Canadian Yachting April 2021 - 8

DESTINATION | PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

BOATING IN THE
BIRTHPLACE OF
CONFEDERATION

Until 1997 the only way to visit Prince Edward Island was by boat. Today,
it's still the best way to enjoy the tiny island that gave birth to a nation.
Story | Craig Ritchie

ver the course of four days in
September 1864, representatives from Prince Edward
Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick,
Newfoundland, Lower Canada (Quebec)
and Upper Canada (Ontario) gathered
in Charlottetown to discuss the idea of
bringing these diverse colonies together
and forming a country. These discussions
laid the foundation for what ultimately led
to the Confederation of Canada in July,
1867.
Today, PEI continues to influence the
rest of Canada as a vacation playground,
known for its laid-back attitude, carefree
pace, remarkable food scene and tremendous recreation opportunities. That's
especially true if you choose to explore
the island the old-fashioned way - by
boat.
Boats have been part of Island life for
centuries. Although commercial lobster
boats working the seafood trade continue to dominate most harbours, a growing number of leisure boats can be seen
in virtually every port today as a new

generation of Islanders choose to connect
with the sea. Marinas with outstanding
facilities for recreational boaters now ring
the island, making PEI an enticing destination for long-distance cruisers. After all,
how often do you have the chance to circumnavigate an entire province?
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
Since no point of land on Prince Edward
Island sits more than 16 kilometres from
the sea, boaters enjoy tremendous access
to virtually all of the Island's best destinations with a perspective that's second to
none. A couple of bicycles onboard puts
every point of PEI within reach.
If you're looking for gridlock, you've
come to the wrong place. Forget about
lining up for slip assignments or fuel here,
life in PEI moves at a far more civilized
pace than it does on the mainland. It's a
great place to get away from it all, and
especially if you spend a night on the
hook. In many places, you're more likely
to share your anchorage with seals and

CANADIAN YACHTING | APRIL 2021

bald eagles than with another boater.
And for those who want a more cosmopolitan experience, that's also just
a short ride away. Tie up in downtown
Charlottetown and you'll find the best of
PEI's most populous city lies within easy
walking distance from the harbour - as it
was when John A. MacDonald and crew
arrived for the Charlottetown Conference
in 1864. Self-guided walking tours let you
explore the city's magnificent architecture
and history at your own pace, and discover
a truly unique place that celebrates its past
while striding firmly into the future.
Charlottetown's historic waterfront
district, with its brightly-painted, woodsided buildings and statuesque sandstone
warehouses, has been transformed from
a one-time commercial centre into one
of Canada's most charming downtowns,
with beautiful homes, a vibrant shopping
scene and a number of outstanding restaurants. It's unlike most urban centres that
are dominated by chain stores and corporate restaurants, this is Canada the way it
used to be, with the majority of businesses

Canadian Yachting April 2021

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