This was our last call at Charlotte town, Prince Edward Island for the season. As we left Sydney 1.5 hours late, I arrived an hour later in Charlotte town but as we were also going to leave an hour later it did not affect anybody. We had one gentleman who was extremely worried about his Tee-off time of 09.30 but as we had the gangway out by 08.50 he must have been able to get to the golf course on time. The dock is now almost finished and temporary pavement had been installed to make it possible to walk on. Thus we did not need our ships tenders and that make life a lot easier.

Arriving a little later, has its advantages, as the guests have the chance to see the ship sailing into port, instead of only seeing the shore side lights in the dark. Charlotte town arrival is quite scenic with nice houses on either side. Rolling hills with green pastures interspersed by lumps of forest. The channel that gives access to charlotte town is slowly eroding the shores on either sides and thus we can see brittle red sandstone cliffs. For those who have houses or summer cottages there, it must be an unnerving idea to see the front gardens getting smaller year after year.

The soil that comes away with this erosion is flushed out of the port by the current caused by three rivers that converge just outside the port. What ever does not get flushed out that way is removed by the ebbing and flooding of the sea. These four currents coming together causes quite a bit of turmoil in the water and therefore none the cruise ship captains likes to sit at anchor here. You never know which way one of the currents is going to push your ship in the next five minutes. You need, very very nice weather here, will you be able to sit safely at anchor with a big ship. Thus the availability of the dock is of extreme importance.

Departure was a bit of a tense affair. During the day the wind had steadily increased in force and on departure it was blowing 25 knots with gusts to 40 knots. The tricky bit of leaving then, is the moment when all the mooring ropes are gone from the bollards but still in the water. Because of the danger of fouling the propellers you can not maneuver until these are clear of the water. Thus with all thruster power to the dock, you try to stay alongside, or at least try to control the drift until the all clear comes and then it is full ahead to built up speed as quickly as possible. The faster you go, the less drift angle you have and the easier it is to stay in the channel.

As was to be expected, the moment we were ready to let go the last ropes and give full ahead, there was a Sunday sailor in the way again. Happily crossing our bow, first to port, and when we thought that he was gone, he swung around, came back and crossed our bow for the second time. So I waited until he was well clear for the second time and then put the pedal to the metal. While we were gaining speed, we saw him turning around for a 3rd time but luckily he stopped in the middle of the tack. Whether he just remembered it was cocktail time or whether he got disconcerted by a charging Veendam bearing down on him, I do not know. But suddenly his sails went down and he disappeared into the Marina.
Good bye Beautiful Charlotte town. It might be a few years before I get back, as the Veendam is going to Alaska again next year.