If you're planning your boating adventures for the year, the Down East Loop should be on your list. This route offers a great cruising experience, combining inland passages and open sea stretches. It's an excellent choice for boaters looking to challenge their navigation skills and enjoy diverse scenery. 

The Down East Loop (also called the Down East Circle Route) is a 2,400-mile loop around New England and the Canadian Maritimes. Like the Triangle Loop, the clockwise Down East Loop assumes a start in New York City that continues north on the Hudson River. From there you can choose to continue on the Champlain waterway north to Sorel-Tracy or you can traverse The Triangle Loop via the Erie Canal, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River to Sorel-Tracy. 

From Sorel-Tracy, the Down East Loop continues to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, around Nova Scotia and across the Bay of Fundy, then down the New England coast and back to New York City. For the final leg of the journey, you will want to refer to the Waterway Guide Northern edition.

Cruising Conditions and What To Expect

This is a trip to be made with the currents and in favorable winds and weather. Traveling in a clockwise direction means having the prevailing westerly breeze at your back and the St. Lawrence current mostly in your favor. This is important as dealing with the countercurrent on the lower portion of the river can be a navigational challenge.

Plan your itinerary around the prevailing fair weather by visiting the high latitudes (N 49°) in early summer and returning down east (W 60°) by late summer. At a comfortable cruising speed of 7 or 7.5 knots and assuming a 5-hour travel day, you could complete the trip in less than 60 days. However, as usual, plan for a few "in port" days due to fog, winds, currents, high seas, local hospitality and sightseeing, making this loop route perfect for a 3-month summer cruise. A possible side trip would be to enter the Bras d'Or Lake through St. Peter's Canal. The sailing and scenery is spectacular.

Sixty percent (more than 1200 miles) of the Down East Loop is in Canadian waters. On the cruise you will have the opportunity to visit vibrant French cities and quaint seaside villages. Communities in the Province of Québec and northern New Brunswick are predominantly Francophone. Even though you may not speak French, locals would likely appreciate your efforts at a few words and accommodate you using English.

The height and depth restrictions apply only on the Erie Canal where you are restricted to a vertical clearance of 20 feet and a depth restriction of 14 feet. This is the depth of the locks at the sills. If coming north via Lake Champlain, the vertical clearance restriction is 15.5 feet and the depth restriction 6 feet (in the Chambly locks and canal). 

As you look ahead to your 2025 boating adventures, consider adding the Down East Loop to your itinerary. Covering 2,400 miles of varied waterways, it's perfect for boaters looking to challenge their skills while enjoying diverse scenery. Equip yourself with a Waterway Guide Great Lakes edition or subscription for detailed charts and cruising tips to navigate this route confidently.