Newfoundland Screech

Spartan

Aug 9, 2017

The folks at Spartan Ocean Racing have been busy.

The Newfoundland Screech is a 600 Nm sail from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland, Canada. With a full crew, Challenger left Lunenburg on July 14th and sailed up the coast of Nova Scotia took a brief detour into visit the islands of St. Pierre-Miquelon and then on to the most easterly point in North America, St. John’s, Newfoundland.

As with any offshore sailing in the Maritimes, the weather can be unpredictable. For example, last July the Route Halifax-St.Pierre Race brought nasty, wet and wind beating directly on the bow for majority of the race towards the islands. This year, a different story – winds were light and the fog was as thick as pea soup most of the 600Nm. Just goes to show that you never know what the Atlantic is going to bring until you’re out there.

Sailing on the East Coast of Canada this time of year can also take you to an area famously known as Iceberg Alley. It’s like playing dodgeball with icebergs and they come in all shapes and sizes with only 10% of the iceberg above water combine that with the fog rolling by makes for a navigator’s nightmare or an exciting challenge for others. Iceberg Alley extends from the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland to the tip of the island around St. Anthony with over 1,000 icebergs having been spotted in North Atlantic shipping lanes since February this year.

Related Articles

CSBC

CSBC Signs International Lifejacket Wear Principles

An idea that began with a meeting of international delegates at the CSBC Symposium in Gravenhurst, Muskoka last September has taken flight. On May 1, 2013, Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States signed the International Lifejacket Wear Principles during the week of the Marine13 Conference in Sydney. The majority of all fatal boating incident victims drown and of these, around four out of five are reported as not wearing a lifejacket across these nations.  This collaboration by some of the most prominent boating safety authorities and organisations in the world aims to promote lifejacket wear and prevent death by drowning.

Video Gallery

Jeanneau Yachts 55

Throw away the box, this is some fresh thinking

Seemingly part sailboat and part spaceship, the new Jeanneau Yachts 55 just busted through the boundaries of traditional yacht design. I couldn’t take my eyes off the bubble hardtop that met me at the dock and I stepped aboard with trepidation. A few hours later, I was planning how to spend my not-yet-won lottery winnings.

Read More

Destinations

Paving the Way to Cleaner Boating – How a Commitment to Reducing our Environmental Impact is Inspiring Cleaner Boating in Ontario

By Dave Rozycki

Over the past seven decades, Ontario’s marina industry has developed alongside some of Canada’s largest freshwater lakes. Boaters have been able to enjoy the beautiful scenery and create lasting memories on the water, with certain marinas dating back to the 1960s. As we reflect on this rich history, we can begin to see trends in how our footprint may have had an effect on the environment, in not-so-positive ways. However, by embracing innovative solutions and adopting sustainable practices, both marinas and boaters hold the key to preserving and enhancing the quality of our lakes and marine life for generations to come.

Read More

Lifestyle