HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA

August 28, 2011

It's 1930 hrs Atlantic Time (+1 hr on Eastern Daylight Savings Time) and we are under the influence of TS "Irene" which is blowing from the SE at 30+ kts.  The winds are projected to veer SW and blow to 65 kts by midnight.  We have secured "Solstice" as best as we can.  The marina is pretty secure for these winds but it will be a long night tending lines.

Our plan is to sail from Halifax to Boston: distance 400 nm.  It's possible that we make a stop in Lockport, NS if the winds don't cooperate or the seas heap up.  lockport is 100 nm SW of Halifax.  This would cut down the distance to Boston and relieve standing night watches.  The most important thing in crossing the Gulf of Maine is doing it within a 5 day weather window. 

The Bay of Fundy is an extension of the Gulf of Maine.  It is renowned for tides that can exceed 54 ft.  This equates to 115 billion tonnes of seawater that pours inland twice daily.  The currents average 2.5-3.0 kts on a crossing over to Boston.  In the Bay itself they can exceed 5 kts.  I read that there is a tidal bore at the upper end of the Bay.  A tidal bore is a large wave that forms where two opposing tides meet:  Don't want anything to do with that!   The same book indicated that the amount of water pouring into the Bay of Fundy every 12 hours and 25 minutes is equal to the outflow of 2000 St Lawrence Rivers.  Now that is impressive.

Here we are sitting out the storm.  Will update before we leave Halifax.