Hare Bay Hump Backs

Hare bay. Just a short sail from “Franz Way” but we were waiting for the wind to change direction and allow us south to the french islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. This Fjord has a reputation for being one of the best salmon rivers. And I was pretty keen to take a walk up, it and see the pools. As always we set off in light wind, but the time we reach the entrance it there was 25 knot pushing us in and we were concentrating quite hard on handling the boat through the high sided entrance when we saw a large splash on the port side. No idea what it was but we kept an eye on the area. Then right on cue a pectoral fin appeared out of the water about 50 metres away followed by a tail fin at the same time. It was a humpback frolicking about while fishing for salmon. It seemed like quite a small whale but very happy with the world it breached a couple of times and flapped about on its side. I would have got better pictures but was busy flapping about in the wind trying to turn the boat round for a second pass. Absolutely top excitement . We sailed on deeper into the rocky fjord passing a new aquaculture development.and then left into the north west arm. And towards sandy point and our intended anchorage for the night. What people never talk about when sailing is the knowledge that your plan might go tits up at any time. And in these kind of places it’s very hard to have a rock solid back up plan. The plan looked like it was about to go tits up. There was 30 knot blowing through the anchorage that we had planned and we were beating hard up wind in funnelling breeze to get anywhere near it. As we approached the narrowing and shallowing area we intended to an hour in. A decision was getting critical. Luckily the sky was clear and the vis was good. That situation changes fast round here. There appeared to be a pocket of lee shelter under sandy spit for some reason. The wind was everywhere and from every direction. We decided to reduce sail and have a crack at anchoring in this small lee. If nothing else it was very flat water and I have a great test in My Rocna an hour holding on in a blow. Anchor down blue sky 25 knots. I can live with that. Late lunch and of to explore the river system might even take a fly rod.

The bottom end of the fjord has 2 rivers 1 large Ian river and a decent size stream. Absolutely dreamy isolated wilderness. With wild rivers and fishing opotunities. Absolutely the reason to come so far off the beaten track.
The wind settled down for a quiet night and we had a leisurely supper in the cockpit (still eating cod fillets).
Tommorow the weather was supposed to be to go westerly and give us a nice 70 nm reach to France of Miquelon anyway.Read more