Dense fog, fierce tides and other tales from the high seas

The Saint John Harbour can flummox even the most seasoned sailors. 

A small boat gets pushed by the tides in unusual ways. The Bay of Fundy fog makes it easy to get turned around. Huge container ships pass by frequently on their way to the west side docks, generating big waves in their wake. And then there's Reversing Falls. 

In most places, "usually you can feel how fast your boat's going," said Erica Lush, a sailor on the racing yacht Maiden who grew up in Jamestown, R.I.

Lush and her crew mates spoke to CBC New Brunswick during a two-hour media sail around the outer harbour of Saint John on Thursday before the fog cleared. 

"Here — you could be moving forwards, and actually be moving backwards," Lush said as a passing cargo ship loomed ominously through the heavy mist, chased by flocks of cormorants and seagulls. "So you've really got to keep track of the charts and your speed."

Visibility on Thursday was "probably two boat lengths of Maiden in front of us," said skipper Liz Wardley, who grew up on fishing boats in Papua New Guinea, and completed her first around-the-world-race at age 20.

"In addition to the low visibility, the tides have a fierce reputation in the area," said Lush. "We've had a bit of a learning curve figuring out when's the best time to get on and off the dock, even. 

"Obviously, we've got charts and radars. But we're not locals, so we don't know off the top of our heads, 'Oh, the marks are here and these ships come in now at this time of day.' So all those things are sort of floating factors we've got to juggle."

Navigating all of those factors is a testament to the skills of the crew of Maiden, which is currently on a 90,000-nautical-mile education journey around the world that started in Dubai in January and will conclude in December 2024. 

The 58-foot vessel's mission is promoting girls' education and motivating women to enter careers in STEAM: science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Money raised by the Maiden Factor go toward girls' educational programs.

It is making its only Canadian stop in Saint John until Aug. 13. The public can take open boat tours Saturday, Aug. 6, and Sunday, Aug. 7.

The all-women crew hails from around the world — Australia, Antigua, the U.S., Canada and the U.K.

"We've got a lady from India joining us soon, [and a] South African]," Wardley said. "So it's very diverse. They've all come from completely different walks of life and sailing experience."

Wardley recalled the surprise on one pilot's face when he boarded the Maiden at 3 a.m. to take it through the Panama Canal.