Three Fathoms Harbour

The captain and I have been to Three Fathoms Harbour before but this would be the first time by boat.  We`ve been there to watch surfers ride the swell, to watch the sun set over the Atlantic, to watch the herring and tuna boats offload, to watch the sea roll in a windstorm, to watch people and there just to watch as the day unfolds. 

 It has always been one of those little spots where we have always felt at ease so it seemed fitting that we would bring Bridlewilde in here for protection from the elements for the night.  It is a gem of a harbour as far as we are concerned.  We arrived close to 6 pm and tied up to the government wharf.

There is easy access from the sea. The excellent pubic wharf has both 110 and 220 watt service but we did not see where the outlets where located.  It is a busy fishing harbour and there are many private wharves located along the shoreline.  We saw a few good anchorage areas with mud and sand bottom but  there are no other services.   The breakwater is lined with many small two room camps tucked in neatly amongst each other. 

These camp locations have been awarded to families on 100 year lease terms from the provincial government. The lease can be passed down in families but cannot be sold nor is there any room for new construction which helps to create the area`s unique ambiance.  I wandered around the harbour trying to take a few pictures while the captain secured our vessel for the evening. We talked with a couple who have a camp and lobster boat here – they came to the wharf to welcome us when they saw us arrive and we talked until the sun went down over the sandy western shore of the harbour when we went back  onto our boat to make dinner and enjoy the sunset.

The water was calm even though we were on the outer deck of the wharf.  There were a number of herring boats housed in the harbour and tied to the wharf waiting for their arrival. We had been warned that we may be awakened very early the flowing morning by the clamoring of the fishermen heading out to the sea should they get the quota call from Fisheries Canada and notification that the herring had arrived.  And true to form the fellows were all milling about their boats at 4:30 am readying their boats, chatting and preparing to file out of the little harbour one by one.  We did not mind; we had been early to bed the evening before and had planned an early departure for our next destination.  We were about to leave the eastern shore, cross the mouth of the Halifax Harbour,  slip in to the Sambro Channel and sail down the south shore for Prospect harbour on our second last passage to Mahone Bay.