Perfect sailboat day charter Nova Scotia, Canada

A private sailing voyage north from St Peter's across the Bras d'Or to see Baddeck and the surrounding area, returning

Experience hands-on sailing in the UNESCO Bras d'Or Lake Biosphere. Take command. Control the sails. No Rush II sailed for three days with skipper and crew. Accommodation for two nights at the Inverary Resort in Baddeck. Breakfast and supper are served ashore, with picnic lunches served on board. Your party can include up to 6 persons.

This is a hands-on sailing adventure on the famed inland sea of Cape Breton. Take the helm, handle the sails, assist with navigation, or simply sit back and enjoy. From sea level, you will get a first-hand contact with the pristine UNESCO Bras d'Or Lake Biosphere.

Meet your skipper and board the boat at our private dock in St. Peter's on your arrival morning. Get acquainted with the boat and examine the maps and our plan for the day.

We'll head out at midday across the island-studded St. Peter's Inlet. Take the helm, manage the sail, or simply relax and enjoy the journey and surroundings. You could see eagles, hawks, and a variety of gulls overhead, herons and deer along the coast, and a few seals in the water.

Picnic lunch aboard, and maybe a swim if time allows. We'll cross the main lake, which will likely have more wind and wave activity over the 12 mile journey. Then we'll go across Grand Narrows, where they'll build a bridge for us. On one side, we'll visit the historic Grand Narrows Hotel, and on the other, we'll view Highland Village (a Nova Scotia Museums site) in Iona. We are now entering the Great Bras d'Or Channel, heading for Baddeck and the Inverary Inn. Check into your accommodation to relax, then enjoy drinks and supper at the resort before taking a stroll through the resort parkland and sitting for some stories and songs around the waterfront fire ring.

After breakfast at the resort’s Lakeside Restaurant we’ll head out for a daysail to explore

From the sea, Baddeck. Before we set sail for the day, some visitors opt to spend the morning touring the Bell National Historic Site and Museum. We nearly always walk down into Baddeck Bay after leaving the pier to get a good look at the sprawling Alexander Graham Bell estate, Beinn Bhreagh.

Then we'll follow the wind to explore the Bras d'Or's northern reaches. We'll provide delicious picnic meals made at the resort. We return to our dock at the resort at the afternoon's conclusion for some onshore entertainment, supper, and a relaxing evening wandering about town or relaxing on the resort. And a nice night's sleep to prepare for tomorrow's lake crossing southerly.

We'll set sail at midday, heading south to St. Peter's. We are expected to have very different circumstances than on day one, depending on the wind direction, so there will be some new experiences and perhaps some additional sailing instruction. With a lot of practice.

We may venture into a remote bay for a swim and lunch, depending on the winds and your schedule. Guests who wish to learn more about navigation can assist the captain design our path and then track our progress on the computerized navigation equipment. By late afternoon, we'll be back at our home dock in St. Peter's.

You'll be sailing on a freshly renovated classic Canadian cruising sloop with plenty of character and modern comforts to ensure your sailing vacation is safe and enjoyable.

Our sailboat is a Niagara 35 sailing yacht designed by acclaimed marine architect Mark Ellis and constructed in 1980 by the iconic Canadian boatbuilder Hinterhoeller. She is one of 260 hulls manufactured in this type between 1978 and 1990. The Niagara 35 was designed as a passage-making yacht, built to the highest industry standards, and has proved to have accomplished Ellis' idea of '...building boats for longevity in the way they pleasure the eye and their durability in usage' for over four decades.

She likes to sail at 6 knots in our regular summer breezes and can maintain 7 knots or more when the wind picks up to 15 knots. She tracks readily, responds to the helm, and steers herself easily in a variety of situations. Tacking and jibing are a breeze because to the doubled mainsheet system and large self tailing winches for the foresail.

Captain and a crew of expert consultants and assistants have meticulously repaired and refitted it to near-new condition over the last 5 years. Upgrades for the twenty-first century include a solar-powered electrical system, electronic navigation instruments, refrigeration, LED lighting, new wiring and plumbing, a new diesel auxiliary engine, and other features.... Fresh rigging and canvas, new interior finishes and upholstery, warm air heating for the shoulder seasons, hot and cold running water, a well-equipped kitchen, and a private head are all standard features. It offers spacious accommodations for day sailing with up to six passengers or live-aboard for four. Both the vessel and the master have been approved in accordance with Transport Canada Small Vessel standards.

She is crewed and outfitted for day sails and multi-day expeditions on the Bras d'Or Lake and Cape Breton's coastal waterways.