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Secrets of the St. Lawrence

Local listings - Cap Whittle - Blanc-Sablon

Cap Whittle - Blanc Sablon (PDF; 68 KB)

This section marks the Eastern boundary of both Québec and the St Lawrence. It leads directly to the Strait of Belle Isle.

Its shoreline is jagged and fairly low, dotted over most of its length with a string of islands and islets. Local effects are marked here, including channelling and katabatic winds in some of the valleys.

The tides are weak, but the narrow passages between the islands create strong currents.

Up to 20 to 25 nautical miles offshore, high seas are accentuated by the shallow bottom, less than 35 metres deep.

In addition to creating high seas, the Southwesterly wind is strengthened by the funnel effect produced between Québec and Newfoundland shores.

Finally, this section's trademark is surely its famous persistent fog. The closer one gets to the Strait, the greater the risk of encountering such fog.

Map displaying the St. Lawrence River corridor from Cap Whittle to Blanc-Sablon.

96. Cap Whittle

Wind compass showing the direction of the wind is coming from the east. Winds Easterly
Steep waves created by channelling and funnelling effects, between Île du Lac and Cap Whittle lighthouse.

97. Île Galibois

Wind compass showing the direction of the wind is coming from the east. Winds Easterly
Strong swell accentuated by ebb tide, between Île Galibois and Îles Sainte-Marie. Channelling and funnelling effects.

Advisable to avoid this area.

98. Îles Sainte-Marie

Wind compass showing the direction of the wind is coming from the southwest, southeast, south and east. Winds gale force out of Southwest, Southeast, South and particularly East
Violent, breaking seas up to 20 nautical miles offshore. Area scattered with reefs and shoals.

99. Chevery - Rivière Nétagamiou

Wind compass showing the direction of the wind is coming from the south or southwest. Winds Southerly or Southwesterly, at ebb tide
Sharply breaking, short waves.

Dangerous.

100. Cap Mackinnon (Île du Petit Mécatina)

Wind compass showing the direction of the wind is coming from the east. Winds Easterly
Breaking seas offshore. Corner effect. Shoals.

Advisable to avoid this area. Stay more than 3 nautical miles offshore.

101. Baie des Moutons

Wind compass showing the direction of the wind is coming from the southwest. Winds Southwesterly, close to point
Strong, breaking waves, sometimes impassable. Sea bottom rises abruptly.

Dangerous area.

Wind compass showing the direction of the wind is coming from the north, northeast, east, southeast, south, southwest and west. Winds gale force from any direction, except Northwest
Uneven bottoms up to 10 or 20 nautical miles offshore.

Very difficult seas.

102. Île du Gros Mécatina

Wind compass showing the direction of the wind is coming from the east. Winds Easterly
Strongly breaking seas between Île du Gros Mécatina and Île Plate. Channelling effect.

103. Île aux Trois Collines

Wind compass showing the direction of the wind is coming from the east. Winds Easterly
Heavy seas. Pronounced corner effect.

Map displaying the marine conditions for Cap Whittle, Île Galibois, Îles Sainte-Marie, Chevery (Rivière Nétagamiou), Cap Mackinnon (Île du Petit Mécatina), Baie des Moutons, Île du Gros Mécatina and Île aux Trois Collines.

104. Baie de Jacques-Cartier to Baie du Vieux Fort

Wind compass showing the direction of the wind is coming from the north. Winds Northerly
Strong wind channelled by shore up to several nautical miles offshore. Particularly strong at the heads of Mistanoque, Napetipi and des Homards bays.

105. Baie de Brador

Wind compass showing the direction of the wind is coming from the southwest. Winds Southwesterly

High waves. Access difficult. In poor weather, avoid passing between Île du Bassin and shore.

106. Banc Perroquet to Île Greenly

Wind compass showing the direction of the wind is coming from the southwest. Winds Southwesterly at rising tide
Very strong chop.

107. Baie de Blanc-Sablon

Wind compass showing the direction of the wind is coming from the west or southwest. Winds Westerly or Southwesterly, at rising tide
Heavy, confused seas in channel between bay and Île au Bois.

108. Strait of Belle Isle

Wind compass showing the direction of the wind is coming from the southwest. Winds Southwesterly
Very strong swell at Western entrance, more pronounced when against current. During summer: risk of enormous fog banks in strait.
Persistent fog close to Labrador coast.

Wind compass showing the direction of the wind is coming from the east. Winds Easterly
Fog in entire strait. Newfoundland coast normally clears first.

Wind compass showing the direction of the wind is coming from the southwest or northeast. Winds Southwesterly or Northeasterly, against current
Heavy seas.

Map displaying the marine conditions for Baie de Jacques-Cartier to Baie du Vieux Fort, Baie de Brador, Banc Perroquet to Île Greenly and Strait of Belle Isle.

Page 21

Introduction

1. Fore to aft
2. What Cartier missed out on
3. Conversion
4. The Secrets of the St Lawrence
5. The wind in your sails - Hard a-port!
6. The wind in your sails - Fast or slow?
7. The wind in your sails - The wind's paths
8. The wind in your sails - Against the wall
9. The wind in your sails - Solar energy
10. The wind in your sails - Under the stars
11. The wind and the waves - The windway
12. The wind and the waves - Wave wars
13. The wind and the waves - Graveyards
14. The wind and the waves - Conflicting seas
15. Symbols
16. The St Lawrence, from 1 to... - Legend
17. The St Lawrence, from 1 to... - Calling all sailors
18. The St Lawrence, from 1 to... Hot spots
19. Local listings - Québec - Pointe-des-Monts
20. Local listings - Pointe-des-Monts - Cap Whittle
21. Local listings - Cap Whittle - Blanc-Sablon
22. Local listings - Gaspésie - Baie des Chaleurs
23. Local listings - Îles de la Madeleine
24. Sailors take warning - White-outs
25. Sailors take warning - The sky above us
26. Sailors take warning - Keeping a weather eye
27. Sailors take warning - Fair weather and foul
28. Sailors take warning - The unexpected
29. The four seasons - Wind aplenty
30. The four seasons - Vessel icing
31. The four seasons - Ice cycle
32. Extra - Beaufort
33. Extra - Handy references
34. Extra - Old Salts and Sea-dogs
35. Extra - The crew
36. Extra - A to Z
37. Extra - Stations
38. Extra - Areas
39. Credits

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Date modified:: 2013-07-09