Comp Crew/Day Skipper course opens up in September
Due to the cancellation by a family for health reasons, we have spots available for September 10-14. Two berths are left. Here’s your chance to get in some training this year!
Competent Crew course just finished
Just finished teaching a full RYA Competent Crew course. Pretty good weather and almost 100 miles sailed. Now a week off and will be prepping for our first mile-builder of the season …. around southern Nova Scotia and up the Bay of Fundy to Saint John.
Yachtmaster prep week finished
We ended the month with a 5 day RYA Yachtmaster exam preparation. Some good winds and a mixed bag of temperatures. Some docking practice at the Rope Loft Restaurant in Chester followed by a break with a bit of sundeck time.
Pic is Michaela at the dock.
First two practical courses complete
We just completed the first 2 RYA practical courses for the season. A Day Skipper followed by a Coastal Skipper. Both courses full and with lots of practical skills for students to absorb. Both were very good weeks!
One spot remaining on Mile Builder trips
We have only one spot available on our July 23-27 cruise/mile builder from basecamp in Mahone Bay to Saint John, New Brunswick.
This trip will cruise southwest to the most southern part of Nova Scotia then north across the Bay of Fundy to Saint John. Depending on weather and progress, stops may be made in fishing villages. There is a strong likelihood that we will see whales.
Navigationally, it can be interesting, as there are quite strong currents in the Bay of Fundy.
Come and join us!
Only 4 spots remaining for the season
We are almost full. Here is what is left …..
We have space for 2 on the June 23 Yachtmaster prep and exams. These are the last two available until 2019.
We have space for two on a 250 mile passage from our basecamp at Oak Island Marina to Saint John, NB. July 23-27. Here’s a chance to get in a good variety of conditions, from coastal to offshore sailing, crossing the Bay of Fundy (and probably seeing Humpback whales) and getting to go through the reversing falls at Saint John into the Saint John River.
Hope you can join us!
2018 equipment updates
We have had a busy month. We installed:
- a new ScanStrut Radar mast, replacing the 25 year old Questus backstay Radar mount. It incorporates a small removable crane for lifting the outboard to and fro from the dinghy to the pushpit.
- a new Raymarine i50 speed/log, replacing the old ST40 instrument which wore out after 17 years.
- A new jib furler … a Profurl C320 offshore furler. Replacing the 30+ year old Harken MK1 unit 1, (which was working fine at the time of its removal). We do due diligence when it comes to safety …. replace it before it breaks. This new furler is a significant step up in reliability.
- New forestay and backstay, completing an entire standing rigging replacement that began in the summer of 2017.
- New main halyard and topping lift.
- A gearbox cooler, to extend the life of the transmission.
- A new waterlock/muffler.
Launching in a few days and off on a shakedown trip.
RYA Celestial Navigation course complete
Just finished teaching the RYA Ocean Theory course in the classroom last Friday. 40 hours of hard but satisfying work for the candidates, in 5 days. Learning sight reduction and the mysteries of the sextant.
Final Schedule
With a few adjustments, the schedule of our courses is now set. The only unknown is that the course September 10-14 could be either Day Skipper/Comp crew or a Coastal Skipper , but not both. The first booking will determine the course.
2018 Halifax Boat Show
Just finished the 4 day boat show. Thanks to all who came by!