Chester to Lunenburg

 Our anchorage in the Back Harbour of Chester has been like a millpond during the day and then as late afternoon approaches, there has been a flurry of activity as the race boats return to the harbour late in the day.  It has been such fun watching the beautifully coloured spinnakers and hearing the sounds of friendly rivalry from the crews passing by.

We up anchored at 11.30am in time for us to watch the start of the IOD’s, the Solents and the Farr 30’s racing out in the bay, waving goodbye to our new friends on Little Fish Island.

The Jenkins household at Little Fish Island

Conditions were superb for racing. We were luckily enough to be right there at the start line with other spectator boats, managing to get really close to the action.

IOD's (International One Design)

PHRF (different boats all racing each other)

Farr 30 (NZ design)

But unfortunately for us the wind was right on the nose to hoist sail to Lunenburg which meant a trip under motor.  It did mean though that we could make more water!  We had an easy 3 hour trip past a myriad of little islands, some no more than rocky outcrops, warm sunshine and none of the dreaded fog.

We passed this English beauty - over 100 feet long

Following us into Lunenburg Harbour was the beautiful Bluenose II also back from Chester.  Lunenburg is the home port of Bluenose II along with many other traditional schooners from a past era.  We were also welcomed by a pod of dolphins off the port bow; dolphins always put a smile on one’s face!

Bluenose II in Old Town Lunenburg Harbour

This is the UNESCO description of Old Town Lunenburg -

Lunenburg is the best surviving example of a planned British colonial settlement in North America.  Established in 1753, it has retained its original layout and overall appearance, based on a rectangular grid pattern drawn up in the home country.  The inhabitants have managed to safeguard the city’s identity throughout the centuries by preserving the wooden architecture of the houses, some of which date from the 18th century.

Photo taken from our mooring buoy