Connecticut to Nova Scotia

This is to be the last episode of our voyage to the Bahamas and back. We decided a few months back to not try and get Moxie back to Nova Scotia by the end of June, as the weather and time factors would be against us. Our friends Tara and Brian Flanagan had kindly offered Brian's help in sailing the boat back to Nova Scotia, so we decided to take them up on the offer. So this trip happened without the Admiral on board, and without the benefit of a good camera. (All the pictures where taken with my iPhone 5).

Brian and Tara picked me up at Laguardia the evening of June 23, after a delayed flight from Halifax via Toronto. We drove back to the Marina at Bridgeport and the next day provisioned for our voyage  home.  Brian and I decided to stay in cruising mode and not push to hard and do day trips except for the crossing from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia. In fact we weren't sure from which port we might cross from, being open to sailing further up the coast and perhaps crossing from somewhere in Maine if conditions were not favorable for our planned crossing from Cape Cod.
The trip turned out to be 725 knotical miles, or 800 statute miles. Most of our day trips were between 60 and 80 miles and the Gulf of Maine crossing was 225 miles.

Special thanks to my good friend Brian Flanagan. His nautical knowledge and good common sense made the trip a pleasure. Besides being a great guy he is a superb cook and has thoughtful insights into just about any subject from politics to diesel mechanics. It was a privilege to have have him on board.

                                                        Moxie Log

May 18/15                     Worlds Fair Marina, Queens, NY City, NY

May 21/15                     Anchored  Coast Guard Pond at Eatons Neck, NY

May 22/15                     Captains Cove Marina, Bridgeport CT.

June 25/15                     Anchored at Point Judith Pond, RI.

June 26/15                     Sandwich Mun. Marina, Sandwich, MA.

June 27/15                     Mooring ball at Provincetown, MA

June 30/15                     Anchored off Clarks Harbour, NS.

July   1/15                     Brooklyn Marina, Liverpool, NS.

July   2/15                     Bishops Landing, Halifax, NS

July   3/15                     Anchored behind Tuffin Island, Ecum Secum, NS

July   4/15                     Sand Point Fishing Harbour, Eddy Point, NS

July   5/15                     Cribbon’s Point, Antigonish Co. NS. Home.

Leaving Black Rock Harbor and the Fayerweather Yacht Club around 5:00 am. We got to Point Judith, RI that evening after a motor sail North East up Long Island Sound.

Brian checking out our course on his iPad. This picture must have been in Long Island Sound, as the next day was a rough motor sail up Buzzards Bay from Point Judith to the Cape Cod Canal. We had the Standard Horizon Chart Plotter as the main navigational tool, a couple of iPads with navigation apps as well as Brian's paper chart books to the Canadian Border.

Entering the Cape Cod Canal. We were lucky we got there in time to catch a favorable current and made it through averaging 8.5 knots. Got to Sandwich MA that evening and stayed at the municipal marina. Got groceries, fuel and showers.

Happy to be in the Cape Cod Canal, Buzzards Bay was pretty rough.

We made it to Provincetown MA the next day, only a short 25 mile sail from Sandwich. The place is very touristy and caters primarily to the gay community.

Ended up staying 2 nights in Provincetown, as the forecasted big blow made it's appearance early Sunday morning. The wind blew a steady 35 knots with the highest gust hitting 49 knots. When it was over, a few boats had broken loose and were up on the beach and a 45' sloop broke its mooring but was rescued by one of the tow boats.

This is the Monument dedicated to the Plymouth Settlers, who landed first in Cape Cod, before moving on to Plymouth MA on the mainland. The observation tower is 300' above sea level. The stone tower was finished around 1911.

The view of Provincetown from the observation deck of the tower. Moxie is moored off to the right of the pier.

The galley on Moxie. Brian Flanagan is a great one pot chef. He made delicious lunches and hot meals on our voyage, some well under pretty rough and challenging conditions.

We left Provincetown early Monday, June 29 to cross the Gulf of Main to Nova Scotia. We arrived at Clark's Harbour on Cape Sable Island, 36 hours after leaving Cape Cod. Besides the big 10' swells, we had a good voyage. We didn't get off the boat at Clark's Harbour and the next day, Canada Day, we proceeded up the foggy Nova Scotia coast to Liverpool, where we checked in with Canadian Border Services.

Tied up at Bishops Landing on the Downtown Halifax waterfront. The persistent fog lifted as we sailed into Halifax Harbour. It's the first time I have ever been on the water in Halifax. As it was late afternoon, the waterfront boardwalk was swarming with people, though it's hard to tell by looking at this picture.

Two of our boys, Kevin and Sean, met us in Halifax. They drove us to get groceries, and fuel as well as the NS liquor store, were Brian was slightly taken aback at the price of a bottle of Gin. We went out to one of the waterfront eateries and enjoyed a great meal together.

Behind Tuffin Island on the eastern Shore. This was a beautiful anchorage about midway between Halifax and Canso, not far from Ecum Secum and Liscomb. There were more than a few curious seals around the boat that evening.

Navigating the Andrew's Channel on our way into Canso Harbour. We were lucky to get up the Eastern Shore with no fog.

Canso Town. The Stan Rogers Folk Music festival was on that weekend but we didn't stop. We pressed on to Eddy Point in Chedabucto Bay and stayed at a small fishing harbour the night.

Transiting the Straight of Canso Locks. In the early 1950's, a causeway was built between mainland Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island, separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of St. Lawrence at that point, necessitating the locks. We are entering our home waters, St. Georges Bay.

Tied up at Cribbon's Point Marina. Arrived mid afternoon on Sunday July 5th, 11 days after leaving Bridgeport CT. The next day, Debbie drove Brian to Halifax to catch a shuttle to Yarmouth, where he would catch the Ferry to Portland ME. Our Voyage has finally ended.