Hi DDW,

Could be done in that timeframe, but that would be pushing it, and probably not making sufficient allowance for the extremely variable weather you might encounter there…

I think I spent about 15-16 days there myself, Fortune Bay was as far east as I got… Not nearly enough to do it “justice”, but on the other hand well worth the effort to get there. The weather was very unusual the during the summer I was there, I heard that everywhere I went, but the locals all suggest August, and better yet September, is the best time to be there…

Your itinerary sounds good, those are all nice spots. I’d add the Ramea Islands to the list, I stopped there both heading up, and back. Strategic location, nice community, the most “civilization” you’ll find east of Port aux Basques. I left from Ramea for an overnight back to the Bras ‘d Or, that worked out nicely…

I suppose it really depends on how late in the season you’re comfortable getting to Maine… Sounds like you’re like me, and in general like to keep moving. If I were in your shoes, I’d be comnfortable lingering in NFLD through perhaps the first week in September, then spend the rest of the month making my way back through the lakes and along the coast of Nova Scotia…. Wait for a good window to head across Fundy, and that would still leave you October to do whatever you wanted to do in Maine… That’s all highly dependent upon weather, of course, it could vary considerably from year to year., and is dependent upon how much you like sailing in cooler weather…. Being from SF, I doubt that would bother you much (grin)…

Bottom line is, I’d do whatever it takes to make it there, even if it’s just for a short time… Get east of Rose Blanche or Grand Bruit as quickly as you can, then play it from there… but I seriously doubt you’ll regret the effort to get out there, even if the weather turns out to be shit, it’s one of the most awesome places you’ll ever sail to, and there are no finer people to be found anywhere… I can’t wait to get back there someday…

Best regards,

Jon