TALLSHIPS 2012 in Halifax

Good Tuesday from Prospect.

My Sister and Niece, at the helm of Thursdays Child, passing Georges Island, Halifax 
(Think she looks at home?)

As many of you may know, July 19 - 23rd was the Tall Ships 2012 here in Halifax. I was able to be on the water for both Sunday and Monday for the sail past. 

The sail past was quite nice, although I was disappointed in the small number of ships here this year again.

It has been quite a few years since the big gathering and I suppose it's what we expect.

Mind you I'm not complaining, thank you to all the ships that came by, it is neither easy nor cheap to get these here, so we very much appreciate it.

As for the weather, well just simply amazing. We have had such a streak of fine weather that no one can complain that it's raining today, except of course for the group who have set sail for the RNSYS club cruise. My wife and I had planned to meet up with them this weekend coming and we'll keep an eye on the weather for the next week before we decide. I like fair weather sailing.

As you can see, if you have been following lately, that the sailing weather here in Nova Scotia has been amazing.

USS Eagle at dock

Well back to Tall Ships. I had the pleasure of sailing once again with a new found friend Tom Vokey, whom I sailed to Saint-Pierre with,  and his girl friend Edith. We spent the day sailing up and down the Halifax harbour while checking out the ships. Unfortunately a perimeter was set up around the ships them so far out that there was no way of getting a great view from the water.

It wasn't until Monday's sail past that we had a chance to really see our visitors.

Monday brought my sister and my two nieces as crew for the sail past. You'll see my one niece has taken to sailing and likes the idea of being skipper. Hope for one more family member to join us yet.

As I said, today has brought rain, good thing too, I need to get focused on work.

Tom and Edith

I've posted a few photos from those two days. I know some of the ships names but not all. Comment and let me know what they are if you can.

Amastad in front of Georges Island, Halifax

Name this one

Life of Reilly II
Peter with his staff out to check the ships out

Amastad

HMCS Bounty

Picton Castle

Gazel

Navy Fire Boat

Roseway

Some ships went east and some right to other ports

Halifax waterfront was packed

Enjoy, Derek

I'm Back from Saint-Pierre et Miquelon

Good Monday from Prospect.

My Possy, Mark, Peter, Richard, Dirk,Tom and me in front

Fishing boats, Saint-Pierre

Hey, I'm back. Been away for the week on the Route Halifax Saint-Pierre Ocean Race and have some stuff to share.

I effectively, lived without internet for a week and survived, funny huh? Lost it off Cape Breton and would only get updates when we were out sailing off the coast of Saint-Pierre. My phone and iPad would populate when I wasn't looking. It's not that the Island doesn't have internet, it was just difficult to acquire what was set up for the sailors. Too many people sharing the same connection. I kept a few logs to keep my mind up to date during the trip since I couldn't post daily.

The Route Halifax Saint-Pierre race starts in early July in Halifax harbour and finishes 2-3 days in Saint-Pierre. It's a sponsored event hosted by the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron and the Saint-Pierre Yacht Club.

The race was an amazing trip. It's not just about racing to Saint-Pierre to win honours, (we did capture 4th in our division for the ocean race and the Grand Prix with our canvas enclosure up) it's about a glorious 2.5 day trip to a wonderful place with amazing people.

I only knew 2 of our 6 crew when we left. Actually only met Dirk de Haan as we left the dock to start the race. By the time the week was over, and I had to leave, I had 5 great comrades with bonds for a life time.

Saint-Pierre

We were, Peter Blunden (skipper), Richard Dube (navigator and cook), Dirk de Haan (driver and main trim), Mark Jollymore (driver and trim), Tom Vokey (trim and driver) and myself (trim, photographer, inshore tactics).

The hearts of the Saint-Pierre people are huge and warm. They couldn't do enough for us and we were amazed. They are so gracious. Our host family, Jean-Pierre and José Poirer, were wonderful and I hope to see them again soon.

Mariners Monument, Saint Pierre et Miquelon

The weather, although I'm told is always foggy and cold, was warm and clear with moderate winds pushing us downwind to what I now refer to as the little northern Bermuda. Little European streets with brightly coloured houses, both shingle and stucco sided and a rich history dating back to the discovery of North America.

Anyone that has never been, or thinks it's not the place to go, needs to rethink. I'll fly back with my wife and daughter as soon as we can. It will be the leisurely cap to a great trip.


I've dropped in a few pics, enjoy, Derek

Peter and myself on Life of Reilly II before the start of the inner harbour race (Grand Prix on Thursday)

Saint Pierre

Post Office in Saint-Pierre

Crab Pots, I think

Our race fleet tied up at Saint-Pierre Yacht Club

Our race fleet tied up at Saint-Pierre Yacht Club

Saint-Pierre Yacht Club

Saint-Pierre

Last night meal on Life of Reilly II before I flew back

Summer Update from Nova Scotia

Okay, here I am again with updates to 2010.

Last time I left off talking about the Whale Car for the Bay of Fundy (June 5th launch). Which by the way has been a great success.

Terri McCulloch, Executive Director of the Bay of Fundy Tourism Partnership, has travelled all over mainland Nova Scotia and New Brunswick including a couple of trips back and forth across the Bay of Fundy on the Bay Ferries Princess of Acadia.

If you go to the Bay of Fundy Travel Show you can see what she has been up to.

Of course I shared the Route Halifax Saint Pierre Ocean Race start here in Halifax , Nova Scotia on the 10th of July. That race was an amazing one with record finishes and strong winds at the finish. Go to the Route Halifax Saint Pierre site to see the results and to check out more photos. You can check mine of the start at RHSP 2010 July 2010 start.

But now for a few updates. August brought exceptional weather to these waters for one amazing Chester Race week, August 11 - 14. If you've never experienced this event it is a must.

It is an annual regatta that attracts racers from all over the maritimes for the bragging rights of saying you won at Chester.

The weather couldn't have been better and for me it was the most enjoyable to date.

Aboard Ann Acland's new Archambault A31, Anticipation, we battled and won first place position in the A3 class. I must mention this boat was brand new, and as a crew, we had only sailed her for 4 events. The crew, consisting of 7 of the greatest mates I've had the privilege to sail with. I have been consistently racing with most of them for the past 5 years.

So when we won it was fabulous. To top that off we garnered the privilege of landing on the cover of the September issue of Canadian Yachting. That's me in red.

Here's the crew list as we appear in the photo ( Ann is actually between Owen and Phil in the grey cap) : A31 « Anticipation » crew : Rob MacLellan (CAN/Bow) – Derek Mason (CAN/Mast) – Jacqueline Stevens (CAN/Trim) – Owen Grace (CAN/Pit) – Philipe Dumaresq (CAN/Trim) – Cindy Roberts (CAN/Main & Tactics) – Ann Acland (CAN/Skipper & Helm).

To finish this one off, there are a couple of photos of our return trip from Chester on the 15th {HERE}. Even that was amazing. Note how calm the seas were on the way back. You'll also notice a number of fellow competitors sharing the day home.

Tommorrow, Hurricane Earl and Prospect, September 5, 2010.

Route Halifax Saint Pierre Ocean Race

Now although, through circumstances beyond my control, which I don't wish to go into, I was unable to join in the race to Saint Pierre from Halifax.

I t started here in Halifax on July 10 2010 and with a solid and steady 15 - 25 knot wind the race was completed by the first boat in just over 29 hours. If I'm not mistaken the first over was Derek Hatfields "Spirit of Canada".

Anyway, I was at least fortunate enough to go out on the harbour and photograph the start aboard Ann Aclands A31 Anticipation, which I sail as regular crew out of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.

Here is the gallery of the days events [http://www.justthat.ca/RH

SP_2010/July_2010_start/].

Those of you who are interested in purchasing any of these just email me at capture@justthat.ca.

The official site for the race is

www.routehalifaxsaintpierre.com.