Cape Breton Info Wanted

SeaBelle · Post by **SeaBelle** » Jan 15th, '11, 14:46

It's been decided we'll be cruising to Bras d'Or 8/11-9/1. We came to within 50nm last year when cruising mainland Nova Scotia. My CD28, Sea Belle, has been on the hard for years and I've been sailing with a friend on his Sabre 45 in recent years.

We have managed to find an out-of-print cruising guide (c 197x), have a recent chip, and are acquiring up-to-date paper charts but would love to have recommendations about where to go and what to see. Mainly we'd like up-to-date information/recommendations for anchorages or moorings. Cape Breton has a remarkable Celtic music scene and I'd like to experience that too. My one recommendation from a great source turned out not in the lake but on the western shore; I need something within walking or reasonable taxi distance. I've found several places on the web but would like a recomendation.

Sea Hunt · Post by **Sea Hunt** » Jan 16th, '11, 00:01

Hello Jack:

Wow, have not heard from you in a while on this board. Welcome back

Unfortunately, I can't help much with your Cape Breton NS request.

I seem to recall a few board members sailed in that area this past season or perhaps they only went as far as Halifax. Not sure. You may want to check with Armando Perretta. I think he sailed in that area last summer.

What's up with Sea Belle

Phil Shedd · Post by **Phil Shedd** » Jan 16th, '11, 07:43

Jack

I have not read this book but it may be of intrest to you .

http://ca.binnacle.com/Books-Calendars- ... _info.html

Phil

Tod Mills · Post by **Tod Mills** » Jan 16th, '11, 22:00

They should be able to point you in the right direction...

http://www.cbisland.com/

Special place in my heart! I've been there several times, including once when my brother and I rode our bicycles around the Cabot Trail.

Matt Cawthorne · Post by **Matt Cawthorne** » Jan 16th, '11, 23:41

I sailed there from the Chesapeake a few years ago. The Bras 'd Orr lakes are really nice. All the beauty of Nova Scotia without the fog! We also love the music scene, but much of it is not along the water. As a boater, you will want to spend some time visiting Baddek. There is a car dealer that is within walking distance of the marina and their rental rates are about 1/3 or 1/4 of what you would spend at the airport. From there you can visit the parts of the island that may have more music. We found that there is a Barn dance in the Margaree valley (can't remember the name of the place) that happens once a week that was really excellent. Farther from the lakes was a little place in Louisburg that had some awesome music. Baddeck itself has a little get together fairly often. Festivals are the best, but timing is everything. I have a CD on the boat that is a .pdf file of an out-of-print cruising guide. While I have never used it, Canadians from other provinces swear by it. Send me an email and next time I am at the boat I'll bring it home.

Matt

Tod Mills · Post by **Tod Mills** » Jan 17th, '11, 00:07

http://www.redshoepub.com/

In Baddeck, I found this web site from the Red Shoe's site...

http://www.baddeckgathering.com/

Joe Mac Phee · Post by **Joe Mac Phee** » Jan 17th, '11, 11:52

Cape Breton Island is a magic place to visit. If you want total Celtic immersion, the best time to visit might be during the Celtic Colours festival in October. 10 days of concerts every night (3 or 4 each night) all over the island.

During the summer, there are also music events in many towns, especially on weekends.

In the Bras d'Or lakes, Baddeck is the largest town and has a small marina and yacht club. Iona is on the lakes and has the Highland Village with a recreated village and events over the summer.

The Gaelic College on Saint Anns Bay (North shore ocean access) is the Center of gravity of this Celtic mayhem. Most of the venues that I can think of that will have music, dancing, gaelic singing are on the ocean. Mabou and Judique are on the west shore. Saint Peters and Port Hawkesbury are on the Canso causeway. Sydney is the largest city and is on the north shore. As you can tell, I am enthusiastic about the place and it is the most hospitable place I have ever visited.

Enjoy your visit,

Joe Mac Phee

moctrams · Post by **moctrams** » Jan 17th, '11, 12:16

Where did you check in for immigration?

Joe Mac Phee · Post by **Joe Mac Phee** » Jan 17th, '11, 13:01

moctrams wrote:Where did you check in for immigration?

I went to the office. The sign on the door said "welcome" and there were peolpe inside, but someone had locked the door by mistake.

Redburn · Post by **Redburn** » Jan 17th, '11, 22:49

I have a cruising guide to Nova Scotia written by Peter Loveridge that dates from 1997 and was published by International Marine (McGraw-Hill)
It is laid out like the Taft/Rindlaub Maine guide with the same rating notations for protection and interests ashore. It includes the Bra D'or Lakes.
I bought this book at Armchair Sailor in Newport about 12 years but have never yet sailed up there. I don't know whether it's still in print but perhaps you could search out a copy somewhere on line.

Good Luck,
Chris Ritchie
Cape Dory 30 MkII

Sea Hunt · Post by **Sea Hunt** » Jan 21st, '11, 10:24

Hello Jack:

In the February 2011 issue of Sailing magazine there is a really nice 10-page article discussing a circumnavigation of Newfoundland. I know this is a little north of your intended itinerary but it is a very interesting article and may offer some ideas for your travel.

If you do not subscribe to Sailing you should be able to get a copy at a bookstore/newsstand or you could try calling the mag at their subscription office [800.895.2596] to see if they will sell just one issue.

I am sure you will have a great time

Evergreen · Post by **Evergreen** » Jan 21st, '11, 16:54

Hello:

Having been to Nova Scotia and the Bra D'or several times I would recommend the following guides:
!) "The Cruising Guide to Nova Scotia" by the Cruising Club of America;
2) "Cruising Guide to the Canadian Maritimes" by Cheryl Barr;
3) and the guide previously mentioned in this thread although it has been out of publication. There was indirect word from the author himself that a new edition would be coming out.

Will write more on good places to walk when I get a spare minute. We are also focused on being able to get off the boat as much as possible.

We will be sailing back to Nova Scotia and the Bra D'Or again this summer.

Best wishes,

mike ritenour · Post by **mike ritenour** » Jan 21st, '11, 18:39

Its our plan to sail out to NS from Lake Ontario.
Perhaps we should have a raft up somewhere.
We intend to leave Lake Ontario early to mid summer, on our way South.
Rit

Phil Shedd · Post by **Phil Shedd** » Jan 21st, '11, 20:25

Mike

Are you going to go to NS via the St Lawrence river or by the Erie cannal and the Hudson. Ether way great trip.

Phil

mike ritenour · Post by **mike ritenour** » Jan 21st, '11, 20:45

At the moment we are planning to go out the St. Lawrence, calling on some ports we visited in 2003 on our way to Newfoundland.
This time we will explore PEI and then pop up to Port Aux Basque, NF (an old haunt), then down into NS.
We may winter in NS or continue South into the Bay.
Our eventual goal is the islands and shorts and a tee are all that's required!
Rit

The Cape Dory Board

Cape Breton Info Wanted

Cape Breton Info Wanted

you might try contacting the CB tourism group...

Some thoughts

over on the west side is the Red Shoe...

Cape Breton is heaven to me

Immigration

Re: Immigration

Cape Breton

Guides

LaVida is also NS bound in 2011-Raft Up?

Ahoy Phil