Canadian Maritime Cruise 2024-2025

Welcome to the Forum!

This is where we can discuss, plan, register for and exchange information about our 2024-2025 blockbuster trip to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

There are no fees for this cruise though we will be splitting weather routing costs on the return and may want to order things like cruise shirts, hats and flags depending on interest, numbers and BWSC subsidies.

The dates for this trip are 8/15/24 to 9/15/24 in Nova Scotia, 7/1/25 to 8/14/25 in Newfoundland. Boats are left in Baddeck for the 2024-25 winter.

Itineraries with dates can be found on our website under "Recent Blogs": "A Sailing Cruise to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland": "2024 Itinerary to Nova Scotia" and "2025 Itinerary to Newfoundland". Those itineraries have recently been updated.

Additional detailed information can be found in the 4 blogs listed with these itineraries as well as the 4/29/23 slideshow seminar recorded and posted on our website under "Upcoming Events"... "Watch Previous Educational Events"... "Cruising the Canadian Maritimes".

Following Newfoundland, we take about a week to sail home in a series of longer overnight passages.

As there may be only a few boats deciding to do this cruise, the formalities of registration can be changed a bit. Just letting us know on these Forum posts suffices. More conversations can be had in earnest as August 2024 approaches.

Since finding crew is likely to be important for the initial overnighter to Nova Scotia in 2024 and the subsequent trip home from Newfoundland in 2025, this Forum will hopefully be a good vehicle for Captains and those interested in crewing to check in and connect.

Any thoughts, suggestions, questions and the like can be shared here with me and other BWSC members and prospective participants.

There has been additional member interest in a land-based trip where those doing travel by car can meet boats along the route. Those folks are encouraged to weigh in on it in this Forum. Places to meet can be discussed. Real time communication and flexibility as to harbors and times will be required en route to make this work.

Prep your boats and hone your anchoring skills this summer! Time is short.

I look forward to hearing from all of you here in the Forum. I can also be reached at jsling1957@aol.com or by cell at 508-517-6555 or out on the water in Boothbay this summer.

The attached photo from the seminar is Jerseyman's Harbor in Newfoundland. WE ARE GOING THERE!

In Captain Cheryl Barr's words: "...(E)ven a bad day can be spectacular... when the fog suddenly evaporates and the sun illuminates the massive silver-colored granite walls of the fjord and the evergreens gleam emerald against a beautiful blue sky. At that point, Newfoundland is as seductive as any place on earth".

-John Slingerland

s/v AVOCET

Thank you Jack Maull for sending along the two totally beautiful pictures attached below of sv Julia anchored on Segona Island (near Fortune, Newfoundland) and cushioned properly in the St Peter's Canal, Cape Breton. Jack has read my blog on anchoring in NL and reports that it is not really a problem at the top of the fjords where the streams feed in and the depth and bottom is good. Jack only fouled his anchor once in all his considerable anchorages up there and was able to swim on it to free it up. More than two boats, as we know, will, in his view, create challenges! (Thus we have multiple anchorage options to split boats up when necessary). Jack is as confounded as I am in regard to Trammell's problems at Sandy Point. He confirms Devil Bay as a most impressive place given the rock face of the Devil. Jack reports that the weather forecasts are pretty accurate. When forecasts are challenging, Jack favors tying to a wharf (and rafting up if required) so as not to be stranded onboard for a period of time. 20.5 inch deflatable bumpers are key - A4 polyform fenders are $90 each at New England Marine and Industrial in Newington, NH... as depicted in Jack's attached photo. My apologies for re-stating Jack's email to me. Always better to hear first hand - but we are still figuring out the options in sharing info with BWSC. This forum may be easier (and less vulnerable to hackers) than FB. Good luck sv Julia - bound shortly for Shelburne! It's been pretty foggy and overcast in Boothbay so far. - John