Sailing adventures on a Hallberg Rassy 40 in higher latitudes
There is something very special about Labrador and from the moment we arrived in Red Bay, we knew we would enjoy our stay here. This area of Canada is sparsely populated and full of exciting abandoned places to explore, and the people we met were super friendly and helpful, which made it hard to depart for Greenland.
We had a great time sailing up the west coast of Newfoundland. There are some beautiful anchorages, but sometimes the charts data is not completely correct. We had to get off Rocky Harbour dock quickly because of a bad combination of big swells and a gnarly dock and the steep mountains can create some strong at times.
We depart the USA and are greeted in Canada with a fine on arrival. Despite the rocky start, Nova Scotia turns out to be an incredible place to sail and paddleboard. We explore stunning anchorages, navigate the shortest canal to Canada’s inland sea, and emerge into a world of lobster traps, big ships, and a giant fiddle.
In this post we return to the boat and continue south covering around 750NM along the coasts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. We share our tips for sailing in lobster season and would like to hear your experiences navigating around traps!
We start to feel winter and also some rough sea, while making preparations to depart from Canada before Christmas.
We have been quiet lately as we’ve been immersed in sailing life and busy provisioning and planning. We have sailed when it fitted the tide and slept light while anchoring so we have been a little groggy at times. We journeyed from Ballycastle to Oban. We have been enjoying Scotland’s majestic landscapes and people mixed with preparing for going north.
We had to sail back to Ballycastle to wait for the right weather to go to Scotland and continue North. But we put some of our resources in this post in case other people could find them useful. Ireland is definitely a fantastic place to sail and we
Sailing to Derry in Northern Ireland needed some careful planning. Swells and currents made it treacherous, but the Causeway coast’s cliffs were breathtaking. Mooring was a nightmare, akin to a Barentsburg night. Despite closed galleries, Derry’s history, food, and street art made it very memorable.
I’m Sarah a fulltime sailor with a lot of different experiences. These are some of my tips for newcomers seeking crewing experience. Finding the right boat and skipper is crucial. Whether crewing privately, paying for a spot on a commercial boat, or renting with friends, considerations vary. This guide aims to empower, ensuring memorable and safe sailing adventures.
In Belfast, we enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere and great restaurants. We continued to Glenarm, a small village with lots of historic points. We took a trip to the neighbouring marina where a scene from Game of Thrones had been filmed. the the wind was right to continue to Ballycastle and sailing around the dramatic cliffs Fair Head into its well-protected harbour.
Planning an Arctic expedition demands meticulous preparation. Navigating remote areas requires a self-sufficient crew, capable of boat repairs. Polar bear encounters necessitate firearm training and permits. Extensive paperwork, including sailing, rifle, and landing permits, along with insurance, must be sorted well in advance. Despite challenges, the Arctic offers breathtaking landscapes, wildlife, and continuous summer sunlight. Access planning resources at the provided link.