February 21, 2018
Dinghy Cruising with Rob Dunbar on the Eastern Shore
“Let me go, Pappa! Let me go!” That was my battle cry as a three-year-old when my grandfather lashed a line to his dinghy and set me adrift in the Strait of Canso.
January 24, 2018
Central Marine Gets All Continental
Central Marine has been putting boats onto Georgian Bay from its Midland location since 1969. In the past it has been a huge vendor of the Grew craft that were built in nearby Penetanguishene for decades.
January 10, 2018
Passamaquoddy Bay
Long popular with New England and St. John area boaters, Passamaquoddy Bay is too often overlooked as a destination by cruisers from Nova Scotia.
January 2, 2018
Bayfield Inlet
Wispy threads of morning mist rise slowly skyward off the unwavering water revealing a glassy expanse under sparkling sunlit skies.
December 19, 2017
Hidden harbours: Yankee Cove to Louse Harbour
There will be no description here of services, facilities, shopping or even pubs, just place where you can find the kind of quiet and sense of isolation which is getting ever harder to locate.
December 19, 2017
“A Great Story” – update
Last January we ran a short piece on the motor boat A Great Story which had been restored by the crew at Covey Island Boatworks.
December 12, 2017
Destination Cheticamp
While much is made of Cape Breton’s Celtic connections to Old Scotland there are also several vibrant Acadian communities on the island.
November 23, 2017
The Middens of Galiano Island
We motored our way into Montague Harbour along a twisted channel with our engine muffled by the leaning trees.
November 21, 2017
Milltown has it all
Last weekend while checking out the facilities at the Milltown Marina, I happened upon the Milltown Bar and Grill. What a surprise! We had one of the best pub meals ever.
November 21, 2017
STRAIT LOVE – Mulgrave then and now
Nova Scotia’s coastline is dotted with hidden gems and jewels in areas that are often overlooked by Tourism companies and locals alike. One of those places is the Strait of Canso which separates Cape Breton Island from mainland Nova Scotia.
November 8, 2017
Favorite Eastern Shore Harbour
Located almost exactly half way between Halifax and entrance to the Bras d’Or Lakes at St. Peters, Liscomb River has long been a popular stopping place for yachts.
September 21, 2017
Desirable destination, but where do you park?
Winter or summer, there’s no parking on Cowichan Bay. Oh, there are cars. There are a lot of them, parked cheek-by-jowl and end-to-end. And there are moving cars too, with drivers who hover as hopefully as circling birds looking for a place to roost. Their optimism touches me.
August 22, 2017
Paddlers complete month-long 850-km reconciliation canoe pilgrimage at the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory
More than 30 individuals, Indigenous, Jesuit, English and French Canadian paddlers, have completed a 26 day, 850-kilometre canoeing expedition from Midland, Ontario to Montreal, Québec…
August 9, 2017
Parade of Sail in Halifax
Perfect weather made for a wonderful day in Halifax on August 1st for the Parade of Sail. A nice southwest breeze came up as the “Tall Ships” exited the harbour giving spectators a chance to see these beautiful boats under full sail.
June 20, 2017
At last, Lunenburg Bound – a bookstore with a good marine section!
Since anyone who opens an independent bookstore is at least as brave as a small boat shop owner, I should mention Lunenburg Bound on Montague Street in Lunenburg.
June 20, 2017
Lake Erie Cruise heads to Dover this Saturday
The Lake Erie Interclub Cruise was created 58 years ago to provide a challenging series of Lake Erie port-to-port races for cruising and racing auxiliary sailboats, and to allow sufficient opportunity for the membership of participating clubs to have fellowship while enjoying the best tradition of competitive yacht racing. Suitable trophies and keeper awards are presented to winners in every race.
June 7, 2017
Gimli Manitoba to host Canada Games in August
Sail Nova Scotia will be sending a talented and experienced team to the upcoming Canada Games which will take place in early August in Gimli, Manitoba.
May 24, 2017
Quinte West
You’re on your way east to the 1000 Islands or the Trent-Severn. By entering north of Prince Edward County at Presq’ile Bay, you get to cruise up the irresistible Murray Canal into the Bay of Quinte.
May 24, 2017
Destination Bouctouche
For cruising boats venturing north along the New Brunswick coast past Shediac, the Sawmill Point Boat Basin provides a safe and convenient stop.
May 15, 2017
Port of Orillia – A Charming Surprise Awaits You
I have lived in Ontario my whole life but have only recently had the pleasure of visiting the City of Orillia, even although I have probably been a stone’s throw away from there more than 1,000 times, en route to a cottage via Highway #11.Of course, I always stop at Weber’s for a burger and fries.
May 10, 2017
New sailing tour operating in Halifax Harbour
As a former partner in the Halifax tour business Ambassatours and Murphy’s at the Cable Wharf, Jeff Farwell has broad experience in providing tourists and locals with great options for seeing the sights both on the water and off.
April 28, 2017
Cruising the North Channel
During the summer of 2016, my wife and I cruised through the North Channel in Lake Huron on our Mainship 30 Classic Pilot. This summary of our cruise is intended to help others plan a similar cruise.
April 25, 2017
Pacific Gateway Marina
If you are planning a trip up the west coast of Vancouver Island, there is a new safe harbour at Port Renfrew, the home of the Pacheedaht First Nation, meaning “People of the Sea Foam”, and it is also the new home of the Pacific Gateway Marina.
April 25, 2017
Destination Fredericton
The Saint John river is a fantastic cruising ground and for powerboaters there is the extra treat of being able to tie up handy to downtown Fredericton, at the Regent Street Wharf.
April 11, 2017
Marine Mart Opens in Mississauga
Marine Mart Inc. opened it first store outside the province of Quebec on Match 31 in the City of Mississauga. When the bell rung at 9AM, many of Marine Mart’s suppliers were on hand to wish them well.
March 31, 2017
Northern Georgian Bay: a path less travelled
It’s like we’ve waved a magic wand and disappeared into a picture perfect painting, our 28-foot Sea Ray a small maroon and cream dot plunged into the middle of an unravelling canvas of colour.
March 21, 2017
Canada’s 150th: Win a free night stay at Crate Marine Belleville
Crate Marine Belleville is celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary by offering one free night stay at their marina.
March 21, 2017
Charlottetown: Plenty of choices for visiting boaters
Charlottetown makes for an attractive cruising destination. The historic downtown area is compact, interesting and walkable.
March 7, 2017
Schooner Cove Yacht Club. Racing and Cruising on Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada
The Schooner Cove Yacht Club is situated between Nanaimo and Parksville, on the east coast of Vancouver Island.
March 7, 2017
St. John Marina
The first step for any yacht visiting the Saint John River is to transit the famous “Reversing Falls”. With 20 plus foot tides in the harbor, the tidal flow over a ledge in the narrow gorge makes for dramatic viewing on the full ebb or flood.
February 21, 2017
An Intense Crossing
After months of planning my trip to Prince Edward Island in my CL16 open sailing dinghy Celtic Kiss, departure day finally arrived. I greeted this much-anticipated day watching the sunrise from the comfort of my childhood home in Pirate Harbour.
February 7, 2017
Cadboro Bay Sailing Association
If you live in the Victoria BC area and are planning your activities for the spring and summer and want to find out if sailing’s for you, then there is a terrific dinghy club in Cadboro Bay.
January 24, 2017
St. Peter’s Marina
The St. Peter’s Marina, located in the picturesque village of St. Peter’s at the entrance to the beautiful Bras d’Or Lakes is a great place to stay and prepare for a cruise of thee lakes.
January 24, 2017
A Small Piece of Heaven: Carter’s Beach, NS
Conveniently located mid-way between Lunenburg and Shelburne the anchorage off Carter’s Beach is hard to beat for crystal clear water and secluded peace and quiet.
December 31, 2016
Cape Breton – My Personal Playground
A year ago, it’s quite possible that if someone gave me an outline of Canada and asked me to point to Cape Breton Island, I would have failed, at least on my first attempt. Now, its shape, topography and waypoint remain indelibly emblazoned on my heart.
December 18, 2016
Destination Gagetown, New Brunswick
About halfway between Fredericton and Saint John is the little village of Gagetown. Located on the west side of Gagetown Island, the Gagetown Marina has easy access floating docks with room for visitors.
December 6, 2016
Le Boat To Launch First North American Operations In 2018 Serving Ontario’s Rideau Canal
Le Boat, Europe’s largest self-drive boating company, is poised to launch the company’s first North American operation in 2018 on Ontario’s historic Rideau Canal.
December 6, 2016
Montague Marina
Many boats cruising between Charlottetown and Nova Scotia often bypass what is, in my opinion, one of the nicest areas of PEI.
December 4, 2016
Cowichan Bay to Genoa Bay – Almost the Gulf Islands
“So you’re going offshore to Genoa Bay,” said an old salt at coffee that morning. Genoa Bay was 15 minutes away from our homeport of Cowichan Bay and hardly counted as offshore, but it was our first destination that fall.