Preparing for Cruise


A few days ago we received the schedule for the Points East Fundy Flotilla which we’ll be joining. Currently, there are 32 boats registered. Here’s the schedule:

Saturday, August 9: Northeast Harbor, crew meeting at a downtown church, noon-3:00; drinks 5-6:30 at the Main Sail Restaurant at the harbor, followed by buffet dinner.

Sunday, August 10: Cruise to Cutler, Maine. Anchor, go ashore for lobster supper at the Methodist Church.

Monday, August 11: Cruise to Grand Manan . . max flood (1+ knots) in the Grand Manan Channel is approximately 1300 ADT, so plan accordingly. Moor or berth at North Head Harbor. Be prepared to raft at the floats. Go ashore to clear customs. dinner at The Inn at Whale Cove. Two seatings. Transportation will be provided. menu is al la carte; food is excellent.

Tuesday, August 12: Cruise to Saint John, arriving in plenty of time to pick up our “pilots” in the harbor and get to the Reversing Fall in time for low slack at 1930 ADT. Continue up the river and to the RKYC for moorage and dockage (if the latter is available). Be prepared to raft on the moorings.

Wednesday, August 13: Relax, clean up, banquet in the evening upstairs at the RKYC.

Thursday, August 14: Mid-morning tour of the operations center of Fundy CG Radio and Fundy Traffic in downtown Saint John. Then free time downtown. The RKYC puts on its usual Thursday night buffet and flotillians are invited – but you have to make reservations ahead of time.

Friday, August 15: enjoy the river.

Saturday, August 16: ditto.

Sunday, August 17: At Gagetown Marina; Flotilla dock party in the afternoon.

Monday, August 18: All-day outing to Kings Landing, including bus transportation, guided tour of the reconstructed early-19th century village, private-room luncheon.

Tuesday, August 19: Outdoor BBQ at the marina. Possible trip to Fredericton beforehand, if we’ve got a few fast cruisers to cart everyone up there.

Wednesday, August 20: Back to the RYC in order to be ready for an early – very early – crossing of the Reversing Falls.

Thursday, August 21: Cross the Reversing Falls at high slack (0535 ADT) and continue on to St. Andrews. Mooring or anchoring. No docks.

Friday, August 22: In St. Andrews, a great town for walking, shopping, dining.

Saturday, August 23: High tide is 0454 ADT, and you’ll want to be ready to head out of the harbor early, if you’re one of the slower boats, in order to ride the ebb to Eastport. There are additional docks and moorings in Eastport this year, which will be explained later. Upon arrival at Eastport, report in by calling Customs and Border Protection in Houlton, Maine. Then present yourself and your documents and those for your vessel and your crew to the Customs officials who will either be on the docs or in their office adjacent to the harbor.

Sounds like a great cruise!

We’re making progress in getting Sanderling ready for the trip. Most everything is completed except reworking the battery banks, and that should occur in early April.

We now plan to depart our marina on April 30th and take our time heading north (unlike our trip north in 2006). We’ll spend some time on the Chesapeake, renewing our acquaintance with some of our favorite spots and possibly heading up the Potomac River to Washington, DC. We also hope to spend more time on Long Island Sound, Narragansett Bay, and in Maine prior to the Fundy trip.

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