Nova Scotia Pilot Notes
Coastal Summary 8 Cape Canso to Halifax 13
Entry Procedures 9 Halifax Approaches 13
Sydney to St. Peters Bay 10 Cape Canso to Halifax 15
Lennox Passage and 10 Halifax to Cape Sable 15
St. Peters Bay 10 Cape Sable to Yarmouth 16
St. Peters Canal 11 Cape Sable to Yarmouth 18
Chedabucto Bay Approaches 11 Yarmouth to Cape St. Marys 20
Coastal Summary
The Nova Scotia coastline stretches from Prevailing winds are SW in the summer,
the Bay of Fundy to the far ends of Cape and sailing vessels should anticipate nearly
Breton Island. Most commercial and yacht twice the voyage time transiting west as east.
traffic remains west of Halifax. Traffic drops The prevailing ocean currents flow toward
off noticeably east of the Canso Strait. the SW, but closer ashore, counter currents
There are few major yachting centers com- can occasionally be found, particularly W of
pared to the U.S. Halifax is largest commer- Halifax. Tides in the Bay of Fundy reach 30ft;
cial center. W of Halifax, there are numerous nearing the entrance to the bay, ocean cur-
smaller towns with some yacht facilities. E of rents are overcome by extreme tidal currents
Halifax, most small town harbors are domi- flowing in and out of the bay. Pay close atten-
nated by coastal commercial fishing fleets. tion to the rotary tidal diagrams on charts of
At Chedabucto Bay the Canso Strait and the Bay of Fundy approaches.
Canso canal connects to the Northumber- Sable Island is located about 120nm SE of
land Strait, Prince Edward Island and the St. Nova Scotia. The island is a sandbar with no
Lawrence Seaway leading to the Great Lakes. harbor or facilities, and landing there is for-
Cape Breton Island at the E end of Nova bidden without government permission. Stay
Scotia is mostly a remote coastline. Louis- well offshore of the island as shifting, sandy
bourg and Sydney are the main safe havens. shoals and currents surround the island.
Fog is prevalent throughout the region.
Planning
Halifax (0800-2400, Mon-Sun)
Yarmouth (0845-1700, Mon-Fri; 0800-1630, Sat-Sun)
CHS Coastal Charts
Saint John (0800-2400, Mon-Sun)
4010 Bay of Fundy 1:200,000
St. Andrews (0900-1700, Mon-Fri)
4011 Approaches to
Campobello (24 hours, Mon-Sun)
Bay of Fundy 1:300,000
Deer Island (Sept 16-June 30: 0900-1700, Mon-Fri;
4012 Yarmouth to Halifax 1:300,000
July 1-Sept 15: 0900-2000 Mon-Sun)
4013 Halifax to Sydney 1:350,000
Grand Manan (0845-1700, Mon-Fri)

Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC)
Public Holidays
Halifax, Nova Scotia 800-565-1582, 902-427-8200
New Year’s Day, January 1
Victoria Day, Monday on or before May 24
The Canadian Coast Guard monitors VHF 16 and
Canada Day, July 1
2182 kHz, and relays emergency calls to the RCC.
Labour Day, 1st Monday in September
Thanksgiving Day, 2nd Monday in October
Customs Ports of Entry Remembrance Day, November 11
See Entry Procedures below for additional Christmas Day, December 25
yacht check-in locations Boxing Day, December 26.
Sydney (0800-1700, Mon-Fri) Also Good Friday, Easter and Easter Monday.
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