Photos from Ian

Ian Coristine who sailed with us from Brockville to Halifax just e-mailed us a few of his best photos from the trip. There are still more to come but this is all he could manage at the moment since he is away on holiday. Keep checking back for more of his fabulous shots from the trip.

Fair Jeanne and Black Jack Update

Fair Jeanne:

Fair Jeanne's voyage to Miramichi started yesterday in Pictou, NS. Trainees arrived while the Pictou Tall Ships Festival was still in full swing and were able to see the sights and hear the sounds of the other boats in port. She finally got underway this morning around 0600hrs on route to Charlottetown, PEI. When they arrive in Charlottetown tonight, a number of sail drills will be done before they anchor for the night.

Black Jack:

This morning everyone on the Island, minus the cook it seems, slept in. Pancakes and fried ham were served for breakfast followed by happy hour and a swim. Since it is still early in the day, the plan is next to sail across the river to Fitzroy Park where a game of watermelon football will be played in the water. Following that more sailing until dinner where pasta will be served.

Tonight is ship's concert and a camp fire where things will wind down before bed.

Just a reminder to all parents that pickup is tomorrow at noon in Quyon. Once the crew returns from the Island pictures will be posted from the week on the Blog so keep checking back.

Fair Winds!

Fair Jeanne Outports Photos

As the volunteer crew from the Fair Jeanne outports trip slowly make their way back home pictures are beginning to make their way to the office. Here are a few to get started.

Just a reminder that you can follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/bytownbrig) for quick updates from both ships.

Black Jack Camp 3

We got an update from the Black Jack this morning so I thought I would share it all with you. Yesterday afternoon after some whaler sailing everyone got tangled up in the adventure field for an obstacle course before dinner. After the trainees had worked their way back to the bunk barge, chicken fajitas were served for dinner.

Once it was dark enough a big game of man hunt with flash lights was played followed by a quick one of burning bridges before lights out.

This morning after colours on the island the kids had breakfast and then were in the middle of happy hour when I called. The plan for the afternoon was a swim while the weather was still nice followed by some sailing and then shore leave to the general store in Quyon.

Keep checking back for updates!

Sail on!

Update: July 28, 2009

Fair Jeanne:

Fair Jeanne is now alongside in Pictou, NS. The out ports trip was a wonderful success despite poor weather. They were able to sail out of Sydney which excited the crew and even with poor visibility the reports are that the Bras D'Or Lakes were beautiful.

Pictures will follow. Check back for updates within the next few days.

Black Jack:

Black Jack Camp 3 started early Monday morning in the pouring rain. However, the weather cleared up by the evening and Captain McNaught was able to take the trainees on a haunted walk of the Island..BOO!

This morning everyone woke to sunny skies and enjoyed a hot breakfast of bacon and scrambled eggs followed by happy hour. Happy hour for those non-sailors among us is a time of tidy and clean up aboard the ship and island where everyone helps out to make things move along as quickly as possible. After happy hour the trainees went for a morning swim.

As I update this blog at 11am the trainees and crew are having a snack as the Captain prepares a talk about sails work on a square rigged tall ship. Following that there is an afternoon of whaler sailing planned.

Sail On!

Whaler Expedition: More Photos!

Ahoy!

The Whaler Expedition was a wonderful success. The crew are now home safe and sound looking forward to the rest of the summer. Here are some photos that were brought back. Can you spot the Fair Jeanne?

Cheers!

Whaler Expedition

As I'm sure many of you are curious about, here are the pictures as promised from the Whaler Expedition thus far. Thanks to Bob and Wendy for sending them along!!

A Great Day of Deck Tours

It was a great day of deck tours in Halifax for the Tall Ships Nova Scotia 2009 festival. The weather did not start out very nice: The day dawned cool, drizzly, and foggy. (Sound familiar?) I brought my kit down to the ship getting here about 9:30 a.m. I didn't even have a chance to unpack. All I was able to do was grab my sunscreen, fill up my water bottle and head topside to man the brow as decktours started at 10 a.m. We must have had 600-700 people come aboard the ship today. (We gave out about 200 brochures so there must have been many more come aboard than that!) We even had Rae Kelly from C100FM radio pop on deck to give a live update. I couldn`t let her leave without explaining our sail training program for youth and giving her a quick VIP tour above decks and below. She was really wowed.

It was such a nice change from the weather of the past few days. The waterfront boardwalk was just packed. You could move, but only by following the people shuffling along in front of you. There was nowhere to go around them. Everybody was going somewhere to see the ships, or get something to eat, or just be on the waterfront. It is just before 7 in the evening as I'm writing this on the quarterdeck and I'm watching people still strolling by checking things out.

There was a captains meeting this afternoon to go over the details of the Parade of Sail that is going to take place tomorrow afternoon in Halifax Harbour. I expect the boardwalk is going to be really packed for that! So packed that people likely will not be able to move. Well, nor will they want to if they`ve got a good view. There are going to be in excess of 40 ships participating so it is going to be something to stay put for and watch. I bet the Dartmouth side of the harbour is going to be similarly jammed.

I hope someone out there can take some pictures of Fair Jeanne because I won`t be able to. I`m one of the people who joined the ship today and we will be busy with the braces and sheets during the Parade of Sail. Sure we`ll get some good pics from out on the water of the other ships, but none of our own ship. So if anyone is reading this and gets some good pictures of the best dressed brigantine in Halifax harbour tomorrow, please send them along to webmaster(at)tallshipsadventure.org.

Oh, by the way, when we ship out tomorrow we will lose the Wi-Fi connection that has been available in Halifax for the Nova Scotia Tall Ships Festival, so it might be awhile before we are able to post more updates. It`s been interesting doing these entries. I`ve had to be on the quarterdeck which was an adventure in iteself, especially as it was raining last night as I was doing it. At any rate, I hope we have access to Internet, and when and if we do you know I`ll try and post.

Longboats in Halifax Harbour

It was not a day well suited to celebrating the establishment of such an important occasion. The re-enactment activities for the 25oth anniversary of the founding of the Royal Navy Dockyard in Halifax deserved much better weather than it got! It was cool, drizzly, foggy, and pretty much miserable, but the weather did nothing to dampen the spirit of the boats crews in the longboats. The participants played their part with stoic fortitude that would do the Royal Navy of 250 years ago proud. A great many "salutes" (i.e. cannons firing blanks making lots of noise and smoke) were given and returned.
The picture at right was about typical of the view in Halifax harbour at about 1:30 p.m. Yes, we could hardly see past the end of the bowsprit because the fog was so thick! I will have to go through my pictures with Jason to determine which ones might be of the Bytown Brigantine whalers. Maybe Chesterman got some good shots of the boats. She said she got a shot of a humungous smoke-ring from a gun the BOUNTY fired off. (Seriously, it was 20 feet in diameter by the time it got across the berth from where BOUNTY was about 75 metres away.) I'm hoping she got some good pictures of the boats.

Whaler Expedition Pictures

Hello Everyone:

The crew of the Whaler Expedition are having a wonderful time in Nova Scotia. Thursday and Friday were spent in Lunenburg. Friday the crew wore their reenactment costumes as they were given a tour of the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic. Followed by that, they launched a Whaler into the Lunenburg Harbour and did quick water tour before heading off to Halifax where the reenactment events were just getting underway. Pictures are available and will be posted first thing tomorrow morning.

Fair Winds!

Hello from Halifax.

Fair Jeanne found her berth not far from H.M.C.S. SACKVILLE, near the Maritime Museum, and got settled in for the decktours and other goings on. The Tall Ships Nova Scotia 2009 team has all sorts of activities organized not the least of which is tours of other ships and tours around town. They've also got a crews parade coming up as well as a soccer tournament. I don't think we'll be in that one... the team from Brazil and Uruguay will probably be full of ringers. That or maybe the ships from Europe will triumph. (They all splay soccer and we don't.)

Look at that! I managed to upload a picture of Fair Jeanne coming along side. Lots of activity with those fenders!

Well deck tours are in full swing. The crowds are steady and not overwhelming. Since it is overcast and a bit breezy it is a bit cool down here by the water, but it's great for walking around, seeing the other ships, meeting old friends and making new ones. Halifax, Nova Scotia, is a great place to be this weekend!

Fair Jeanne in Halifax- Pictures

Fair Jeanne is now in Halifax!!

She is hosting deck tours and receptions for the next few days while the trainees and crew are involved in many activites that have been organized for them by Tall Ships Nova Scotia.

Here are some picture of the Fair Jeanne yesterday as she was coming in to dock near Bishop's Landing. You can click on them to enlarge.

Fair Jeanne in Halifax

Fair Jeanne is now docked in Halifax at Bishop's Landing. After a night with some rough winds that made our crew and trainees pretty green they are happy to have docked safely and are ready to enjoy this great event!

Pictures to follow shortly!

Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bytownbrig

The Whaler Expedition Crew made it safely to Lunenburg last night. Today they have been enjoying a tour of the Historic Waterfront and will be hosted by the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic before heading off to Halifax to join in the events.

Halifax Webcams

Hello Everyone:

I just wanted to post a link to a site that has various webcams in Halifax. Fair Jeanne along with all the other tall ships will be docked at Bishops Landing so this will be a great way to get a birds eye view of whats happening when the ships arrive and while they are in port.

http://www.halifaxwebcam.ca/live/index.php?CURRENT_CAM=cam9&SET_CAM=cam9

Special thanks to Stu who provided BBI with the link!

July 15, 2009

Whaler Expedition:

Both Whalers are now on the road to Halifax. The Whaler Expedition Crew are flying there today and will arrive this evening. They have a couple days planned in Lunenburg before their Navy reenactment activities begin.

Fair Jeanne:

Fair Jeanne has now passed Canso. They are expecting to arrive in Halifax very early tomorrow morning. They are encountering a lot of tall ship traffic as they get nearer to they big event! For a full schedule of Tall Ships Nova Scotia please visit the following link: http://www.tallshipsnovascotia.com/schedule-of-events.aspx

Fair Winds!

Black Jack Camp 2 Pictures

Last week's Black Jack Camp was a great success!! Here are a few photos that were taken throughout the week. Enjoy!

Fair Jeanne Voyage Update

This one will be quick:

We heard from the ship this morning. They are in good spirits and doing well. They are hoping to be to Halifax either late the 15Th or very early the 16Th. They are currently on-route to the Canso Causeway.

Our Whaler Expedition crew are doing last minute touch ups and preparations before they fly to Halifax tomorrow to participate in the Navy reenactment events.

Fair Winds!

Track Fair Jeanne

You may now track the Fair Jeanne as she makes her way to Halifax and back this summer.

the url is sailwx.info and you can either track all the tall ships making their way to Halifax or just Fair Jeanne by searching her call sign: VA5303.

This tracking system should be updated at least once a day. It has to be done manually so do not become alarmed if it is not updated for a day or two.

Also, we will still continue to update this blog on a regular basis.

Fair Winds!

Update: July 10, 2009

Update from the Fair Jeanne:

Fair Jeanne left Ramouski early this morning and they are now underway going towards Gaspé, QC. The weather is much more enjoyable now and this run will be about 23 hours. If the weather continues to hold-up they will continue through Gaspé onto another leg of their trip toward Halifax.

Also, Bytown Brigantine would like to congratulate the Great Lake Swimmers who played an open air concert aboard the Fair Jeanne last month for making the short list for the Polaris Music Prize to be awarded in September.

Update from Black Jack:

Last night the crew and trainees had their ship’s concert which was a great success. Today is the last day of camp and despite the weather everyone had a great time and will certainly miss each other.

Another final reminder that pick up will be at noon in Quyon. Check Back to the blog next week to see some pictures from the camp!

July 9, 2009

Update from the Island:

Black Jack program trainees have been having a terrific time learning to navigate the Ottawa River aboard our two Navy Whalers. Today the kids are doing a treasure hunt that will take them around the Island and over to Fitzroy Park for dinner and their ships concert. No word yet if treasure has been found.

Update from Fair Jeanne:

The poor weather is lifting and the Fair Jeanne is now along side in Ramouski, QC. The crew is restocking on groceries and supplies while the trainees will enjoy some shore leave.

The blog will be updated again this afternoon with a link to a website where the Fair Jeanne's location can be tracked each day.

Fair Winds,

BBI Office

Fair Jeanne Voyage C

Ahoy,

Fair Jeanne finally got underway Saturday morning at 0600hrs. Good progress was made as they were able to go about 80 nautical miles until high winds forced the boat to dock at Coco Landing, near Montreal. Sunday was another early morning as the boat was underway again by 0500hrs. The weather still was poor was the crew was able to put 94 nautical miles behind them before spending the night near Trois Riviers.

Today the crew has been battling high winds and was not able to make their goal of Quebec City but have docked instead about twenty miles short of there at Port Ness. They will wait for the storm to pass.

Despite the poor weather the crew and trainees all seem to be in good spirits as they get to know each other and the vessel they are now calling home.

Follow us on twitter as well for quick updates at www.twitter.com/bytownbrig

Fair winds for now,

BBI Office.