Whales
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Our sail plan was to sail the rhumb line in Davis straight to St.John in New Foundland 1100 nautical miles away. This could take 9 to 12 days depending on weather and wind.
If we should strike bad weather we would divert to the Labrador coast for safety.
A light ESE wind gets us going with all sails up, but in the evening with the Greenland coastline still in sight the wind died and we switched the diesel sail on. (Engine power)
We knew from experience that there are no Icebergs or growlers around but watch keeping was strictly enforced. We do 2 hours on and 4 hours off shifts.
The next day a lovely north westerly wind helped us sail in the right direction covering a 140 nm in 24 hours towards target. |
Well done!
There was not much socializing on board. Mostly we just did our watches and then crawled into our sleeping bags. The warmest place on the boat.
We took turns cooking dinner and had a chat.
The days click by and the latitudes kept dropping, every 100 nm closer to St.John was cheered.
At night we could see the Aurora. It starts off like a huge sausage from west to east and soon after it changes to a sculptured curtain of immense magnitude. It was fabulous to see it. |
A pod of pilot-whales followed us for a while and gave us joy with their antics. |
Eventually it had to happen, the wind changed to the southerly quarters. It came with a fury stopping our good progress. For a whole night we made very little way just trying to keep comfortable letting the worst of the storm pass us by.
Beating towards wind and close hauling is always frustrating.
We are now down to Laditude 50 Deg. N and we feel it is getting warmer.
After 9 days and 9 nights we arrived in St.John New Foundland. My first time in Canada.
Soon we had visitors around Little Swan telling us we are a long way from home.
It was good to have terra firma under our feet again.
St.John has a bit of a history in the fishing and seal hunting days gone by, replaced now with oil exploration in the Grand Banks. |
St.John |
They have lots of Pups. I think more then I have ever seen in any other place. Irish and country music entertaining the tired sailors.
Alan and I shave off our beards. It is now warm enough without the furry bit in the face.
Thanking Alan for his participation and contribution to Little Swan. He is departing from here and no other person to replace him. It is Gry and me only at least until Halifax.
We do day hops mostly and enjoy the New Foundland coast. The weather was OK, but south of us is the Hurricane Ophelia making its way north. |
Halifax approach |
We took shelter in the small French Island of St.Pierre. It is most peculiar that surrounded by Canada are those two little French Island with all the charm of the French. Croissants, Gendarmes, Euro, Beaujolais and many more French customs.
Ophelia never made in to St.Pierre It was a fizzer.
Actually I had planned to visit the Canadian City of Sydney just to pay respect from the Australian City of Sydney. The wind was not in our favour and we visited Louisbourg instead .
To visit the recreation of Fort Louisbourg was well worth the effort.
A few days later we sailed into Halifax.
It is a big beautiful City with lots of charm. Cruise ships bringing thousands of tourist
and we mingle with them to enjoy the many attractions of Halifax. |
We were able to anchor in a place called North West Arm near the Tingle tower.
It is peaceful and quiet.
Keith from Whitehorse in Yukon is joining us here and we appreciate his extra help.
Ten days later we depart, wished we could stay longer but Cuba is calling.
We sail south along the Nova Scotia coast and visit Lunenburg. The rebuilding of an old sailing ship, I think it was called to Blue Tooth was in progress and the workmanship was most impressive. Why should we be so lucky and not have any fog. It came in nice and thick. Careful navigation is required and the radar was working overtime. |
Tingle Tower |
The buoys too, with their hooting and bell ringing gave us navigational help.
Rounding Cape Sable has taken many unlucky sailors life and extra care is required.
The fog was still thick, but luckily we had only very little wind slack tides and calm seas.
GPS positions got checked every few minutes, the radar showing land and islands
and the depth sounder indicates enough water under us.
Entering Yarmouth Harbour still in fog was not to bad, once we picked up the markers it was easy to follow them in. To our relief the fog lifted just in time to spot the visitors wharf.
We were most happy to have arrived here safely having sailed all the way from Disko Bay in Greenland to the most southerly place in Canada, Yarmouth in Nova Scotia..
Many thanks to Gry and Keith.
Toni |
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