June 15 09 - Head Harbour to Palmer Creek

80.4 km, 14 hours

Long day but it was worth it. On the Bay of Fundy you have a number of things to consider:

The weather - forecast was for 10 - 15 on the nose with fog and possibly rain. We had 5 knots of wind, sometimes enough to actually motor sail (see below re The Falls), no rain and no fog near us.

The current - when the tide comes in you can have 2 or more knots current in your favor, when it is going out, it is the opposite. We had both. (See below re The Falls)

The Falls - where the Saint John river enters the ocean at the city of Saint John (with its 30 foot tides) there is a phenomena called the Reversing Falls. During low water the River rushes through the gorge in a series of very spectacular rapids. At high water, the water rushes the other way (reverses) in a series of spectacular rapids. There is a 20 minute window when a sailboat can easily go through, about four times a day, at the end of each outward flow, when the flow becomes "slack water" and at the end of the inward flow - same deal. Two highs, to lows, four slack water times. And you can look them up and know months in advance when the slack will be. For us slack water was supposed to be at 1540. We left Head Harbour at 730 in the morning and had a bit of a current with us. Then a bit of wind that was favorable. The ETA at the falls was about 1400, so things were looking good. We knew as we got through to the next tide we would pick up some current. Then we ran out of helpful current and our speed went from 7 knots to less than six. ETA - 1435, then 1455. Uggg - if we miss this 1540 slack we have to wait about six hours for the next one.

About 2 1400 (w pm) we were back up to 6 knots and then we got some wind and were up to 6.8 knots and our ETA kept getting better and better. At one point it was 1525. Yes! We would make it with time to spare. We were heading into Saint John harbour with the jib out full, the current pushing us and a speed of 7.2 to 7.5 knots. That's really moving!

Remember - the current is caused by the tide coming in and out. And when the tide changes - there is what we call a "tide line" Yes - an actually line with sometimes some floatsum or scum or stuff. And just inside the mouth of the harbour we hit the tide line. Speed 4.2, 3.8 and an ETA that kept getting later and later. Our 1525 became 1400 and then 1420. We were pretty sure we could get through up until 1400, after that it was iffy. A

Through the harbour and turning towards the Falls the current slowed and we were back up to 6.2 knots, and yes - we made it with a bit to spare.

So, instead of going to the RKYC just into Grand Bay we continued on until 2045 and anchored in Palmer Creek. Long day - but it makes for a short won tomorrow.

Rik