Secrets of the St. Lawrence

Gaspésie - Baie des Chaleurs (PDF; 129 KB)

Where the mountains of the North shore bow out those on the South shore step in.

With its steep cliffs and the Appalaches mountains, the Péninsule de la Gaspésie forms a barrier, causing the winds to shift and accelerate. This phenomenon is particularly marked in late summer, when the Northwesterly wind blows more frequently and more strongly.

All along the St Lawrence, the deep valleys of the Péninsule de la Gaspésie form corridors for the wind to rush into and strengthen and, when it is from the South, to gust out over the river.

At sea, the Gaspé Current follows the coast up to 20 nautical miles offshore. Close to shore, it can reach 2 knots. When the wind is against the current, it produces waves that tumble and may even break.

Then there is the Baie de Gaspé which channels the Northwesterly and Southeasterly winds. Mariners have to take care.

Offshore, 2 banks, the Banc des Américains and the Banc de l'Orphelin, are known for their choppy seas.

Baie des Chaleurs

The entrance to Baie des Chaleurs is guarded to the North by the Haut-fond Leander and, to the South, by the Miscou shoals.

Its configuration tends to channel the wind for 2 reasons: the steep cliffs on its North side, and its V shape.

This means that in the middle of this section, off Nepisiguit Bay, there is a zone that is particularly windy and subject to high seas if the wind is from the Northwest or the Northeast.

Tidal currents in this section rarely reach one knot, except at the mouths of some rivers and some channels.

109. Matane to Cap-des-Rosiers

Winds Easterly
High waves against the Gaspé Current.

110. Les Méchins to Grande-Vallée

Winds violent out of South, from fall to spring
Strongly breaking seas and turbulence close to shore. Wind off Appalaches may occasionally reach storm force.

111. Les Méchins to Rivière-la-Madeleine

Winds Northwesterly
Cross seas all along shoreline. Created by wind shifting to Westerly along coast and accelerated by barrier effect.

Difficult conditions.

112. Mont-Louis - L'Anse-Pleureuse - Rivière-la-Madeleine - Grande-Vallée

Winds Southerly
Steep valleys. Channelling effect. Watch for katabatic wind. Gusts may exceed 40 knots: problems with anchoring at night.

Dangerous river mouths.

113. Petite-Vallée to Cap Gaspé

Winds gale force out of North, Northeast or Northwest
Heavy to very heavy seas close to shore.

Winds Northwesterly
Wind accelerated by convergence effect.

Sea bottom rises rapidly.

114. Rivière-au-Renard

Winds Northerly, Northeasterly or Northwesterly
Breaking waves up to harbour entrance.

Difficult.

Winds Northeasterly
Risk of surging sea in harbour. May cause moorage problems.

115. Cap Gaspé

Winds Westerly or Northwesterly
Cross seas offshore. Refraction on both sides of the Presqu'île de Forillon.

Winds Southerly
Waves breaking on shoals Northwest of cape. Refraction. Chop Southeast of cape at certain times during the tide cycle. Shallow.

116. Baie de Gaspé

Winds Westerly or Northwesterly
Strong wind from mountains. Acceleration not very noticeable on Gaspé side, but marked on Forillon side. Channelling effect.

Winds Southeasterly
Channelling effect in bay.
Sea breeze, easily reaching 20 knots.

Winds gale force out of East or Southeast
Very strong swell.

NB: Gaspé weather is reported from the airport and may not correspond to conditions in the bay.

117. Douglastown

Winds Southeasterly
Strong swell.

118. Banc des Américains

Winds gale force from any direction, except West or Northwest
High, breaking waves.

119. Baie de Malbaie

Winds gale force out of Southeast
Heavy seas often preceded by fog.

120. Île Bonaventure

Winds Southerly or Northeasterly
Strong swell between the island and the shore. Shoals and channelling effect.

Navigation difficult.

Winds gale force out of East
Cross seas up to 10 nautical miles offshore, created by reflection.

121. Banc de l'Orphelin

Winds gale force from any direction
High, breaking waves.

122. Haut-fond Leander

Winds Easterly or Southeasterly
High, breaking waves. Cap d'Espoir extends underwater.

Very difficult zone.

One of the most difficult areas in Baie des Chaleurs.

123. Cap d'Espoir to Pointe Bonaventure

Winds Easterly or Northeasterly
Large seas close to shore. Convergence effect.

124. Pointe au Maquereau

Winds Easterly or Northeasterly
Convergence effect accentuated by corner effect.

125. Northwest Miscou Point to Maisonnette Point

Winds Westerly, Northwesterly, Northerly or Northeasterly
High waves and shoals.

Difficult access to all bays.

126. Miscou Island (Northwest side)

Winds Northwesterly
Cross seas accentuated by Miscou and Shippegan shoals. Wind shifting to Southwesterly, along shore.

127. Port-Daniel

Winds Easterly
Strong swell.

128. Baie de Paspébiac

Winds Southwesterly
Strong swell.

129. Bathurst

Winds Northerly, Northwesterly or Northeasterly
High waves at harbour entrance. Shoals and funnelling effect.

Dangerous.
Tidal currents make access difficult. Without appropriate information, avoid this area, except in fair weather.

130. Petite rivière Cascapédia and Rivière Cascapédia

Winds Northerly or Northwesterly
Very strong wind from valleys. Channelling effect.

131. Heron Channel

Winds Westerly or Easterly
High waves over shoals. Funnelling effect between Heron Island and New Brunswick coast.

132. Rivière Nouvelle (baie Tracadigache)

Winds Northerly or Northwesterly
Very strong wind from valley. Channelling effect.

133. Eel Bay

Winds Easterly at ebb tide
High waves. Shoals and river current. Funnelling effect from Baie des Chaleurs.