Pjila’si, Bienvenue, Fáilte, Welcome!

Welcome to Cruising‑Cape‑Breton.info; the essential, fact‑filled information resource. Whether you're a cruiser venturing to our island or a Cape Breton cruiser seeking new horizons, we have the up‑to‑date information you need. And it's all FREE! For many cruisers, Cape Breton Island is the Ultimate Cruising Destination.

Cruise Cape Breton: The Yachters’ Guide to the Bras d’Or LakesOlder editions called it "The Yachtsman's Guide"; later changed to "The Yachters' Guide" for political correctness!ⓘ gave such information in book‑format. Published in 1974 and revised last in 1992, it's long out of print and surviving editions contain much misinformation. Later editions omitted several useful charts; chart and illustration quality was poor.

INFO

A lot has changed since Cruise Cape Breton was published; not only around the island but also in the way we communicate and navigate. Today, satellites and modern electronics let us navigate with precision. But, change is continuous; it makes guidebooks out‑of‑date before they are published. Cruising-Cape-Breton.info is the answer. The ‘What's New’ column shows how we strive to keep up with changes and improve the information's accuracy, utility, and presentation. Read What Cruisers Say about this site.

Internet access is available while under way; but in harbours and anchorages mobile phone signals are often nonexistent. So, documents linked to, or provided on this website, including eBooks of charts, are downloadable in PDF‑format. Print them or store them on a laptop or tablet for use on board. Look for the PDF symbol, or visit Downloads for what you need.

HELP! This website is a volunteer project that evolves to meet cruisers' needs. Keeping information up‑to‑date and relevant is important and time-consuming. Please contribute by providing suggestions, ideas, criticism, corrections, or additions. Or help by writing material for inclusion on this website. All input is welcome! You're all encouraged to take part. Your feedback is important. Contact Us!

This is a never‑ending project—check back for updates!

“Believe me, my young friend, there is NOTHING—absolute nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”
—Water Rat to Mole in The Wind in the Willows

“Then there is the most dangerous risk of all — the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet that you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.” —Randy Komisar

“The lovely thing about cruising is that planning usually turns out to be of little use.” —Dom Degnon

“Cruisers don't have plans, just intentions.”
—David Skillings

“Some are weatherwise, some are otherwise.”
—Benjamin Franklin

“Cruising has two pleasures. One is to go out in wider waters from a sheltered place. The other is to go into a sheltered place from wider waters.” —Howard Bloomfield

“I loved cruising the coast of Maine. For one thing, it helped me conquer my fear of fog. Not that I have learned to feel secure in the fog, but at least I have learned how to grope without panic.”
—Herb Payson

“The ideal cruise requires a good yacht, pleasant company, and a strange coast with plenty of islands and rocks.”
—Humphrey Barton

“The first rule for coastal cruising: start early; finish early.”
—Anon

“Cruisers' plans are cast in Jell‑O.”
—Anon

“We have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea—whether it is to sail or to watch it—we are going back from whence we came.”
—JF Kennedy

“The planning stage of a cruise is often just as enjoyable as the voyage itself, letting one’s imagination loose on all kinds of possibilities. Yet translating dreams into reality means a lot of practical questions have to be answered.” —Jimmy Cornell

“I have travelled around the globe. I have seen the Canadian and American Rockies, the Andes, the Alps and the Highlands of Scotland, but for simple beauty, Cape Breton outrivals them all.”
—Alexander Graham Bell

“A basin ringed by indigo hills laced with marble. Islands within a sea inside an island.” —Silver Donald Cameron

“The prudent mariner never relies on a single source of information.” —Captain James Cook, 1728-1779

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” —Mark Twain

Much of this website's content is unsuitable for smartphone viewing. We recommend a tablet or larger with Chrome, Firefox, Maxthon, Opera, Safari (Mac only), or MS Edge. Internet Explorer (MSIE) is unable to correctly display the content.

On this website:

Internal Links are shown in RED
External Links are shown in BLUE
Information Pop-Ups like this
When using the App:
- Internal Links work without an Internet connection.
- External Links require an Internet connection.
The info-tip symbol Hover over it and it pops up like this.ⓘ brings up information snippets

♦ NAVIGATION NOTICES ♦

• Strait of Canso:

Transmission line installation at N45°39'23.14" W61°25'43.23" may restrict air draft at times. Vessels intending to transit the area are requested to contact the onsite safety vessel on VHF-16, 14, or 11, or by phone at 902-227-5368. Notship M1001/18

• Lennox Passage Bridge

is out of service until further notice. Passage is limited to boats with an air draft less than 18' (5.5m) at HHWLT. Notship M881/18

The Northern YC invites all boaters to join them for their Canada Day SailPast.
INFO HERE

♦ LATEST NEWS ♦

• Georges River BC:

Reports new clubhouse has showers for use by visiting cruisers.

WHAT’S NEW

Jun 22 - Western Shore
- Grand Étang chart and info updated
- Western Shore eBook updated
Jun 06 - Marine Services updated
Jun 01 - CCB App new edition uploaded
May 25
- Links updated
- Marine Services Providers revised
May 23 - Chedabucto Bay
- Key chart updated
- D'Escousse chart minor revisions
- Bourgeois Inlet minor revisions
- Chedabucto Bay eBook updated
May 20 - Eateries updated
May 11 - Western Shore
- Little Judique Harbour info updated
- Murphys Pond Harbour info updated
- Inverness Harbour chart updated
- Western Shore eBook updated
Apr 30 - CCB App new edition uploaded
Apr 28 - Lobster Seasons updated
Apr 23 - Supplies/Services revised
Apr 15 - Links updated
Apr 07 - Marinas & Yacht Clubs updated
Apr 01 - CCB App new edition uploaded
Mar 06 - Bras d'Or Lakes
- Little Bras d'Or info updated
- Entrance to North & Denys Basins chart & info revised
- North Basin chart revised
- Malagawatch & Basins key chart revised
- Bras d'Or Lakes eBook updated

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