The Best Kept Secret in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia’s Aylesford Lake is one of many inland lakes in the province. Aylesford Lake Beach features a boardwalk, parking lot, picnic tables, a public boat launch, boat docks, canteen, change houses, drinking water, clean portable washrooms, an open grass field, walking trails and playgrounds.
By John Morris
There are many of prominent yacht clubs in Nova Scotia, but we are on our way to what is possibly the most hush-hush boating spot in the province, maybe all of Canada. My host and guide, David, was born in nearby Berwick, NS and lives there to this day, just 15 minutes away from Aylesford Lake. Still, it strained David’s familiarity with the web of Annapolis Valley backroads to locate the very tucked away Aylesford Lake Yacht Club (ALYC).
Once you pathfinder your way through the woods on the roads southwest of Kentville, the lake reveals as a gleaming gem with a ring of cottages, a perfect stretch of beach and a well-kept launch ramp. Its 6.5km length and brisk winds are well suited to dinghy sailing; that’s what ALYC is all about.
Surprisingly, in a water-surrounded province, residents on the Bay of Fundy side must head to the many inland lakes in western Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley for their boating fix. I was shocked to be reminded that there’s no recreational boating on Fundy! While the Atlantic shore of Nova Scotia is a famous boating destination, from Baddeck and the Bras d’Or Lake to the world class Peggy’s Cove, Chester, Mahone Bay and Lunenberg, famed for their ruggedness, postcard scenery and maritime tradition.
On the western side of the province/peninsula is the Bay of Fundy, the complete anthesis of a pleasure boating destination. There’s plenty of open water and delightful maritime-y scenic spots like Halls Harbour and Harbourville, but the huge tides (the world’s tallest) and accompanying currents prohibit all but the determined fishing boats and their pro crews; relaxed weekend cruising is not on. For example, near the head of the Bay of Fundy at Parrsboro the tides top 12 m/40 feet and the dangerous currents in the Bay can rip in at 10 knots.
So recreational boaters and cottagers head inland. The late 1930s saw the beginning of “cottage country” at Aylesford Lake and with it the arrival of small pleasure craft. Friendly competition evolved and they settled on the National One Design. The 17-foot NOD was designed by William F. Crosby, who is better remembered as the architect of the Snipe; his plans for the NOD first appeared in the January 1937 issue of The Rudder magazine of which Crosby was editor at the time. The can-do sailing cottagers on Aylesford Lake built Canada’s first wooden NOD in the late ‘30s. Then the fleet was forced to pause for WWII.
The post-war boom brought many cottagers back to the lake and sailing resurfaced. The ‘60s saw an increase in popularity of the sport; cottagers took turns hosting racing events. In 1969, the keen group of weekend sailors joined together to form Aylesford Lake Yacht Club. Then, as cottaging blossomed in the 1970s, the ALYC moved onto a lot donated by Scott Paper and got more serious. They acquired and moved a surplus hospital unit from Canadian Army Camp Aldershot in Kentville, furnishing it to clubhouse splendour via various lumber yard connections and DIY projects.
Interest in the club led to a tradition of good racing and a string of social events to fund the facility. ALYC went through ups and downs. The club incorporated a CYA sanctioned sailing school designed to put young sailors in boats. While it drew instructors and lots of summertime kids the financial burden was onerous. By 2000, the club was losing momentum thanks to debt and perhaps the ambitions of the projects that was burning out volunteers. A retrenching vanquished the financial burdens, recognized that a small club has limited hands available, and the clear vision of sailing and good times was embraced.
The second ever and current commodore, Steve McDow, has captained a beloved, active, club that runs debt-free. Some 30 members field 15 NODs including some older wooden versions and various fiberglass boats acquired from Vanguard and fleets in the US. There are a couple of Snipes, a Laser or two and some other random boats. Weekly races are multi class and compete for the club trophy. Even though it’s a pretty awesome place for beach parties, to join, you need to sail and commit to supporting the club to come onboard. Friends and neighbours get to come by for weekend shore parties with east coast music and summer evening fun.
The excitement continues when the start flags go up. With the only NODs in Canada, Fleet 48 runs the Canadian National One Design Championship each July. Then, with luck, members of some US groups from Ohio and other midwestern states come by to tangle. The Nova Scotians also attend US NOD regattas and often do well, especially if the wind is blowing—heavier breezes create something of an advantageous superpower. It’s a serious fleet that keeps its sails fresh via North in Halifax and trades know-how and gear.
All in the family
Stephen McDow and Lynda Sanford’s enthusiasm is an archetypical component of the Aylesford Lake/National One Design story. Lynda grew up enjoying the family’s Aylesford Lake cottage, which was the first on the lake built by her grandfather in 1932. Lyndas father, Kenneth Sanford, started the love of NOD in the family, acquiring one of the original four wooden Nationals, NOD214, built in the area. Kenneth was the founding vice-commodore of ALYC. His son, Peter, crewed for his dad. Subsequently a more competitive fibreglass NOD792 was added, and Peter rose to the top of the fleet.
Peter is now based in the 1932 family cottage; Lynda and Steve purchased their home on the lake in 2010, adding winter adventures to their lake life.
Steve had started crewing for a pair of combative brothers who needed an outsider to maintain peace on the boat. Kenneth Sanford subsequently encouraged Steve to become commodore (still only the second in the club’s history). Lynda added more encouragement, buying Steve his own boat as a birthday present. The family rivalry didn’t abate—Steve and Lynda were only finally able to beat her brother, Peter, years later in the 2022 Championship.
The current 2024 champ, Jeff Bishop, is a third-generation cottager/NOD racer and one of many Bishop family members in the picture. His grandfather had an early cottage near the Sanford’s and was also one of the original four wooden NOD owners. Jeff’s father, Garth, acquired his own National (again one of the original four wooden nationals).
Jeff, wanting to join the more competitive racing, acquired a fibreglass hull, adding yet another Bishop boat to the water. More recently, Jeff’s son, Travis Bishop, picked up a boat too, making him a fourth generation ALYC-er. Side note: Jeff’s Aunt, Conny Bishop, was regatta chair this year and with her daughter finished 6th. Also note that Jennifer Bishop, Jeff’s cousin had a 3rd place finish. As we can see, it’s a small lake!
The other crews have similar stories of cottages on Aylesford Lake, rebuilding old boats, tracking down newer ones in the States and learning to sail together—it’s a folksy, often family tree-related crowd.
Members share the beauty of the spot, the club’s traditions, and a summer of enjoying their boats on a near perfect lake. It’s their hidden acre of paradise.
