After Monday’s 0500 departure and long distance, we had an early night and caught up on much-needed sleep. And we enjoyed a “grasse matinée” (sleeping in) with a luxurious 0700 departure time yesterday. We woke to a beautiful sunrise and were surrounded by seals, also sleeping in on nearby rocks.
We headed out onto the Atlantic for the run down to Halifax.
Although initially an intimidating prospect for fresh water sailors, sailing on the ocean can be very nice. The waves are smooth swells rather than the short chop of the Great Lakes, and the wind seems steadier. The downside is the salt. In only a month of being on salt water, we can already see the signs… dulled fiberglass, discolored stainless steel, stiff lines. We religiously rinse down everything whenever we’re in a marina, but it’s still hard to accept. Then again, these boats are made to sail, not as museum pieces.
The day was mostly calm until the last few hours when the wind picked up to the teens, and we were able to sail into Halifax Harbor under spinnaker.
We fueled up and docked at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. After five days on the hook, it was nice to put our feet on land. We enjoyed a casual dinner at the RNSYS clubhouse. It was a treat to have somebody else cook and wash the dishes. We’re excited to explore Halifax, and it looks like we’ll have almost a week to do so until there’s a break in the persistent Southwest wind.
