Reference Material for this cruise
Navigation
Charts: Canada requires paper charts on board. No one ever checked that we had them. Refer to the Canadian Hydrographic Service Nautical Charts and Publications Catalogue 1. The catalogue is printed still, I think. Also at www.charts.gc.ca. We also had two chart plotters on board; a Garmin fixed-mount on a swing-arm and a Garmin hand-held.
Tide Tables: We prefer the Canadian Tide and Current Tables, published by the Canadian Hydrographic Service but there is probably an app that will do the job.
Atlas of Tidal Currents: also published by the Canadian Hydrographic Service. This current atlas is absolutely necessary, in my opinion, to traverse the waters between Quebec City, Saguenay and Rimouski. All the current charts are in reference to the tidal cycle so this publication does not need to be replaced every year.
Sailing Directions: ATL 108, 110, 111, 112. These government publications are useful alongside the cruising guides. They have aerial photographs, harbor charts and descriptions of the coast.
Cruising Guides
St Lawrence River and Quebec Waterways, 2nd edition, 2009 Published by L'Escale Nautique, Québec Canada This is the essential cruising guide for these waters! IT is hard to imagine making this trip without this guide book.
Down East Circle Route, Capt. Cheryl Barr, 2003 This book inspired our cruise on the St. Lawrence! We will use it in future years as we complete the loop. The suggested travel schedule of three months to do the whole loop is very aggressive, especially for a sailboat.
The Voyage of Yankee Lady, Judith Silva, 2013 This book is a narrative of a cruise around New England by three sailboats from Connecticut. It is filled with detailed observations of the ports they visited and the waters they navigated. Aside from its entertainment value as a travel log, this book is a useful adjunct to the cruising guides.
Reinhard Zollitsch This sea-canoe adventurer has explored all these shores over the years. His trip reports are vivid. You can feel his determination as he rounds a cape in his trusty sea-canoe with his bent-shaft paddle.
ActiveCaptain This web based database lets boaters share information on marine facilities. The information is more current than in any cruising guide but may reflect the attitude of the boater writing the entry.