One of Yachting's Best-kept Secrets

CAPE BRETON ISLAND

One of yachting’s best-kept secrets

From the warm waters of an inland sea to North America’s deepest natural harbor and oldest single malt whiskey, this island just north of Nova Scotia is bound to surprise.

By Adam Langley

Extending from the northeastern end of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia is Cape Breton Island, an enchanting destination that lies surprisingly under the yachting world’s radar, especially given its rave reviews from some of the world’s most influential travel authorities. While the island is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Canso — the deepest natural harbor in North America, with an average depth of 60 meters — it’s connected by the deepest causeway in the world, the Canso Causeway of the Trans-Canada Highway. Although most visitors arrive via road or air travel, the best way to experience the island is by sea.

This is no ordinary island. Its shores are awash by the Atlantic Ocean on the northeast and both the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Northumberland Strait on the west, creating a seascape as diverse as the adjacent landscape. The island’s coastline reveals a rugged yet approachable terrain, from towering highland cliffs to pristine beaches bathed in the warm waters of its western shores. Complementing the intriguing landscape are its many colorful cultures, from the deep roots of its first people, the Mi’kmaq, to well-established French Acadian, Scottish and Gaelic communities. For yachts exploring or transiting through Eastern Canada, Cape Breton Island is an itinerary must.

The exterior coast of Cape Breton Island is unforgettably beautiful — but for the yachting visitor, the island has a special secret to reveal: an inland sea. At the heart of Cape Breton Island, you will find the Bras d’Or Lake, Canada’s inland sea. The lake, a UNESCO-designated biosphere, boasts over 600 miles (1,000k) of pristine coastline with hundreds of coves, inlets, harbors and hidden anchorages. The lake is said to be as deep