NStYA Strait Challenge |
July 27-31, 2015
The NStYA Strait Challenge
is five days of
challenging point-to-point sail racing, in the warm waters of the
Northumberland Strait. The Challenge is
broken into four legs, the average distance will be about 35 nautical miles. The Challenge will begin in the New Brunswick
port of Shediac, boats will then head to Prince
Edward Island, with stopovers in Summerside and
Charlottetown. The fleet will have a
layover day in Charlottetown, the Birth Place of Confederation. The final 2 legs will have boats heading to
Nova Scotia, first stop is Barrachois Harbour, and the final leg will finish in Pictou. What makes the NStYA
Challenge unique is the fleet will be visiting 3 Atlantic Provinces, seeing
many historical provincial landmarks and community along the way.
The event is a NStYA Category A race series and will be sailed during
daylight hours. There are Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker Divisions, as well
as including a cruising rally for boats who want to participate in the
Challenge but do so at more relaxed pace.
The Northumberland Strait is the stretch
of water lying between the three Canadian
Maritime Provinces. Prince
Edward Island on the north, New
Brunswick and Nova Scotia
are to the south. The Strait is approximately 120 miles long
and it varies from 9 to 40 miles in width, and has a maximum
depth of approximately 27+ meters (80 ft). Two high and two low tides occur daily, the
maximum range is approximately 3+ metres and the
average 2+ metres (6 feet). At it's narrowest
point the Abegweit Passage, which is also the location of the
Confederation Bridge, these tides can sometimes result in currents of
more than 4 kts.
Prevailing winds are from the Southwest and fog is very rare on the
Northumberland Strait.
The NStYA Strait Challenge
Leg
One:
The 2015 NStYA Challenge will begin with one of
the longest running NStYA races, the Shediac to Summerside Race. It is approximately 30 nautical miles
overall, starting in the morning of Monday, July 27th, 2015 in Shediac. The start
will take place at the Point du Chene Yacht Club in Shediac Bay which is located at the Point du Chene wharf. The
fleet will leave Shediac Bay and start heading for Summerside. The
fleet will make strategic decisions as soon as the round the Shediac Bay Fairway bouy, either
cross the Strait and head for the “Red Shores” of the Island or stick to the
New Brunswick coast, playing the tides along Parlee
Beach the New Brunswicks Acadian coastal communities. The fleet will have seasonal winds that will
provide plenty of great sailing conditions.
Once the fleet reaches Bedeque Bay they will
see Seacow Head Lighthouse located on a high red
cliff. Rounding the Fairway Bouy, the fleet will follow the harbor markers into Summerside Harbour, and finish off
Summerside Yacht Club.
The restaurant at the Summerside Yacht Club will be open after the race where the results will be announced, and will be open for breakfast prior to Leg Two.
Leg
Two:
The Summerside to Charlottetown Race is new to
the NStYA Category A Race
Series although this route is traditionally part of the Annual Shediac to Charlottetown Race. This leg will be approximately 45 nautical
miles and will be the longest leg of the Challenge. Starting on Tuesday morning July 28th,
off the Summerside Yacht Club, the fleet will head
east toward Charlottetown. This leg will
feature many challenges for the fleet.
As the boats head east along the Island shores, they will need to pay
close attention to the tide as they pass through the Straits narrowest point
the Abegweit Passage.
The Confederation Bridge is also located here, giving competitors providing
another unique situation, passing under the massive 14 km long bridge. There are some significant reefs and shoals which
will keep the fleet paying close attention to their GPS, charts, plotters and
depth sounders. As they enter
Hillsborough Bay, keeping St. Peters Island to Port, the fleet will start
heading for Block House and the entrance to Charlottetown Harbour,
where the strong tidal current will keep the fleet on their toes until they
reach the finish line off Charlottetown Yacht Club.
After the race enjoy happy hour at Captain Jack's Bar and Grill upstairs above the Charlottetown Yacht Club Charlottetown Yacht Club. Awards and music to follow.
Lay Over Day:
The fleet
will enjoy a layover day in Charlottetown, the “Birth Place of
Confederation”. The Charlottetown Yacht
Club will play host to the fleet, there are many tourist attraction, historical
building and restaurants within walking distance of the Yacht Club. Charlottetown Yacht Club also has Wednesday
Night Racing, the fleet will be welcome to join into the clubs weekly series
for some great completion with the CYC race fleet.
Leg
Three:
Thursday morning, Captain Jack's at the CYC will be open at 0700 for breakfast before the Skipper's Meeting for Leg Three.
The Charlottetown to Barrachois Race is a 30
nautical mile sprint across the Strait.
Starting in the morning of Thursday July 30th, the fleet will
leave Charlottetown Harbour and into the Hillborough Bay, heading South towards the coast of Nova
Scotia. As they approach Amet Island and make their way into Amet
Sound, the finish line will be in Tatamagouche Bay. The Barrachois
Yacht Club will host the fleet. Sailing Instructions for Barrachois Harbour Yacht Club and Sunrise Marina
are here.
After the race, the Gazebo will have BBQ's for use, and the sunrise marina will have ice and fuel available for sale.
Leg
Four:
The Barrachois to Pictou race is about 35
nautical miles and will be the final leg for the fleet. Leaving Barrachois
in the morning of Firday July 31st, the
fleet will head out of Amet Sound and down the
Northumberland coast towards Gull Rock.
This trip down the Pictou County shore line will provide the fleet with
some great scenery and the challenging tide.
Gull Rock Buoy is one of the last turning marks as the fleet heads for
Pictou Harbour.
Competitors will be on watch for the Northumberland Strait Ferry which
makes daily crossing between Caribou and Wood Island. Continuing toward Pictou the fleet will follow
the navigational buoys at the month of the Harbour
and then head to the finish line located off Pictou Yacht Club.
Pictou Yacht Club will be the finish of the NStYA Strait Challenge
Friday Evening, July 31st, PYC will be hosting the final awards for the 4th Leg and the overall NStYA Strait Challenge at the PYC club house located at the Pictou Marina.
Awards for Leg 4 - Barrachois to Pictou:
1st Overall Leg 4
1st Class A,B,C,D
2nd Class A,B,C,D
3rd Class A,B,C,D
NStYA Flags and sponsor prizes
Awards for the NStYA Strait Challenge:
1st Overall
1st Class A,B,C,D
PYC will have a BBQ on for the evening and the bar will be open with a Happy Hour. Arrangements will be made for transportation to and from the club for boats who are berthed at the Hector Marina.
PYC will present the 4th leg Barrachois to Pictou awards and the overall NStYA Strait Challenge awards.
On Saturday morning there will be coffee and baked goods available at the club. The town of Pictou has some great little diners, Sharon’s Place is a 5 min walk for the Hector Marina, Carver’s is also within walking distance.
The Hector Marina is located in the downtown area of Pictou. For berthing information please contact Jamie Davidson 902 771-6960 or Dave Ferguson 902 771-2557
The Marina office number is 902-485-6960 and the website is www.townofpictou.ca/community-guide/sports-and-recreation/marina/
The Pictou Marina where the Pictou Yacht Club is located is a private marina with no visitor berths. There are some boats away during the week so there may be some berths available.
