From Port au Choix to Summerside
Departure from Port au Choix (August 21, 2024)
We spent two nights in the harbor of Port au Choix, mainly waiting for diesel. On August 20th, the fuel was delivered by a diesel truck. We filled up almost 4,000 liters, which we desperately needed to continue our journey. The next morning, we cast off around 7:30 AM and set course for Bonne Bay.
Along the Coast of Newfoundland
The weather was fantastic, and with a tailwind of 3 Beaufort, we sailed comfortably along the coast. The coastline was stunning, with high mountains in the background. Since conditions were so favorable, we decided to skip Bonne Bay and sail directly to Chéticamp in Nova Scotia.
Bright Moon
The crew of the Gecko prepared for the last night at sea. We were treated to one last beautiful sunset. For the first time on this trip, we had a clear moonlit night. It was breathtakingly bright, and we could see quite far. The moonlight shimmered on the water.
Arrival in Chéticamp (August 22, 2024)
The night at sea was very calm. Early in the morning, we began our crossing from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia. We had to cross several shipping lanes, and at one point, we had to give way to a large tanker. We arrived in Chéticamp around 3 PM.
Generator Problems (August 23, 2024)
On the evening of our arrival in Chéticamp, we tried to start the generator to charge the batteries for the night, but it wouldn’t start. Later that evening, we discovered it was another starter battery issue. The next morning, we walked about 15 minutes to an auto parts store, which fortunately had a battery in stock. We replaced the battery, and thankfully, everything worked properly again. We didn’t want to set sail until this problem was resolved because we wouldn’t be able to start our auxiliary engine otherwise. Once the engine was running, we set course for Souris.
Journey to Souris
We had a beautiful sunny day on the water. It was only 60 nautical miles from Nova Scotia to Prince Edward Island, making for a delightful day trip. We left the high mountains behind and soon saw the low, red coastline of Prince Edward Island.
Last Day of Sailing on the Gecko (August 25, 2024)
In the morning, we set off on my last day of sailing on the Gecko, heading towards Summerside. We had 90 more nautical miles to enjoy on the Gecko. The weather was perfect for our final trip, and we sailed leisurely along the coast of Prince Edward Island. The last 30 nautical miles required navigating between numerous lobster pots. There were so many buoys in the water; I had never seen anything like it before. But it’s the season for it.
End of the Journey
We left the boat in Summerside, Canada. Bruce and Liz will continue the voyage at the end of September. For now, we all have to head home due to other commitments. The crew of the Gecko looks back on a successful journey, without major issues or frightening moments. The Gecko brought us comfortably to America. A trip we will never forget.
