Yarmouth to Shelburne Cruise Day

Sunrise departing Yarmouth at the "Bug Light"
across from the Yarmouth Bar, near Cape Fourchu

August 02, 2017:  A clear and calm morning, we departed for Shelburne Harbour at 0600hrs.  Had a bit of a sleepy crew and they both were back asleep once we cleared the harbour.  The first 6 hours was about the calmest run to Cape Sable I've ever done.  Had the Mizzen Sail up to stabilize the boat from the slight swells on the beam.  We rounded Cape Sable about an hour ahead of the plan, and made the turn for up the South Western Shore of Nova Scotia.  Winds picked up after a few hours and we were able to enjoy a few hours of being under full sail into Shelburne. Once in Harbour we picked up a Shelburne Yacht Club mooring and went ashore for a walk around the shore front.  Planning to stay put today and making plans to depart here for the white sand beaches of Carter's Beach, Port Mouton for Friday.  Port Mouton being a beautiful secluded anchorage, great place to stay in fair weather.

Admiral Jo & Wharfy Route Planning
after clearing Yarmouth.

Probably no internet access until either Lunenburg Town or Mahone Bay.

Weather has been absolutely beautiful...

Cheers,
Dave, Jo & Wharfy the cat

Fourchu Fisheries, my cousins dock at
the Yarmouth Bar (from the drone)

Summer Cruise 2017 -Day 1 & 2

Jo & I underway

July 29, 2017:  My daughter & I departed St. Andrews at 1000hrs to catch the last of the falling tide out through Letete Passage, by Deer Island ...and off to Northhead, Gand Manan.  Motor pretty much the whole way as it was pretty much dead calm.  Into Northhead around 1500hrs.  Enjoyed a steak BBQ'd supper with BBQ'd corn on the cob.  Met three sailors from the Boston area making their way back to Maine.  Went for a little walk after that to stretch the legs before heading back to the boat. Peaceful night on the mooring. Cover about 28NM today... Nice short run to get started on.

Irving's "New England" outbound from
Saint John.

July 30, 2017:  PART 1: This morning we arose at 0430hrs to get an early start.  Off the mooring by 0520hrs heading to Westport, Brier Island.  Had a nice Northerly wind at about 12-15 knots. Sailed quite a bit of the way.  Made it to Westport ahead of time getting into port at 1045hrs.  Only had to avoid one tanker coming out of Saint John...  Saw several sharks and whales...and caught a glimpse of the elusive Orca that has been sighted off Brier over the past few weeks.  Amazing animal.

Sunset off Yarmouth, NS 

July 30, 2017: Part 2:  With favourable tides and weather we decided to head out for Yarmouth after a 6 hour layover in Westport.  We departed approx. an hour before high tide to catch the currents of the ebb tide to Yarmouth.  Wasn't able to sail much, few the Mizzen just to stabilize the boat a bit... Motored the whole way.  We were just off Yarmouth for a beautiful sunset and caught a silhouette of the Yarmouth Lighthouse (where my Dad was born).  Nice memories always.  Into Port at 2230hrs and picked up a town mooring.  Pretty much went right to bed.  Almost 80 miles covered today.

Yarmouth Light at Cape Fourchu

 For the next couple days we plan to spend in Yarmouth, visiting and looking around a bit, then off to Shelburne as we start making our way to Lunenburg & Mahone Bay.

Will post again in a few days.

Cheers,

Dave, Jo & Wharfy

Drone Shot at Mooring

Had a chance to put up the drone and take some footage of the boat on the mooring.  Looking toward Navy Island in St. Andrews Harbour.  Thought it a nice photo. ...also a couple others from 2016 shot from the drone.

St. Andrews Harbour on the Mooring July 2017

Moon Dancer II tied up alongside a fishing boat at the Yarmouth Bar
August 2016

At Anchor in Lunenburg Harbour August 2016

Sunset on the Mooring in St. Andrews

Full Moon rising on a calm sea.

This past Sunday evening was a beautiful near Full Moon on the Passamaquoddy Bay.  Looks like late July for taking off on a cruise to Nova Scotia.  In the mean time, enjoying daysails and over-nighters on the boat while doing odd jobs to get her ship shape... Seems like always doing odd jobs. Ha.

Dave & Wharfy the cat.

Here's one for the books... Twin 2.5's on a
Dinghy... -Actually one doesn't work...

Boat on Mooring and Rigged for the Season

View from half way up the Main

Boat is on the mooring in St. Andrews.  All of the rigging is now complete thanks to the help of some friends that stayed aboard last  weekend.  T'was a great weekend aboard chatting and sharing a few drinks watching a moon come up over the harbour... no pics of that... The next day (Sunday) bright and early went about the task of rigging the main sail and lazy jacks, Alex went half way up the main to rig flag halyards and take a few pics...  Looking forward to the summer aboard with family & friends.  Wharfy did his thing up all evening rolling around on the dodger getting his fur all over everything.  Good times!

Cheers,

MD II on her Mooring... rigged and ready

Launch Day 2017

Another spring of preparations and work is complete and the lift back into the water happened this past Saturday, June 3rd.  Successful launch of 6 boats from the Bayside Marine Terminal in Charlotte County.  A beautiful day and smooth launch, then motoring down the St. Croix River to the mooring field in St. Andrews Harbour.  Spent Sunday cleaning and rigging.  Almost there.  Looking forward to another summer of being aboard with family and friends.  Wharfy the cat has staked his claim in the main stateroom...

Decided to start posting back to this site as FB doesn't leave the record like a good ol'Blog. ;-)

More to come as the season gears up.

"I need Vitamin SEA" 

A couple weeks prior to Launch Day