Nova Scotia was shaped by the sea – and the sea-faring tradition lives on today. Even inland, you’re never very far from the ocean or its influence, though most of our larger towns and cities are port towns, tied to our sailing heritage which goes back hundreds of years. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or completely new to sailing, vacationing in Nova Scotia lets you experience one of the world’s truly great sailing destinations.
Once you’ve experienced sailing in Nova Scotia, the rest of Canada’s waterways just won’t measure up. With a magnificent coastline that stretches over 4000 kilometres, and hundreds of coastal islands, you’ll never run out of places to discover and explore. From the 365 islands of Mahone Bay on Nova Scotia’s South Shore, to the shimmering waters of Cape Breton’s Bras d’Or Lakes and countless bays and inlets, the Atlantic coast will soothe your soul and lift your spirit.
Whether you’ve arrived here on your own boat, or are just looking to experience some of Nova Scotia’s sailing culture, Nova Scotia has it all. If you’ve sailed here from ‘away’, we have dozens of marinas and yacht clubs where you can find moorings, supplies and fuel, or grab a shower. If you just want to get a taste of the maritime life, we have many sailling charters in Nova Scotia that would love to show you our stunning coastline!
Take a harbour or day cruise, or a more extensive adventure package. We have sailing holidays to suit every taste and level of experience. Take the family on a harbour cruise of historic Halifax, Lunenburg or Baddeck. If you really want to feel the wind in your sails, you can even join a ‘learn to sail’ cruise and really experience life at sea! And of course we have the excitement of mid-summer special events, like Chester Race Week, Mahone Bay Classic Boat Festival and more!