2003 Sabre 362 "Sea Quester"

Day 1: Monday, July 17, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Departed at 6:54 a.m. from Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, United States en route to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Sea conditions: Steady fifteen knots of wind over the starboard beam, fog beginning in the afternoon

Boat breakages: None!

Culinary delicacies: Bagels with cream cheese, smoked salmon, tomato, red onion, and capers for breakfast, dinner of fusilli with tomatoes, pesto, and artichokes accompanied by garlic bread

 

Day 2: Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Sailing itinerary: At sea

Sea conditions: Light winds, one meter sea with swells late in the day, continued fog

Boat breakages: Two days without a breakage!

Culinary delicacies: French toast with strawberries for breakfast, stir-fried shrimp with onion, bell peppers, and cumin rice accompanied by corn on the cob and followed by strawberry-blueberry cobbler with pecans and cinnamon for dinner

 

Day 3: Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Arrived at 9:20 p.m. in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Passage data: 362 nautical miles

Sea conditions: Over twenty knots of wind, 3-5 foot seas pushing us along the southwest coast of Nova Scotia, continued fog clearing upon arrival in Halifax Harbor

Sailing story: Arrival at dusk means no night watches!

Boat breakages: Three days without a breakage!

In-port fun: Dinner at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron

Culinary delicacies: Grilled cheese with spinach and fig jam for lunch

 

Day 4: Thursday, July 20, 2017

Sailing itinerary: In port

Boat breakages: Four days without a breakage!

In-port fun: Dinner at Eliot & Vine

 

Day 5: Friday, July 21, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Departed at 10:59 a.m. from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada en route to Saint-Pierre, France

Sea conditions: Good wind with favorable seas to start, then light winds, calm seas

Nature alert: Curious seal in Halifax Harbor

Boat breakages: Five days without a breakage!

Culinary delicacies: BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato) sandwiches for lunch

 

Day 6: Saturday, July 22, 2017

Sailing itinerary: At sea

Sea conditions: Light winds followed by 20 knot winds gusting to up to 40!

Sailing story: We hit something at 2:00 a.m., maybe sleeping marine life as evidenced by the splashing behind us we saw from the cockpit.

Boat breakages: Six days without a breakage!

Culinary delicacies: Blueberry pancakes for breakfast, shrimp and corn quesadillas with boat-made guacamole and chips for lunch, apricot chicken accompanied by a rice blend and green beans for dinner

 

Day 7: Sunday, July 23, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Arrived at 7:45 p.m. in Saint-Pierre, France

Passage data: 364 nautical miles

Sea conditions:

Nature alert: First puffin of the trip!

Boat breakages: Seven days without a breakage!

Culinary delicacies: Homemade granola with peaches and blueberries, shrimp and corn salad with citrus vinaigrette

 

Day 8: Monday, July 24, 2017

Sailing itinerary: In port

Boat breakages: Eight days without a breakage!

In-port fun: Lunch at Les P’tits Graviers avec un pichet du vin, dinner at Le Creperie with Thierry

 

Day 9: Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Sailing itinerary: In port

Boat breakages: Nine days without a breakage!

In-port fun: Lunch at Nico’s Grill avec un pichet du vin, rum drinks aboard the Good Boy, dinner at Restaurant le Feu de Braise with Thierry

 

Day 10: Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Departed at 4:25 a.m. from Saint-Pierre, France, en route to St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada

Sea conditions: Foggy with sun above, variable winds of 5-15 knots, 1 meter seas

Boat breakages: Ten days without a breakage!

Culinary delicacies: Saint-Pierre croissants for breakfast, celery-cream cheese sticks with tuna salad on a baguette for lunch, Greek meatballs with herbed orzo for dinner

A special thanks to: Thierry’s mother for a very delicious carrot cake

 

Day 11: Thursday, July 27, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Arrived at 1:38 p.m. in St. John’s, Newfoundland

Sea conditions: Variable winds up to more than 20 knots, 1 meter sea, sunny skies

Passage data: 206 nautical miles

Nature alert: First iceberg of the season grounded by Bay Bulls, whales to port and starboard

Boat breakages: Eleven days without a breakage!

In-port fun: Ben met us at the boat. So did Canadian Customs, and they even made us a sign for our porthole!

Culinary delicacies: Boat-made banana muffins for breakfast

 

Day 12: Friday, July 28, 2017

Sailing itinerary: In port

Boat breakages: Twelve days without a breakage!

In-port fun: Rum Ragged lunch concert at Harborside Park with a picnic lunch from Rocket, spectacular hike from the Battery to Cabot Tower, tuna tartare followed by additional deliciousness ant Merchant Tavern, music and drinks with Ben

 

Day 13: Saturday, July 29, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Departed at 6:00 a.m. from St. John’s, Newfoundland, arrived at 6:25 p.m. in Trinity, Newfoundland

Sea conditions: Poor visibility initially then brilliant sun, a 1 meter sea, 5-15 knots

Passage data: 76 nautical miles

Boat breakages: Thirteen days without a breakage!

Nature alert: Big iceberg grounded off Baccalieu Island on Collins Ledge in about 164 feet of water

Sailing story: We took a detour to view the amazing iceberg contours and colors. We also used the net we have on board for its intended use, picking up a piece of iceberg ice for drinks! As we headed for one of the smaller bergie bits, as they are called, we heard a loud crack. With visions of a huge piece of ice calving off the berg or, even worse, the whole iceberg capsizing, we got our ice and got away before our boat got swamped.

Culinary delicacies: Grilled cheese with pesto and tomato accompanied by a lettuce, tomato, and red onion salad topped with balsamic vinaigrette

In-port fun: Dinner with Cyril and Madeline and their family, then back to the Trinity rendezvous weekend for drinks!

Fun facts to know and tell: How to have a Trinity rendezvous weekend: 1. Sail your boat across Trinity Bay even if the wind is, as they say in Newfoundland, “blowing like stink.” 2. If you need to, raft three deep at the Dock Marina. 3. Bring in a big chunk of iceberg ice in the back of a pickup truck. Don’t forget the hatchet. 4. Transport, also by pickup truck, about ten grills down to the dock. 5. Stock up on Iceberg beer and rum. 6. Use the hatchet to break off chunks of the iceberg. 7. Make a round of rum drinks with iceberg ice and listen to the ice pop. 8. Cook up a feed. 9. Invite anyone on the dock to join you and offer whatever you have to folks, even if you have never met them before. 10. Party well into the night.

 

Day 14: Sunday, July 30, 2017

Sailing itinerary: In port

Boat breakages: Thirteen days without a breakage!

In-port fun: A rendezvous with Stu and Lil for tour of the Random Passage Site, a stop to look around at Joe’s Bar from the movie The Grand Seduction, and dinner at the Dock Restaurant followed by a boat tour for Bob and Ian.

Culinary delicacies: Apple pancakes for breakfast

A special thanks to: Stu and Lil for the most delicious snow crab, a blackberry pudding, and some rhubarb muffins.

For the future: Fishing with Stu and Lil!

 

Day 15: Monday, July 31, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Departed at 11:49 a.m. from Trinity, Newfoundland, arrived at 6:47 p.m. in Bonavista, Newfoundland

Sea conditions: Winds 15-28 knots, seas 1-2 meters, some fog but mostly clear skies

Passage data: 41 nautical miles

Boat breakages: Fourteen days without a breakage!

Culinary delicacies: International bread basket of carrot cake from Thierry in France, rhubarb muffins from Stu and Lil in Canada, and banana-nut muffins from Lori from the United States

In-port fun: Tea aboard Sugar, dinner at Skipper’s Restaurant, Bonavista fireworks, a chat with visitors from Switzerland aboard the Sea Quester

 

Day 16: Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Sailing itinerary: In port

Boat breakages: Fifteen days without a breakage!

In-port fun: Puffin watching in Elliston—puffins just 100 feet away!

Culinary delicacies: Dinner of antipasti platter featuring olives, grilled artichokes, pepperoncini, and fresh mozzarella and grape tomato salad with boat-made balsamic vinaigrette; garlic-cheese bread; pappardelle bolognese; and strawberry-blueberry cobbler with pecans and cinnamon with whipped cream in addition to Aunt Sarah’s chocolates on board with Ben and Bob

 

Day 18: Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Departed at 3:55 p.m. from Bonavista, Newfoundland, arrived at 8:36 p.m. in Selvage, Newfoundland

Sea conditions: Favorable wind, 1 meter seas in swells, sun

Passage data: 25 nautical miles

Nature alert: Whale right next to the boat!

Boat breakages: Sixteen days without a breakage!

Thanks to: Three out of three folks on sailboats who searched the dock for a spot for us when we arrived in Selvage, and to Bob and Madonna who invited us on board for snacks, tea, and lots of incredible stories!

 

Day 19: Thursday, August 3, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Departed at 3:29 p.m. from Selvage, Newfoundland, arrived at 7:29 p.m. in Minchin Cove, Newfoundland

Sea conditions: Winds 5-15 knots, 1 meter seas, sunny and warm

Passage data:

Boat breakages: Seventeen days without a breakage!

In-port fun: Fishermen loaded a tractor trailer full of crab. Yum!

Culinary delicacies: Lazy crab from Lil and Stu, baked potatoes, and corn on the cob

 

Day 20: Friday, August 4, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Departed at 9:52 a.m. from Minchin Cove, Labrador, arrived at 4:18 p.m. in Silver Fox Harbor, Newfoundland

Sea conditions: Seas 1 meter, 5-15 knot winds, sunny and warm

Passage data: 38 nautical miles

Boat breakages: Eighteen days without a breakage!

Nature alert: Rock with two arches in Arch Tickle at the entrance to Barrow Harbor, whales right beside and in front of the boat during the passage

Fun facts to know and tell: Number of people who invited us in during our walk around the harbor: 3! We enjoyed meeting Uncle Lou, Harry, and Carl.

Thanks to: Irma, Gloria, and Roger for offering us their wharf, partridgeberry tart, raisin cakes, and drinks, in addition to comradery, and then sending us off with more raisin cakes, freshly-made bread, and some very fresh and flaky cod fillets

For the future: Fishing for cod off Silver Fox island

 

Day 21: Saturday, August 5, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Departed at 6:11 a.m. from Silver Fox Harbor, Newfoundland, arrived at 4:51 p.m. in Seldom, Newfoundland

Sea conditions: Seas 1 meter or less, winds 5-15 knots, sunny and warm with spectacular views

Passage data: 65 nautical miles

Boat breakages: Nineteen days without a breakage!

Nature alert: Lots of whales en route, gannets dive-bombing, the occasional puffin

In-port fun: Accordion and guitar music at the dock from Kyra Morgan, a Fogo Island native, and George, traveling with Jim aboard Persalis

Culinary delicacies: French toast with accompanied by fruit salad, English muffins with tuna, celery, and red onion with lemon vinaigrette topped with tomatoes and served with corn chips, fresh mozzarella and tomato salad with balsamic vinaigrette followed by pasta bolognese

Fun things to know and tell: Here’s a cod fishing record from today in Seldom, Newfoundland: 15 fish in 11 minutes! Tomorrow is the last day for the cod fishery.

Thanks to: George and Jim aboard Persalis for some very tasty and warming turkey soup

 

Day 22: Sunday, August 6, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Departed at 3:15 p.m. from Seldom, Newfoundland, arrived at 7:42 p.m. in Fogo, Newfoundland

Sea conditions: Seas 1 meter or less, winds 10-20 knots with blow-me-down gusts over 30 knots at the coast, sunny and warm with clouds moving in

Passage data: 21 nautical miles

Boat breakages: Twenty days without a breakage

Culinary delicacies: Crab and corn quesadillas with boat-made guacamole and salsa, then pan-fried cod from Irma, herbed potato wedges, and cole slaw followed by Lil’s blackberry pudding and Aunt Sarah’s chocolates from Trinity

Fun things to know and tell: Number of people who came by car or boat to help us upon arrival in Fogo: 2, number of people who offered us a car for errands: 2, number of people who drove us around town for a tour: 3, number of people who offered us a spot at a wharf and checked on us every day: 1, number of gallons of partridgeberries gathered by Marian last summer: 14!, number of people living in Fogo in 2011: 658

Thanks to: Glen for offering us his wharf and checking on us to make sure we were all set, Bill and David for giving us a ride here and there

 

Day 22: Monday, August 7, 2017

Sailing itinerary: In port

Boat breakages: Twenty-one days without a breakage!

In-port fun: Lunch at Beaches Bar & Grill and then a tour around the island

Nature alert: First caribou sighting!

Thanks to: Marian and Wayne for transporting us to an unforgettable place with a tour to all of Fogo’s wondrous bays and harbors

For the future: A visit to Funk Island and a shed party with our new friends Marian and Wayne!

 

Day 23: Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Departed at 11:37 a.m. from Fogo, Newfoundland; arrived at 6:55 p.m. in Exploits, Newfoundland

Sea conditions: 20 knots of wind just off the nose dying down to less than 10 knots and a calm sea, sun with clouds throughout the day

Passage data: 43 nautical miles

Boat breakages: Twenty-two days without a breakage!

Culinary delicacies: Cereal with Gloria’s raisin buns, turkey soup courtesy of George and Jim and served with Gloria’s bread, lettuce and tomato salad topped with red wine-thyme vinaigrette, poached cod with potatoes, corn, and scallions made with Irma’s cod

 

Day 24: Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Departed at 2:29 p.m. from Exploits, Newfoundland, arrived at 7:05 p.m. at God’s Pocket, Newfoundland

Sea conditions: Light winds against us, a calm sea, sun with clouds

Passage data: 27 nautical miles

Boat breakages: 0 days without a breakage

Sailing story: Despite the fact that we haven’t fished off the Sea Quester, we caught two fish just as we attempted to leave Exploits. Here’s how it happened: It started with an observation that there was no water flowing out of the exhaust pump. A check of the impeller indicated that it was in perfect condition, which was a disappointment, as it meant that more troubleshooting was in order. Guess what washed out when we checked the intake? A fish, about 5-6” in length! Our excitement at locating the problem turned to frustration—and maybe a little bit of dread—when we turned on the engine and saw, yet again, no water from the exhaust pump. The tedious troubleshooting process, which was no picnic and took a lot of time, was successful as we discovered that a second fish had made its way all the way to the strainer before completely clogging our intake. Fish overboard, salt water intake in working order!

Culinary delicacies: Spiced pecan waffles topped with banana and maple syrup, no lunch due to fish intake crisis, Gloria’s bread followed by an antipasti platter and then herbed chicken tortellini and boat-made sauce for dinner

 

Day 24: Thursday, August 10, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Departed at 9:48 a.m. from God’s Pocket, Newfoundland, arrived at 10:59 a.m. at Leading Tickles, departed at 12:03 a.m. from Leading Tickles, Newfoundland, arrived at 7:08 p.m. at Lewisporte, Newfoundland

Sea conditions: Winds ranging from less than ten knots to over twenty knots, mostly against us; seas 1 meter or less, sun and clouds with scattered showers

Passage data: 7 nautical miles, then 43 nautical miles

Boat breakages: Yay! 1 day without a breakage

Nature alert: Bald eagle sighting in God’s Pocket

In-port fun: The Little Newfoundlander at the Hann’s Point Theatre Festival

 

Day 25: Friday, August 11, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Departed at 7:22 p.m. from Lewisporte, Newfoundland en route to Change Islands, Newfoundland

Sea conditions: Very light winds, no sea, beautiful clear night lit by the moon

Boat breakages: 2 days without a breakage!

Sailing story: The good news is that diesel fuel would be delivered by truck today, which would enable us to fill up on fuel before we departed. The bad news is that, at the time the fuel was delivered, it was low tide and we had to wait two hours for the tide to rise!

In-port fun: Conversation with Lewisporte Yacht Club members, lunch at Café by the Bay in Campbellton

A special thanks to: Carolyn and Peter for a ride around town, Rich for lending us his car

 

Day 26: Saturday, August 12, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Arrived at 7:09 a.m. in Change Islands, departed from 6:27 p.m. from Change Islands en route to St. John’s, Newfoundland

Sea conditions: A quiet night with calm seas and little wind

Passage data: 51 nautical miles

Boat breakages: 3 days without a breakage!

Nature alert: Meteor showers

Sailing story: Having heard a nearby engine just after we arrived at the dock, we popped up from the cabin and exchanged impromptu hellos with Linda, Wallace, and family as they headed into port. A few minutes later, they returned. No matter that we have known each other for a total of three minutes, Wallace asked “Would you like some fish?” Fresh cod, just caught! I had to say no because the had not yet been filleted and I didn’t have a knife on board to do the job. No problem! Our new friend filleted the fish right in the boat in just a few minutes. Amazing!

In-port fun: Lunch the Harbor View Café, a tour of the area by car, and drinks from the porch overlooking the sea at Vince’s house

A special thanks to: Linda and Wallace, who shared their fish catch with us, and to Madge, who lent us her car

 

Day 27: Sunday, August 13, 2017

Sailing itinerary: At sea

Sea conditions: A 2+ meter sea of choppy waves, over 30 knots of wind not in our direction, foggy with rain before the wind and seas calmed down

Nature alert: Spinner dolphins observed jumping straight up and totally out of the chaotic waters of Bonavista Bay!

Sailing story: We took a lot of water over the bow today, and it was not pretty.

Boat breakages: It’s true! 4 days without a breakage!

 

Day 28: Monday, August 14, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Arrived at 6:44 a.m. in St. John’s, Newfoundland

Passage data: 186 nautical miles

Sea conditions: Winds variable and then gusts of over 30 knots, seas 1 meter, periods of rain

Sailing story: We’re famous! Our sailing story was featured on ntv’s 6:00 p.m. news!

In-port fun: Camera crew on board, lunch with Ben at Oliver’s, a visit with Madeline and Cyril

A special thanks to: Ben and Madeline for driving us here and there, Madeline and Cyril for a feed of scallops and cod tongues

Day 29: August 15, 2017

Sailing itinerary: Departed from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada en route to either Saint-Pierre, France or Louisbourg, Nova Scotia

Sea conditions: Favorable westerly wind of 20-30 knots with frequent gusts of over 30 knots, seas 1 meter, sunny

In-port fun: Lots of on-shore treats including sumptuous breads and sweets at Rocket for the passage, ice cream in waffle cones before lunch, and take-out sushi for lunch on board

Sailing story: We thought for sure that we would be dogged by sailing enthusiasts seeking autographs or paparazzi intent on capturing a few shots of us now that we’re celebrities, but no! Maybe everyone was just too busy checking out the front page of wntv.ca, where we are featured, to spot us…

Culinary delicacies: Braised cod from Linda and Wallace accompanied by couscous and followed by a Rocket lemon tart with merengue