds with heavy rains. Good rinse off for the boat. The lightning was too close for me though. Motored sailed into Lunenburg Harbour and within an hour or so, the weather was not too bad.

Sunny today, hoping to catch Bruce Guthro & Dylan Guthro for a short outdoor concert on the wharf.

Hoping to head to Shelburne on Monday, about a 77NM trip. Winds are currently calling for NW 10-15 which would be perfect for sailing that direction.

Fair Winds,

Dave & Wharfy

"For boats, even the uglier ones, are among the loveliest creations of man's hands and though owning them brings a train of debts, hangnails, bruises, bad frights, and all kinds of worries not experienced by those who content themselves with more practical vices, the relation between a man and his boat is as personal and intimate as the relation between husband and wife."  Desmond Holdridge

Day At Mason Island

Mason Island: Lat. 44 27.2988'N /
Lo. 064 14.6522'W




Yesterday motored out from Round Island to check out another little cove on Mason Island. This Island is perfect spot for anchoring in southerly winds.  Certainly, would have spent the night there, but the winds were out of East and there were heavy rain and the risk of thunder showers given.  Decided to return to the shelter of Round Island in the early evening for a late bbq supper. Rain hit soon after finished bbq'ing. The island was a definite for a return trip. Beautiful sand beaches and a whole field of wild Roses among the sand dunes.



Wild Roses on Mason Island, NS

Today, heading into Chester to pickup Jen, Nick & the Grand kids for the day. Then off to South Shore Marine to get fuel & water and do a truck (boat) load of laundry as it's now time to start heading back around towards New Brunswick.

More Later,

Dave & Wharfy the Cat





On A Mooring off Round Island



Moon Dancer II on a mooring off
Round Island, NS

Left Mahone Bay (Town) this morning in rain. After filling the water tanks at the Civic Marina, we departed the harbour for the scenic run to through the islands of Mahone Bay as I head towards Round Island. Passed many little spots where one could spend a night or two. Upon arrival at Round Island the clouds parted and spent the rest of the day in sun, going for a swim and evening walk on the beach. At dusk the other boats departed for their home ports one by one left leaving the place quiet and peaceful. Usually during the week this is a deserted place. Thanks to a local boater, have access to his mooring on Round Island. Plan to spend a couple nights here.  



Heading Back to Moon Dancer II
after stretching the legs on Round Island



I began reading another book called "Sailing A Serious Ocean" by John Kretschmer.  The Boat Locker in Lunenburg is bringing this author in to speak in late August, would be worth the trip to hear him.

If the weather holds a sail is planned out to another Mason Island on Wednesday to check out an anchorage at a nice beach.

Cheers,
Dave & Wharfy (aka Pudding Butt)


Last Day of the Pirate Festival / Regatta



La Diva as we are tacking out of the mooring
field to the race course



Today was the last day of the Pirate Festival / Regatta. Had the chance to sail on an IOD 30' 1930's Sloop with Skipper Steve & Mates Chris & Evan. There were two races, one longer one that we actually place first and the second race that we finished third in to take second overall. Great time sailing one of these old classics.



Pudd'in Butt in his Pirate Attire (Gets
a lot of attention)



Many people were dressed in theme for the Festival.  Spent the evening at the Mug & Anchor Pub listening to "Raggae Roots" play all evening. The place was packed as  outside a re-enactment of the burning of the Teazer took place.

Tomorrow, lifting anchor to spend a couple days sailing among the many islands of Mahone Bay, keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Bertha as it builds and starts it's track north eastward.  If the forecasts look bad, will head for a mooring at South Shore Marine in Chester Basin.

More Later,

Dave & Wharfy


Pirate Days Festival in Mahone Bay

Pirate Flags a fly'en for the Mahone Bay
Pirate Festival 2014

Still at anchor in Mahone Bay (Town). Have taken a bit of time to look around the town and just relax on the boat. Yesterday the temperature was up to about 30 degrees and went for a refreshing swim in the bay.  Water was about 22 degrees, which isn't too bad once you got use to it.  Last evening had dinghied to shore at the Civic Marina to get Wharfy off the boat for a bit and refill a water jug, heard some familar voices in the parking lot. Tony, Anne Marie & Matt (friends from Fredericton) just happened to have parked in the Marina to go for supper.  Joined them for a drink at the Mug & Anchor Pub before parting ways again. Nice to see someone from home.  Today also hoisted the Pirate Flags as many boats will this weekend.

The view from the anchorage. Off in
the distance, the three most photographed
churches in Canada.

 

The plan is to lift anchor on Monday and head out to a few of the islands in Mahone Bay and spend a few nights behind some of the islands discovered cruising a few years ago here. Weather doesn't seem too bad, hopefully the next tropical depression on the scope heads east long before hitting these waters.

More Later...



Dave & Wharfy