By Captain Cheryl Barr

Why go boating on Northumberland Strait? Among the reasons cited are good marina facilities, friendly people, superb weather and the close proximity of historic towns and villages. Despite these factors, visitors seldom explore the region. Consequently, its waterways and marine facilities are uncrowded and locals are truly welcoming.

Northumberland Strait is roughly 100 nautical miles long with a distance across
that varies from 9 to roughly 20 nautical miles. The north shore is formed by Prince Edward Island whose coastline comprises a pleasant mixture of rolling green hillsides and rust-red bluffs. The southern shores of the strait belong to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, a low-lying coast that consists of sand dunes and many fine beaches.

Resident boaters boast of the region’s stable weather pattern—a predictable 15 to 20 knot southwesterly breeze, abundant sunshine and warm temperatures. In addition to fair and dry winds, it also boasts nearly perfect visibility. Water temperatures, too, are warm. Northumberland Strait reportedly has the warmest saltwater north of Virginia.

Pilotage on the Strait is easy. There is little shipping. The current sets east and is most noticeable along the shore and around headlands. Buoyage is toward the St. Lawrence River and harbour entrance channels are marked. A note of caution: buoys marking entrance channels into secondary ports are generally not lit and are often moved without notice to indicate the deepest water, therefore, they may not correspond to your chart. Last but not least, fog is rare. Early morning advection fog usually burns off by 08h00 making way for another perfect day on the water.

Anchorages are few as sheltered bays are shallow and dry at low tide. The region is, however, widely populated with marinas. These full-service facilities cater to all tastes and are ideal for refueling or reprovisioning. The larger, more easily accessed ports are Charlottetown, Pictou and Summerside. The facilities in these locations often provide a destination in their own right whilst the smaller marinas, public wharves and fishing harbours contribute to the overall network of services which make cruising Northumberland Strait a pleasure.