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The Tall Ships Nova Scotia Festival, July 13-23, 2007
Up to 30 Tall Ships will once again be participating in the Tall Ships Nova Scotia Festival this year. The festival is something not to be missed. Both day and multi day passes to the festival can be purchased. For information about the festival events visit tallshipsnovascotia.com.
The week following the Tall Ships Parade, many of the ships participating in the festival go on to visit different ports around the Nova Scotia coast.
In 2004, as part of the last Tall Ships Festival in Nova Scotia,
Europa put into Canso Harbour on August 3rd under clear blue skies as
did Bluenose II, a day later. The sight of both ships
entering the harbour under sail and quickly derigging was a sight to
behold.
Bluenose II moored overnight at Whitman's Wharf, the rigging all lit up and decked out in festive regale with flags. The following morning I woke early to catch the early morning sunight on the black hull of Bluenose II and the flags on the rigging stilled by the absence of a breeze.
I
caught a series of photos the following morning at daybreak as the sun
cast a rich glow across the water in the harbour. Then as the schooner
left Canso, I headed out by car to the Acadian port of Arichat on Isle
Madame to await her arrival there.
Heading across the causeway which crosses
The Strait of Canso, I was surprised by the turn in the weather conditions
and on arrival at the wharf in Arichat I was to find that fog and drizzling
rain occluded the view across the bay. Despite the weather though, there
was a crowd of interested onlookers already gathered under colourful
umbrellas for shelter.
Bluenose II appeared without the usual advance
warning from out of the fog, the bright yellow oilskins worn by the sailors
stark against the opaque background and the darkened hull.
To me the
most interesting part was watching the ship's master as he stood on the
deck, 
arms raised as if conducting an orchestra, while signing to his
crew to bring the hull alongside the wharf.
The ropes thrown onto the wharf, the ship was secured and the gangway readied to allow visitors on board for a tour of the boat.
This year, the Tall Ships will visit the ports of Port Hawkesbury, Louisbourg and Sydney in Cape Breton as well as several ports of mainland Nova Scotia. Plan your trip along the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia, if you are on your way to Cape Breton, and make sure you include one of these ports on your travel itinerary.
Best wishes,
Elizabeth
