RIVIERE AU RENARD TO CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI

August 14, 2011

We departed the marina at 1130 hrs this morning.  I needed the extra time to complete the Passage Plan to Charlottetown.  The winds were out of the S-SW which was favorable for us as we were on an E'ly heading.  We put up the main and "Jenny" about 3 nm off Rimouski and started to have a beautiful sail.  The winds started to freshen up and out speeds were close to 8 kts so I pulled in some jib and things settled down.  This would have bee an ideal wind to sail all the way to Charelottetown, however, in this part of the Gulf of St Lawrence, winds change direction from one area to another.  Sure enough, as soon as we rounded Cape Gaspe, the wind hauled direction to the NE and the died out.  Rolled up the "jenny" but kept the main sail in case things changed.  Started up "precious" and here we are motoring once again.

August 15, 20011 (Monday)

Here we are motoring along towards Charlottetown.  What wind there is is unfavorable as it is out of the NE.  We note that it isn't as cold on this leg of the trip.  The closer we come to the Northumberland Straits, the warmer the water will get.  The claim is made that they have the warmest waters North of Virginia and fog is virtually absent.  By the end of July, the waters in the Northumberland Strait have reached 70-75 deg. F, not bad for this part of the Northern world.  We spotted some whales and several seals.  When you first spot a seal, you see a large black basketball shaped thing in the water.  Closer inspection reveals this inquisitive mammal.

The evening put in well into the Northumberland Straits off Egmont Bay at PEI.  We started to run into thousands of fishing buoys as the light was fading.  #!@^%& this means posting myself on the bow with a searchlight and directing Phyllis at the helm to come left or right.  Just to make things more enjoyable, it started to rain!!   At least there is no fog!  So the night was spent on "bow watch" with searchlight. 



August 16, 2011

Yep, still motoring along with a light head wind and light rain. 
At 0610 in the morning, we passed under the 8 mile long Confederation Bridge.  If the night had been miserable just ahead was a little extra:  the winds picked up to NE 20-25 and the seas to 6ft.  The Straits are shallow so any sea will be short and choppy.  This isn't like a carnival ride because it goes on hour after hour.  So here we are motoring along in a tidal area and every six hours the tide changes.  If the tide is against the wind-the seas are more short and choppy; with the wind less so.

The last 20 nm into Hillsborough Bay where the entrance to Charlottetown is located was not enjoyable but all part of the sailing world.  And then,  everything died out about 8 miles before the Charlottletown entrance.  The visibility cleared up and we were able to see the very red clay dirt on PEI.  Life is good again.

Charlottetown is located about 10 nm up the Hillsborough River.  The River is well marked with range lights and presents no problem for navigation. There was" no room at the inn" for Charlottetown Yacht Club Marina so we went to Quartermaster Marina next door.  We were both exhausted from so much amusement that we took a stroll into town, had a few beers and an evening meal.  By 1700 hrs we turned in and didn't get up until the following morning.