Trip next spring

[Serge Tremblay]

I own a Hunter 40.5, 1996, planing to leave Bermuda to New York down (up) the Hudson River to Erie Canal to Oswego canal to Lake Ontario then the Rideau canal to Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City out the St-Lauren's to the Maritimes to finally head back South, my big question is when I drop the 64' mass after Hudson River should I keep the mast on the boat or ship it to Montreal where I think it's possible to have it back up for the rest of the trip?
Any input is welcomed, I'm only at planning stage, any info is appreciated, also my first crossing after 9 years sailing around Bermuda!

 

[Caboteur]

Bonjour,

Nice trip planned; there are two limiting factors to your trip. The depth you draw and time... You are assured of four feet in the Rideau Canal. There is another shallow spot as you leave lake of Two Mountains to join the seaway and go to Montréal.

If you can find a transporter I would definitelyship the mast; crossing lake Ontario with the stick on top is a no-no.

If you draw more than 4 feet, 1,2m, I would by-pass the Rideau, keep the mast, pût it back up at Osweego, cruise the Thousand islands, sail down the St-Lawrence... Saguenay fjord, after Gaspé, stop in the Magdalen Islands, PEI, may be the Bras d'or, Halifax, Lunenburg and thénar, back to Bermuda.

Have a look at the Active Captain website, there is a wealth of info there.

Have a good trip.

 

[Spindrift NH]

Crossing Lake Ontario with the mast down but on board is a little scary. Did it the first day ever piloting Spindrift 30 miles down wind in 8 foot seas from Sodus Bay to Oswego. We were advised by the marina manager not to attempt the move and to wait for better conditions. Unfortunately we were on a tight schedule and had to move. We spend a day constructing the cradle to hold the mast and it worked out well. Completed the trip from Oswego to Lake Champlain 4 days and had a blast.

 

[Jean Guy]

Hi Serge that sound like a nice trip. I am in the Maritime I had a 40.5 until last year. I pick up a 430 from Michigan, once you hit Quebec city there is all kinds a place to stop, Riviere du Loup, Matane, Gaspe until Chandler. After Chandler you can stop to Caraquet or Shippagan or direct to the Shediac , PEI as you can't go underneath the bridge is Shippagan and it is an extra 8 hours to go around Miscou Island. All kind of nice spot going to Nova Scotia South Shore. After Nova Scotia you have the option to go along the coast of Maine or cut across to Cap Cod into Buzzard Bay which will take you little bit over a day. I am alway around Shediac in the summer at either Marina Shediac Bay or Pointe du Chene.

 

[Serge Tremblay]

Bonjour,

Nice trip planned; there are two limiting factors to your trip. The depth you draw and time... You are assured of four feet in the Rideau Canal. There is another shallow spot as you leave lake of Two Mountains to join the seaway and go to Montréal.

If you can find a transporter I would definitelyship the mast; crossing lake Ontario with the stick on top is a no-no.

If you draw more than 4 feet, 1,2m, I would by-pass the Rideau, keep the mast, pût it back up at Osweego, cruise the Thousand islands, sail down the St-Lawrence... Saguenay fjord, after Gaspé, stop in the Magdalen Islands, PEI, may be the Bras d'or, Halifax, Lunenburg and thénar, back to Bermuda.

Have a look at the Active Captain website, there is a wealth of info there.

Have a good trip.

Salut Caboteur,
Thanks for the info, looks like I may have to skip Ottawa since I draw 4'-11", just wanted to visit friends since I leaved there 13 years ago for 15 years, I'm glad to hear I can keep the mast from lake Ontario to Montreal, I would much rather sail then motor, thousand Islands also sound like a great area, leaves me more time to visit my parents in St Anne De Bellevue, if there not on board with me for part of the trip!
The balance of the trip should also be interesting lots of friends in Halifax, one of them would probable be on-board for both crossings!
I would like to get going as early as possible, if possible May would be my preferred departure time from Bermuda, Erie Canal would be just opening with high waters, not sure possible!
i will check the site you suggested for more info!

Thanks again!

 

[Caboteur]

Salut Serge,
Yes at 4'11" I would stay clear of the Rideau. You should be able to get to Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue unless the water is as low as it has been for the last few years.
Your time of departure sounds OK; the NY State Canals http://www.canals.ny.gov/navinfo/index.html usually open in late April depending on the snowmelt in the Adirondaks.
Your second limiting factor will be time... can this be a two season venture? It is very easy to winter your boat somewhere on the eastern seaboard either in Canada or in the USA. If not, when do you wish to return to Bermuda; though there is a hurricane season we are warned long enough in advance to stay away and reach our destination before mayhem breaks loose. I attached a PDF showing what would be my minimum time-frame.
I've done your proposed trip starting from close to Montréal but I cruised the US Eastern seaboard at the same time: from the Gulf of Maine to Boston and Buzzard's bay, Martha's Vinyard, Nantuckett and then participated in the Marion-Bermuda race. I did this trip over a three year period, wintering in Marion Massachussets and Oxford Maryland.
You will need two Richardson's Chartbooks: Hudson River and adjacent waterways, and Lake Ontario. From Sorel downriver there are no chartbooks you must use individual charts... however electronic charts cover the whole region. I have the whole region on paper charts which I could lend you if you promise to mail or otherwise get back to me (including Gulf of St-Lawrence, Nova-Scotia, Gulf of Maine to NY City. You will surely appreciate having chart #5161 which is a plotting sheet for the Newport to Bermuda race http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/5161.shtml.
Cheers, we got 45cm of the white stuff yesterday
Pierre

 

[sailingandsuch]

.....quite the step up from the Catalina 19! lol

This may be a joke, not sure if people of that "caliber" are even on this forum...

But hey, swing by and pick me up on the way to the Bahamas if you would!