Why would you want to "do" the coast? I.e., do you need to have a schedule that that's rigid, i.e., which will restrict you to (as you say) 8 days or so on the south coast? Especially since, as you say, you'll likely never get back there again... Seems to me that, in general, a little, but in depth, is much better than a lot, but just scratching the surface. Quality over quantity.

We spent five months going 2000 miles north (as the crow flies, but covered 3000 miles in total) from Vancouver, BC to Glacier Bay, AK and back last year. It was entirely too rushed. Alas, we had two schedule items pushing us --the need to get to Glacier Bay by mid-July (esp. since there is a quasi-lottery system the National Park Services uses to restrict the number of boats that can enter during any single week in the summer), and the need to get back to Vancouver by the end of August for work/school. It sucked having a schedule, but that was the reality of the trip. I wouldn't do it again on such a schedule...the only tight schedule I'd willingly be led by again is seasonal weather, really.

All I'm getting at is, do you need to limit the amount of time you spend in Nflnd? And, if so, why "do" the coast, trying to cover lots of ground in a rush? No fun to rush (unless it's sailing fast on a nice reach ) If you're coming out the St. Lawrence and can make the time for it, why not go up the Strait of Belle Isle and go around Nflnd and take your time seeing other, more remote, parts of the province?

But maybe this is all a moot point, and you do have a schedule to keep...in which case...break your schedule! (Ah, it's so easy to give advice, when I'm not the one actually going ) But, personally, I'd be inclined to head up Belle Isle Strait (ice-depending) and experience the outside coast of Nflnd if I wasn't likely to ever get back to Nflnd again. I'd probably spend a good coupla three weeks going around, I suppose. Then again, everyone's cruising plans are different, and the eight days you spend on the south coast might be fantastic and just right for you on your way south, which is where I assume you're headed! (But just think, if you kept heading east, you could cruise the SW coast of Greenland --how cool would that be!-- before heading south in late summer for the East coast US.

Leave it to me, I'll un-plan your eight-day blitz of the south coast of Newfoundland