Cape Breton Sailing Charters the Bras d'Or Crossing

Overview

A private 3-day sailing adventure with the captain aboard No Rush II

• Hands-on sailing experience in the UNESCO Bras d’Or Lake Biosphere
• 2 nights accommodations at the Inverary Resort
• Breakfasts and dinners ashore, picnic lunches onboard
• Your party up to 6 people

Day 1:

Meet your boat and captain in St. Peter’s in the morning. We’ll stow your gear and our picnic lunches, and get you familiar with No Rush II, our 35’ cruising sloop. After a wind and weather check, we’ll set sail for the storied village of Baddeck. The sailing time is about 5 hours. We may have the right conditions to stop for lunch and a swim in a quiet cove.

Arrive at Baddeck, tie up dockside at the Inverary Resort in the late afternoon, and check-in. We’ll recap our day and discuss tomorrow’s plans over arrival drinks. Dinner is served in the resort’s Lakeside Restaurant. Afterward, enjoy a walk on the grounds, maybe catch some live music, even a Ceilidh. Then to bed for a good night’s sleep.

Day 2:

Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the Inverary, then….depending on your preferences you may wish to visit local artisan studios, or the Alexander Graham Bell Museum. Learn some surprising things about one of Cape Breton’s more famous former residents. Bell built a beautiful estate here complete with labs for his many experiments and inventions including Canada’s first manned flight on Silver Dart in 1909, and water speed records with his experimental hydrofoils.

We’ll spend the rest of the day sailing and exploring the northern channels of the Bras d’Or. A chef will pack us a tasty picnic. There is amazing sightseeing from the water, opportunities to steer the boat and handle the sails, and learn some local navigation, take in local wildlife, history, and culture – at your pleasure. We can stop to anchor for a swim and lunch, or keep on sailing all day.

Return to our resort dock at afternoon’s end enjoy an arrival drink in the cockpit, and then have the evening for dinner, a walk through the village, perhaps some more local music, or star-gazing the big skies over Cape Breton. And then another good night’s sleep.

Day 3:

After breakfast at the Inverary, you may enjoy some last-minute village touring or souvenir shopping in Baddeck; before noon we will set sail southbound for our voyage back to St. Peter’s. By this time you will have some new sailing skills. Taking the boat home will give you some more steering and sail handling practice in open water, and then navigating the final island-studded passage home. Depending on the winds and weather and your preference, we could arrive back in St. Peter’s late afternoon or early evening.

Details:

This inclusive package is suitable for private parties of up to 6 people. Includes 3 days of sailing with your captain and guide on Cape Breton’s Inland Sea starting and finishing at St. Peter’s. Included are two nights’ accommodations in Baddeck at the Inverary Resort with breakfast and dinner (2 dinners, 2 breakfasts). Take-aboard picnic lunches are provided for our 3 sailing days.

Guests are encouraged to steer the boat and handle the sails with advice and instruction from the captain, or just kick back and relax.

No Rush II is a Niagara 35 bluewater cruising sailboat with ocean-crossing capability. She is a safe and comfortable vessel and a joy to handle for experienced sailors and newbies alike. Her responsive helm makes her a good boat for beginners to get the feel quickly.

The Inverary Resort is a long-established full-service hotel in Baddeck, at the hub of Cape Breton’s iconic Cabot Trail, on the shore of the Bras d’Or Lake. The Resort is known for its expansive and gracious grounds, excellent dining, and varied amenities including top local musical talent. Dinners are 3 courses, choice of anything on the menu. Alcohol is not included. Accommodations are based on double occupancy in a traditional room with 2 double beds or 1 queen. A king bed is available at a slight upcharge. Hotel shuttle service around the village included.

Cost:

Includes 3 days sailing, 2 nights accommodation, 3 lunches aboard, 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners ashore + amenities, etc. Based on double occupancy. Sales tax included.

For two people: $3,500. ($1,750/person)

For 4 people: $4,600. ($1,150/person)

For 6 people: $5,700. ($950/person)

• 1 or 2 extra people sharing a room: add $350 /person. Includes food, sailing, shore amenities, etc.

Additional nights can be added before or after your cruise at our departure/return port of St. Peter’s with a choice of several inns/b&bs.

Availability and Booking:

This package is available from late June through late September 2021, subject to prior bookings.