Sailing The Strait Of Belle Isle In July

by John May 19, 2005

Question: We plan to go through the Strait of Belle Isle about July 1st. Is this practical given ice conditions? I have been told that a northeast wind can choke the Strait with ice at that time of year. I also have been told that ice is less likely on the Newfoundland side of the [...]

Which Cruising Guide For Newfoundland?

by John May 19, 2005

Question: I’m considering taking our new (to us!) 60′ schooner to Newfoundland, maybe instead to Labrador, this summer. I haven’t stumbled across any cruising guides for anything north of Nova Scotia. Any suggestions?

Northeast Coast Of Newfoundland 2005

by Phyllis December 20, 2005
A map showing aluminum expedition sailboat Morgan's Cloud's 2005 circumnavigation of Newfoundland.

A number of our friends have written that they have missed our news letters, which have been few and far between lately. Their reminders, plus the quickly approaching holiday season, have galvanized us into doing something about our long silence (due to a very busy schedule, not apathy!).

Which Way Around Newfoundland?

by John May 19, 2007

Question: I hope to have enough time this year to circumnavigate Newfoundland. Based on your experience, would you do such a circumnavigation clockwise or the other way?

An Attainable Adventure Cruise?

by John May 19, 2007
A harbour in Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, at high tide.

We spent Christmas in Nova Scotia. Phyllis’s family visited and her brother expressed interest in seeing the world record—there is some debate about this with some claiming that honor for Ungava Bay—tides in the Bay of Fundy; a great idea that spawned a car outing on a clear crisp day.

A Cruise Of The Outer Bay of Fundy 2007

by Phyllis November 19, 2007
Hiking on the shore of Cape Sable Island with the lighthouse in the background partially obscured by fog

We ended our newsletter of December 2006 with our plan for the summer of 2007, which was to cross to Europe via Greenland. Well, we weren’t far into 2007 when we realized that we would not be able to get the boat ready in time for the crossing—the triple blows of both our mother’s illnesses [...]

The Real Hard Men

by John June 19, 2008
Lobstermen haul a lobster trap off Cape Sable, Nova Scotia.

Two weeks ago Phyllis and I went lobstering with some friends out of Clarks Harbour on Nova Scotia’s Cape Sable Island. (Not to be confused with Sable Island, which lies to the northeast and further offshore.)

Why We Won’t Be Cruising Northern Labrador Anytime Soon

by Phyllis April 13, 2010
Polar bear

We have sailed the coast of Labrador many times and appreciate its rugged scenery, beautiful light, and isolation. So when the government of Canada decided to make the northern part a federal park, we were thrilled. But now that we can’t visit the Torngat Mountains National Park, we aren’t so thrilled anymore.

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

by Phyllis September 13, 2010
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Basecamp for Morgan’s Cloud is a cabin and mooring about 7 minutes’ drive from Lunenburg, a UNESCO heritage site, where we go regularly for groceries, the mail, the gym, etc. But we never take the time to wander around the town—our visits to Lunenburg are all about chores and errands.

Enough With The Northeast Wind

by John June 17, 2011
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Over the last 20 years I have sailed north toward Newfoundland from Maine or Nova Scotia more years than not and I thought I knew how to get it done:

The Land God Gave To Cain Or Nunatsiavut?

by John August 30, 2011
Labrador's forbidding coastline

[Written August 27] I believe it was the explorer Cartier who christened Labrador “The Land God Gave to Cain”. Obviously he was no fan of Labrador’s barren mountains and often gale lashed and fog surrounded shores.

Labrador, A Cruising Destination, Not A Way Stop

by John September 18, 2011
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I first sailed to Labrador back in 1993, but even that visit was part of a cruise that included circumnavigating Newfoundland, which is enough all by itself for one summer.

Cruising, The Unexpected Fun Experiences

by John September 19, 2011
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We were tied up alongside a fishery wharf in northern Newfoundland when the roar of powerful engines brought us tumbling up from below to see two seine boats attached stern to stern by a thick line and both at full throttle.

The Adaptable Polar Bear

by John January 3, 2012
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John and I just returned from a challenging Arctic cruise, one of many we’ve undertaken over the last 20 years. On all our previous voyages, we’ve only ever seen the back end of one bear running away from us…we were on the boat, steaming out of an anchorage in Northern Spitsbergen.