Tuesday July 22, 2014 after a couple of years of engine repairs
and various other additions, Xcelsior II departs Dartmouth Yacht Club for her
first shakedown cruise. Unfortunately we weren't even to Major's Beach and
Titan our four year old Maine Coon got sea sick. We attempted gravol in a
number of forms but he'd put his nose up to it and had too suffer the consequences.
It was then decided that we would do nine to eleven hour intervals and anchor
along our way. In some cases we found
such nice holes that we stayed for two days to give him rest. As time went on
he got better, while Topaz well she has a lot of sea miles and carried on like
a trooper.
While departing Tor Bay, we had discovered a new abrasive
sea creature to our waters. Millions of
jelly fish gathered on top of each other in the form of a bee hive. The depth of the water was 56 feet; it looked
like a large sand barge as we sailed over it.
Approximately, fifty five and a half feet in height, 63 feet long and
25-30 feet wide. One of the fisherwomen
in Canso had told us that her net got caught up in one of these and ripped it
to shreds.
We fueled, showered and took on groceries while in St. Peters.
Met a lovely gentleman from Marblehead, MASS.
David, was on his last journey with his boat "Vamoose" before putting her up for
sale. We stayed for a couple of days as
the winds would not be on our favour for Port Hawkesbury.
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| Skipper Ted |
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| Topaz who has over 17,000 sea miles |
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| Titan the newest crew member - 1,150 sea miles - he's not impressed with this life style just yet! |
While travelling the Lennox Passage we were swarmed by Cape
Bretons Natural Defense Force... Deer Flies!!
First time in Port Hawkesbury and surprised by the number of
shipping depots. Strait of Canso Yacht
Club is a volunteer run club. Everyone takes four - twelve hour day shifts as
club manager, throughout the sailing season.
Xcelsior II was placed on the main trunk for a couple of hours, while we
headed out to find batteries for our remote ram mic. Shortly after we headed over to the mooring
ball. Apparently this ball is held down with a 500 lb danforth and 3"
chain. Leave it to our luck.... the
chain got caught between the rudder and Skeg....the need of a diver. Nice guy Lenny (Atlantic Sea Diver Ltd.) and
his daughter assisted us on his boat "Service Leader". We had caught him at his son's soccer
practice. Because we were in no danger, I said not to disturb practice, we can
wait until he's finished. One hour into
the dive, after trying to wench the bridle from the ball the only one thing left
to do....pop the larger of the two balls. The next morning Ted attached a foam
ball, that we had on board, to the bridle to keep her afloat. Hate to see
another boat have a mishap. Finally,
around noon Northern Dancer catches up to us.
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| Sunset at Port Hawkesbury Yacht Club |
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| Northern Dancer Crew |
Here it is August 1st., as we depart Port Hawkesbury and
Canso Causeway we are about to enter our fourth body of water. Leaving behind the Atlantic, Strait of Canso,
St. George's Bay, and now the entering Northumberland Straits. Large tuna and mackerel are jumping as we
make our way to our new anchorage at Port Hood.
Both Topaz our Look out and Titan the galley hand, have both left
posts (see pictures below). Anchored in
seventeen feet of water at 72 degrees and a very popular location. Activity everywhere, sandy beach, tubers and
skiers being towed, ski-doers and a boat load of approximately 15 kids in
swimming. After a nice evening of being
rafted up with Northern Dancer identifying
the stars above, we all retire for the night, Xcelsior II holding the anchorage. Two thirty a.m. Ted is up and putting out
another 50 feet of chain as the anchor alarm sets off.
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| Canso Strait Causeway Locks |
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| Topaz - Look out has nothing to report!! |
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| Titan - Galley Hand Leaves his post!!! |
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| Northern Dancer Rafts Up to Xcelsior II |
Next morning Northern Dancer heads for Souris, PEI and we to
Cheticamp, CB. Well as "Murphy"
always seems to play a part in our lives, the winds speed and direction
was predicted wrong again. We won't make
Cheticamp, therefore, Margaree Island is our destination. The seals are huge and plentiful here. Not
quite the protection we had hoped for, but will have to do. The bull seals are barking at us for hours
while the juveniles are popping their heads up to see what we are all
about.
Awoken by square sea's pounding the sides of the boat we
prepare to conquer Cheticamp today. At the public wharf where recreational
boats are welcomed, Paul and Joanne happen to time it right to grab our
lines. They are boat sitting a Island
Packet from Toronto (which we tied up behind), apparently the owners winter in
British Virgin Islands and have left the boat to go to Italy. As we organized
the lines and boat to go ashore, it appears as though Cheticamp put on a parade
for our arrival. "Only
fitting" I teased. Acadian Festival
weekend or Natal Day in Halifax, totally forgot the date.
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| Sunset in Cheticamp, CB |
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Herd of beef cattle on Cheticamp Island
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Because it is a long weekend, and fuel is delivered through
the Harbour Authorities at the fishing wharf, we went to check on availability
etc. Determining the location of the
fuel pumps, it would be hard to maneuver Xcelsior II so decided to do the jerry
jug at the local Irving station instead. Three trips of a total of six jerry
jugs later.
We heard from Northern Dancer, they were heading for the Maggie's
when Tropical Storm Bertha was threatening to arrive the Maggie's around
Wednesday. They headed back to Georgetown, PEI while we decided to check out
the storm at Timmies. During our stay in
Cheticamp we had a lovely visit with Doug and family. Timed it good, as Doug had to head back to
Labordor the next morning for work. Meanwhile, while he's heading to Labrador,
Ted and I are enjoying Snow Crab with his family. Ummmm some good!!
Winds the next morning started out to be good, but
shortly after die and the swells become confusing. The only sea life we see is one little seal
welcoming us, as we approach Ile d'Entree. We hang a left towards Ile du Havre
Aubert. Waters are very shallow, we will
surely stay in the deep blue. We find a
lovely anchorage with five other boats, where we sat back to kick our feet and
enjoy a glass of wine. This is one of Canada's best kept secrets, what a unique beauty. Lots of
sandy beaches, kite surfing, par-a-gliding, sailing and fishing boats. Although neither of us speak Francophone, we
managed to communicate quite well.
There's no groceries or fuel available in Havre
Aubert. Ted and I take the autobus into Cap aux Meules. We had four hours to kill before our bus
returns to take us back to Havre Aubert.
This village is more industrial and commercial. The homes throughout the region are newly
constructive and very modern. Some more
colourful than others. Although, we didn't get as far by bus to
visit the cheese factory in Havre-aux-Maisons, we were able to get cheese curds
at the grocery store. Across the street was the local butcher for meats. Back in Havre Aubert, the marina
manager, was kind enough to take our jerry cans and drive to the nearest station
(approx 5 km) and radioed us when he was back. Apparently because of the
historic status of the area, fuel is not permitted. Even the fishermen have it
delivered by trucks.
There is a boat from Belguim anchored ahead of us,
we did manage to meet the couple. They spoke very good English, and are heading
for Newfoundland and St. Pierre. Hoping
to find work. We never did find out what they did for a living.
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| Ile d'Entree |
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| Entrance to Havre Aubert |
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| Sunset at anchorage in Havre Aubert |
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| Belgium boat - Otter III |
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| Marina in Havre Aubert |
Our last day anchored here and surrounded by young
kite surfers. Quite the sight and breathe
taking as they maneuver between two boats....."watch out for the riggings". At
any given time there are eleven kites in the air and just as many waiting on
the beach. As they jump and leap through
their aerobatics, duck themselves under other kiters. Its quite the art and six hours of
entertainment. Time to raise the dingy outboard engine
and secure it, while we head out for our next stretch of journey.
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| Xcelsior II at anchorage in Harve Aubert |
Xcelsior II
and crew have sailed six bodies of water on this shake down (Atlantic, Strait
of Canso, Bras D'or Lakes, St. George's Bay, Northumberland Straits and Gulf of
St. Lawrence). Plus two canals (St Peters and Canso Strait Causeway).
Stay tuned for our return trip home........til than!!
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