SAMPLE  ITINERARY

    

  Elsie

Sample Itineraries
Soft Adventure - Resort / Yacht Combination

Experience the pleasure of cruising a vast inland sea dotted with tranquil coves and deserted islands. Retire at night to the comfort of accommodations ashore at one of our deluxe lakeside resorts.

Our soft adventure offers the best of both worlds, the comfort and amenities of a first class resort including heated pools, tennis golf and dining plus the excitement of chartering a fully crewed and equipped classic yacht.

Day One Arrive at Sydney Airport and be greeted by our friendly and knowledgeable driver who will present you with a guided tour on route to Inverary Resort in Baddeck. Check in to your comfortable accommodations. Freshen up, take a swim, play tennis or take a leisurely stroll around the picturesque town. Meet your captain and mate over dinner at a table overlooking Elsie’s berth.
Day Two After breakfast in the Inverary’s dinning room you stroll down to the dock. The crew have the boat provisioned and ready. Today your destination lies at the end of a two hour reach across the Great Bras d’Or. There you can swim from a nearly deserted beach, windsurf, snorkel or relax on deck. You will enjoy your lunch onboard before setting off to explore under sail. Dinner and accommodations await your return to Inverary.
Day Three The dinning room staff know you by name and are pleased to see you at breakfast. The Washabuck River, a three mile long estuary dotted with islands and rimmed with coves offers a perfect destination for this mornings cruise. You will probably want to take Elsie’s dinghy and explore while the crew prepares lunch. After lunch Elsie might motor to nearby Indian Bay. Indian Bay is a sure spot to sight Bald Eagles. The dinghy can enter the Baddeck River, where you are likely to see beaver or otter, water-foul and, if you're lucky, a Whitetail Deer. While your off exploring the crew will prepare a special late afternoon dinner, fresh Atlantic Lobster, boiled and served on a private waterfront lot on the shore of the bay. After dinner we head back to Baddeck, about two hours away.
Day Four Have an early breakfast before departing on a day long sail to Dundee. While you are eating the crew will deliver your luggage to the yacht. Lunch will be served en-route during the thirty five mile trip across the beautiful Bras d’Or. Watch for eagles while experiencing some of the world’s best scenic beauty. Retire to dinner and accommodations at Dundee Resort. moored under the lee of Dundee Resort. We will have dinner in the dining room overlooking the lake.
Day Five Breakfast overlooking the lake Afterward, take the morning to enjoy our 18 hole championship course, play tennis or swim in one of our pools. Use a kayak to explore the Black River or sleep in. We will have lunch dockside then set sail for Marble Mountain. Swim in the turquoise water or hike to the top of the abandoned marble quarry for a breathtaking view of your cruising grounds. Dinner will be bar-be-cued on the Marble Mountain wharf. Watch the sunset as we sail back to Dundee.
Day Six At breakfast we will plan the day. You might want to sail amongst the islands of West Bay, venture to the beach at East Bay, explore the channel to St. Peter’s or sail back to Baddeck. The choice is yours. All our packages are custom tailored so every day can be modified to suit your interests.
Day Seven Have a long breakfast today. Stroll the grounds and make plans for your return next year. There’s a lot left to see. Our driver will return you to the airport taking time to stop at some of the scenic look-offs and interesting shops

Includes:

  • Resort Accommodations (double occupancy)
  • All meals, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Ships expenses including dockage, crew wages, fuel and water
  • Resort amenities and water-sports equipment
  • Green fees and rentals at Dundee Resort
  • Airport transfers on charters over four days

Does not include:

Accommodations or meals prior to commencement of the charter, except as specifically provided in the terms of the charter.
Ships bar or bar expenses incurred ashore.
Misc. and incidental room charges
Taxes and Gratuities.

Sample Itineraries
 More about your destinations...

Elsie is based in one of the world's best cruising destinations, the Bras d'Or Lakes. With nearly one thousand square kilometers of warm salt water, the Bras d'Or are truly "Canada's Inland Sea". Nestled along the nearly deserted shores of the Bras d'Or are countless small harbours and coves. Most of these retreats offer fine anchorages and interesting exploring. The few villages along the shore offer opportunity to shop for gifts, visit museums, and sample local culture.

Here is a sampling.

Baddeck A yachting center since the early 1800's, the village of Baddeck is Elsie's primary base. The Inverary Resort, Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site and many small gift shops are favorite stops for many of our guests.
Dundee Home to our second lakeside resort, Dundee, is nestled into Sporting Mountain, on the southern shore of Bras d'Or Lake. Dundee is a quiet, secluded hideaway with a large modern hotel, golf course, dining and marina. As an Elsie guest you are afforded full guest privileges at Dundee Resort.
Marble Mountain A fine stretch of beach with crushed marble sand and crystal clear water greets the visitor to Marble Mountain. As the name suggests, the mountain contains deposits of fine marble, quarried well into the nineteenth century for the mansions of New York and Newport. A small community wharf and museum make the visit very worthwhile.
Grand Narrows From the marina at Grand Narrows or the community wharf at Iona it is a short trip to the Nova Scotia Museum's "Highland Village". The village is a re-creation of a pioneer village from Cape Breton's past. Informative and entertaining with costumed guides and live animals. The nearby Highland Heights Inn has, in the opinion of Elsie's captain, "he best scallops you are likely to ever eat".
Maskill's Harbour Maskill's, or Boulaceet as it was once called, is considered by many to be our most picturesque anchorage. It was in Boulaceet, aboard Elsie, in nineteen twenty three, that the idea for the Cruising Club of America was conceived.
Whycocomagh Whycocomagh is the name given by the Mic Mac Indians.Translated, it means "Head of the Waters". From the community wharf you can take the trail to the top of Salt Mountain where you will be rewarded with a view reaching nearly twenty miles.
Shunacadie The bras d'Or has several calm sandy beaches and Shunacadie is
one of the best. Nearly deserted, the mile long sandy cove is a perfect place to relax, swim, or windsurf.
Orangedale A cruise through the "boom" ends at the village of Orangedale. Orangedale was once home to passenger rail service and now has a museum complete with passenger cars, a caboose and rail plow and station. The general store, gift shop, post office and gallery are all walking distance from the community wharf.