Pulling the Harbour Markers - Ugh!

Last week - while Alberta was experiencing a wicked snow storm - a few of us had the pleasure of being out on Antigonish Harbour. To be clear, pulling harbour channel markers isn't easy. If I'm honest, it's bloody hard. At the end of the morning however, we all had a real sense of accomplishment to go along with our sore muscles. More importantly, we had a great several hours on the water.

A big thanks from the boating community to Club members Eric Atkinson, Tim Silver and Shawn Wilkie. Enjoy the pics.

Finding the strength to push off. 

September Sailing

First Mate S.Wilkie and I took advantage of good wind for a late afternoon sail last Thursday on Antigonish Harbour. Winds were variable - but good and the sky was dramatic. On the whole - it could hardly have been a better evening out.

The Ancient Mariner powering up the harbour

The Captain basking in September evening sun

As I said - dramatic. 

An earlier shot featured the sun creating a halo around Shawn's head. I didn't think he needed to see that one however. 

We don't know how lucky we are

And people think the shallows of Antigonish Harbour are tricky - check out this mooring field in Bristol England!

Affordable Day Sailing

Tanzer 16 for $1300 on a trailer!

Made in Canada and draws only 2.75' with the centreboard down - perfect for the harbour. Check out the rest of the specs here.

These solid little boats enjoyed a long production run, are competitive in one-design racing and have their own association.

Check out the ad on Kijiji. There are a great number of affordable sail boats on sail currently.

Weekend Course - Sailing Students Wanted

Last Call for participants. We're one student shy of putting this course on. Please, if you or anyone you know, please pass this information on. See the earlier blog for course details.

Work Parties Rock

In goes the dock

While it wasn't easy to get people out on a hot, sunny mid-summer weekend - we did end up with an effective and determined crew to help with grounds clean-up and to re-jig and launch the main dock section. Bernie DeLorey  - our veteran woodsman - did a masterful job with his chainsaw opening up overgrown pathways and views down to the water. It's all quite park-like now. Definitely worth a visit to see how things are evolving.

With our local backhoe on a mission up in Malignant Cove - Rob Kell brought his excavator out to help with the heavy lifting. 

Here are some of the crew enjoying a well-earned break

A big shout out as well to Eastern Sanitation for giving us a very large dumpster which easily swallowed a decrepit sailboat, rusty trailer, car door, old picnic table and much more. Thanks Jeff Dee.


Hearty thanks to all involved.

CYA Basic Cruising Standard Sailing Course

Preparation is advancing on our Basic Cruising Standard Course set for the weekend of August 16th. We offered this two summers ago and it was a hit with all who partook. Once again, Michael Ernst of Sail Mahone Bay will be instructing. The aim of this course, as expressed on the CYA website is for students To be able to cruise safely in familiar waters as competent crew of a sloop rigged keelboat of 6 to 10 meters with an outboard or inboard motor in moderate wind and sea conditions by day.

In effect, you will broadly understand all aspects of sailing including wind, sail trimming, weather, navigation, docking and other boat handling aspects as well as safety afloat.

Course Hours would be as follows:

• Friday (Aug.15) evening 1900 to 2030-briefing and harbour tour.
• then 0930 to 1800 ish on Saturday with breaks
• 0930 to 1700 on Sunday with breaks

Location - Antigonish Boat Club - 294 Seabright Road, Antigonish

General Information

• The course will conform to the CYA Basic Crew Standard syllabus
• Sail Mahone Bay Course Application form to be completed by students.
• Students are expected to self cater.
• The fee is $250, tax included. 

To express an interest in attending, please email at your soonest opportunity. Admission will be on a first paid - first served basis. 

Mind the Mussel Shoals

Hey all - I just wanted to give a big shout-out to Gerry Connolly, Bill Fraser and Shawn Wilkie for going out this evening and putting in the harbour channel markers. Without them, you might end up like the poor chaps to the right!

Just to give a sense of the work involved - each marker has a small weight - to keep it marginally upright - and a much larger weight at the end of a good bit of line - to keep it anchored in location. The deck of the pontoon boat is a bit of a mess when it's fully loaded. That said - I don't think we'll make it on Deadliest Catch any time soon.

Thanks also to Dan Smith at Antigonish Rent-All for getting our cranky but earnest Honda outboard running again.

Remember - Red-Right-Return.

Another Great Deal on a Sailboat

Independent 20 with marine head and outboard for $3500
Check out the gear this boat comes with - especially the furling jib and fully battened main with reefing points.

Sail it to Charlottetown for Canada Day - then head over to Mabou to check out the Red Shoe.

Find it on Kijiji

World Oceans Day Antigonish

Siren Song

Heads up.

Great little sailboat. Perfect for the harbour and even for daysails on St. George's Bay. Trailer it to the Bras D'Or or anywhere else for that matter.

Easy to launch and retrieve and can be used for sailboat camping.

Find it here on Kijiji with trailer and outboard for under $3K.

Lots of other great little trailer sailors on there as well including a few nice Wayfarer / CL16s.

A Tiny Home On The Waters of The World

Dave Welsford has been living about his 50 year old, 28' sailboat for several years now. His travels have taken him from Nova Scotia to distant lands around the world.

Dave, who appears to be in his late 20's, notes the following about his journey

"My main goal is to learn, discover, explore and share with those following me.   There is an entire planet out there of people who live, think and live life differently. We are bound for their shores."
Dave's Blog can be found here
Be sure to check out the videos and pics

One just never knows where a boat will take you!

Wind Around the World

Not enough wind. Too much wind. It's hard to get it right.

And while this wind atlas won't help suss out local conditions - it's pretty damned cool. Check out the conditions off Sable right now!

Barometer Rising

I was given a barometer for Christmas. A nice nautical unit with a brass housing. While decidedly 'boaty' in nature, this one is for the house (and a handsome addition it makes). Over the weekend, with wildly varying weather, it became somewhat addictive - setting the marker hand and watching just how quickly the barometer was rising (perhaps I will get outside) - or falling (time for another log on the fire).

If you haven't already, I highly recommend one for the home (as well as the boat). It can't hurt to be just a bit more in touch with what mother nature has on offer.

Laser 2 Sailboat for Sale - Cheap!

Yes - you can sail them like this. But you don't have to. Up to you, your mood, and your skill.

Our boat (which is not the one pictured) could use sails and a bit of TLC - but the basics are there and sailing season is still a ways off.

Price is negotiable - in the $700 range. A discount will be applied for club members.

Please email for more details.

Annual General Meeting

The Antigonish Boat Club will be having our Annual General Meeting tonight at the Antigonish Library on Main Street Antigonish at 7.00 pm. If you are interested in boating in the Antigonish area, please feel free to attend - whether you are a current member or not.

Your thoughts on the future of the Boat Club are most welcome!