Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Dundee Marina

I got the previous owners of Dundee Marina wrong, it was not the Cape Breton Boatyard, but Baddeck Marine. The marina remains closed. Thanks Jeff Clark for this information

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Nova Star ferry

well , the new ferry from Portland to Yarmouth appears to be a reality.
For Yarmouth Harbour, this is a very large boat, 550 feet long, and I'm sure at low tide, there is less than 3 feet under its keel.
It's inbound  at about 7am, and outbound at 10 am. It has no room to manoeuvre, none, at all.
If it's is in the narrow channel , from 1000 yards south of Bunker Island, to the ferry terminal, keep clear of it. DO NOT TRY TO SHARE THE CHANNEL WITH IT, WAIT UNTIL IT IS CLEAR. ABSOLUTELY, DO NOT TRY TO CROSS IN FRONT OF IT , this is dangerous. If the economics of the ferry work out, this will make western Nova Scotia less isolated from its traditional neighbours in New England, and be a great benefit to the region

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Grand Narrows- Bras d'Or Lakes

one of my readers brought to my attention that the little chart of the bridges at Grand Narrows ( Iona) is wrong. I have the railway bridge to the east of the road bridge, while it should be the other way round. I've corrected this in subsequent editions, Try as I might, I couldn't figure out a way to post the new chart on here

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Yarmouth Ferry

After a 5 year hiatus, there is going to be a daily ferry to Portland, Maine.
Operated by Nova Star Cruises, daily service reported to start May 15 2014
further details at www.novastarcruises.com
telephone 1 866 864 6295

Saturday, February 8, 2014

more from Mahone Bay

As I've said before, the Mahone Bay area has been damaged by insensitive development. I'm glad to report that one organisation has been able to reverse some of this. The Mahone Islands Conservation Association has managed to by a number of islands and returned them to public use. I support them financially and suggest you do too. More information at www.mahoneislands.ns.ca

You may have , in the  past noticed two lights on little wooden blockings. One was just as you enter the town moorings in the town of Mahone Bay, and the other was on Beacon Rock, just north of Indian Point. They are no more, being carried away in a big storm, and have been replaced by buoys.

South Shore Marine, has long been the biggest marine services place in the Mahone Bay area. After a pretty fraught period when its future was clouded in  uncertainty, its new owner ( the son of one of my sailing buddies ) is making a go of it and it is busier than ever. Even the galley restaurant, which I was always fond of, has been re-opened. I haven't tried the new incarnation yet, but it gets very good reviews on tripadvisor. Further details at www.southshoremarine.ca

Another marina opened a couple of years ago and seem also to stay afloat. It is East River Marine, in the northwest corner of the bay. It seemed a little exposed to strong NW winds, but it has a huge travel lift and can deal with big boats. Further details at www.marineserviceseast.com