We clear Customs in Shelburne. We later process other papers/meet storage requirements in Baddeck with Customs folks in Sydney when we get up to Cape Breton/Baddeck. This requires working closely with Stuart/Baddeck Marine (a commercial boatyard - important). Exactly how we go about this (and how we do not go about it) will be covered at our crew meeting to be scheduled. We must all have a complete understanding of the process before arriving in Shelburne. I am happy to discuss same preliminarily on the phone with anyone registered to do this cruise.
Before or at our crew meeting, for customs, I will need a crew list from every boat with names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, date and place of birth, passport numbers, issue and expiration dates for all souls onboard with designation of captain. I will need name, make and year of every boat along with type of construction, number of masts, horsepower, draft, beam, length, weight, color of topsides, MMSI number, call sign and your group texting number. I will need name and contact info for person to contact in case of emergency.
Although Cape Negro Island is on our itinerary as the first stop after Matinicus before arriving in Shelburne, it is stricken (or placed after we clear Customs and leave Shelburne). Technically you have to proceed into a port of entry without stopping when in Canadian waters - a point raised in the April seminar.
You will need the Q flag and a Canadian and French courtesy flag. For those carrying an InReach device, I need the email for your device.
BWSC boats receive a 5% discount on the haul and store at Baddeck Marine if we have 4 or more boats and prepay for the season. The yard requires vessel measurements for length overall, beam, and mast length. There is a vessel height restriction of 15 feet 6 inches as they remove masts and haul to storage a couple kilometers offsite. These details are required in order to get an estimate of your boat costs at Baddeck Marine. Supply same to me and I will relay the information for our group. John Slingerland 12/14/2023