updates

I haven't updated my blog lately, largely due to the turmoil in my day job, but here are  some updates.

YARMOUTH
The Nova Star is now in its second year of operation. It seems to be more successful than its initial year, but its future is till controversial. It is inbound at 07-08 and outbound at 09-10h ADST ( 1 hour ahead of Boston) It is very large and the channel is very shallow. Keep clear of it.

LOCKEPORT
As I understand it, there is no fuel to be had in Lockeport. The owner, Bruce is having some difficulty with the town and/or Mr. Irving's empire. I'm not sure whether this situation is temporary or not.

BRIDGEWATER

There is now a marina at the top of the Lahave River, close to the town. I haven't been there yet. This would be a good spot to ride out foul weather, tropical storms, and the like.

LUNENBURG
The Bluenose has finally been renovated, 3 years late and tens of millions over budget, the result of micro-management by incompetent politicians and civil servants. If you want to now how not to manage a big project, this would  be a good case to study.


SOUTH SHORE MARINE

The new owners re-opened the restaurant in 2014, I am going to try it out this summer


PETPESWICK INLET

I've still not managed to visit this place by boat, but I did visit the Yacht club, which is on the east side of the harbor, about 5 miles from the entrance. There is water and slips , but no fuel. It is very pretty

JEDDORE

The SeaRover Marina, at the head of the harbor, really never got off the ground. It is now virtually abandoned, with no equipment, slips, etc. , and empty buildings.

TANGIER

Much to my disappointment, Willy Krauch's Smokehouse has closed. Extensive renovations were needed and Max, Willy's son, did not think the poor business climate in the province could support it.

SHEET HARBOUR
The East River  bridge is being rebuilt. The anchorage and wharf are completely obstructed by construction equipment. This is supposed to be all done by summer 2015, but these things often do not finish on time. There are still a couple of decent restaurants, but the " Tank" is closed. There is a pretty park at the head of the harbor on the site of the old paper mill.  I am told that the inn puts out slips in the summer but I haven't seen them myself.

THE INSIDE PASSAGE
this is as pretty as ever, but there are virtually no facilities except at Liscombe Lodge, and this is up for sale by the government. I didn't see a single wharf fit to tie up to except at  Hawbolt Cove. This is a place where old wooden long-liners seem to go to die, and there are half a dozen of them hauled up on the shore. The moorings at Liscombe Lodge have not been maintained and you should be prepared to anchor.

More, and hopefully, some pictures to follow

Petpeswick Inlet

Petpeswick Inlet is very pretty, though a somewhat shallow entrance. 5 foot draft can get in 2 hours after low water, but don't try this with any strength of onshore wind. There is plenty of water once you are in. The is a small, volunteer yacht club about 4 miles up the inlet, on the eastern side

. They have slips and water, but no fuel

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

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

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

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

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