Roger,
We have been through there in a CS33 with about 45' mast. Can't recall any
height restriction anywhere.

Cape Breton is connected to the Nova Scotia mainland by a causeway that
blocks the Straights of Canso. But, the Canso Canal provides passage out
into the Atlantic from Northumberland Straights for ships and boats and is
quite large. There is a lock, but it has very little height difference, I
suppose dependant on the state of the tides.

A bridge provides a road and rail link across the Canso Canal. It is a swing
bridge, so no height problems.

You should have no problem. You might also look at going into the Bra d'or
Lakes - a great cruising area. I have not done it, but I think you enter at
St. Peters, near Port Hawkesbury probably via a smaller lock.

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
Another local knowledge question for Canada:

Can a sailboat with a 45 foot mast go inside Cape Breton Island through
Port
Hawksbury? I see that it is listed as a causway which isn't encouraging.

My new navigation limits open up much of the Gulf of St. Lawrence from the
tip of the Gaspe to the northern tip of Cape Breton. There is a gap,
probably intentional, that prevents me from going around through the Cabot
Strait.

BTW I won't be navigating up there by newsgroup, I just haven't gotten
charts and cruising guides yet but I want to start planning. Most of this
kind of information is available on the web for the U.S. but I haven't
been
able to find much for Canada. Does anyone know some links?

--
Roger Long