Introduction

Cape Breton Island is the Ultimate Cruising Destination for many, and Cruising‑Cape‑Breton.info is your fact‑filled, #1 Info Site for essential, up‑to‑date information—whether you're a cruiser venturing to our island, or a new or experienced Cape Breton cruiser seeking new horizons. And, it's all FREE!
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  • No advertisements
  • No begging for donations
  • No nagging to "upgrade"
  • FREE to share with others

NOTE: On this website…
 • Internal Links are shown in RED,
 • External Links are shown in MAGENTA, and

 • Information Pop-Ups like this.
  • Internal Links work without an Internet connection.
  • External Links require an Internet connection.

Cruise Cape Breton—The Yachters’ Guide to the Bras d’Or Lakes, published such information in book‑format. It's long out of print and existing, dog‑eared editions contain much misinformation. Chart and illustration reproduction in later editions was of poor quality and several useful charts were omitted.

CLICK
HERE

A lot has changed since the original Cruise Cape Breton guide book was published in 1974 and last revised in 1992—not just around the island, but also in the way we navigate and communicate. Long gone are the days of Radio Direction Finders and even Loran‑C. With GPS and state‑of‑the‑art electronics, we navigate with a precision that was undreamt of then. However, change is continuous, making guide books out‑of‑date before they're ever published.
Cruising‑Cape‑Breton.info is our solution to this problem. As you can see from the "What's New?" column (right), we strive constantly to keep abreast of changes and to improve the accuracy, utility, and presentation of our information.
Read What Cruisers Say… about this site.

This is a never‑ending project, so check back for updates…
…this 'Home' page is revised every few days…

PDF iconAlthough many now have Internet access while under way, cellular‑phone signals are often poor or nonexistent in harbours and anchorages. So, much of the useful reference material linked to, or contained within this website—including eBooks of all the charts—may be downloaded in PDF‑format for printing or storing on a laptop or tablet computer for use aboard your vessel—just look for the PDF symbol. OR click Downloads to get what you need with just a click.

PDF-download
PDF-download

You'll need a PDF‑reader to view and print these documents—most web browsers include one. If you need one, just click a button to download the popular Adobe® Reader® or the better Foxit® Reader for free. Several other PDF‑readers are also available for free on the Internet.

Visit our CruisingCB Forum, where you can propose/discuss ideas for improving the website, app, and chart books, ask questions, and provide information or advice to help other cruisers and boaters enjoy our island. Join our FORUM, sign up, become involved!
Feedback is essential for guiding the development of this website.

HELP! This is a purely volunteer project. Please contribute by providing ideas, suggestions, corrections, additional information, or by writing material for inclusion on this website. Keeping information up‑to‑date and relevant is important and time consuming and all help will be greatly appreciated! Just Contact Us or post on our Forum. You're all encouraged to participate…don't be shy!

This website is not intended for smartphone viewing. Since Microsoft has abandoned all attempts to turn Internet Explorer into a viable browser, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Maxthon, Opera, or Safari (Mac only).

Course being hosted soon…
at Dobson YC

Places to eat?

Cruising-Cape-Breton
by boat and looking for a place to
eat, within easy walking distance?
Visit our new Eateries Page!
“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
“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
“Old and young, we are all on our last cruise.”
 —Robert Louis Stevenson
“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…” —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
WHAT’S NEW?
  • Mar 01 - Links page updated
  • Mar 01 - CCB App new version uploaded
  • Feb 25 - Supplies page updated
  • Feb 24 - Pub in D'Escousse
    • D'Escousse chart & info updated
    • Eateries Page updated
    • Chedabucto Bay eBook updated
  • Feb 06 - St Peter's 2016 Lock Hours
    • St Peter's Lock Hours updated
    • St Peter's & Canal chart updated
    • Bras d'Or Lakes eBook updated
  • Jan 01 - Abbreviations & Symbols
    • Abbreviations & Symbols added
    • Bras d'Or Lakes eBook updated
  • Dec 19 - Clarke Cove
    • Clarke Cove chart corrected
    • Bras d'Or Lakes eBook updated
  • Dec 12 - Bareboat Chartering info
    • Experience Boating page updated
    • Marine Services page updated
    • Links Page revised
  • Dec 11 - Dingwall Harbour
    • Dingwall info updated
    • Highlands Coast eBook updated
  • Dec 06 - Weather page updated
  • Dec 04 - Big Harbour
    • Big Harbour chart corrected
    • Bras d'Or Lakes eBook updated

Go Boating!

  • Coming without a boat?
  • Looking to charter?
  • Want to go Sailing?
  • Like to try Kayaking?
See Boating Experience for hands-on boating opportunities our Cape Breton operators have to offer…
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