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‘Unimaginable excess’: Bid to attract showy superyachts to Cape Breton under scrutiny

By Michael MacDonald, The Canadian Press

Posted Jan 1, 2024 08:00:00 AM.

Last Updated Jan 1, 2024 08:01:06 AM.

HALIFAX — Not so long ago, the largest community in Cape Breton was best known as home to one of the most toxic waste sites in North America: the infamous Sydney tar ponds.

Containing one million tonnes of oozing sewage and industrial sludge — left behind after centuries of steelmaking — the site has since been capped with concrete and transformed into a sprawling urban park that opened 10 years ago.

“It’s a transformation from what was an industrial economy to one that is more service-based with tech businesses and education, ” says Terry Smith, CEO of Destination Cape Breton, the island’s tourism marketing organization.

With memories of the tar ponds receding, the port city is now trying to cultivate an upscale vibe — one that includes appealing to billionaires and their toys. It wants to become a destination for superyachts, the most expensive, luxurious boats in the world, which have become the ultimate status symbol for A-list celebrities, dot-com titans and lesser-known oligarchs.

Destination Cape Breton has hired Superyacht East Coast, based in Halifax, to attract to the island those who own boats like Archimedes, a 68-metre superyacht believed to be worth about $100 million. According to Superyachts.com, the vessel — as long as a 20-storey building is tall — has a marble Jacuzzi, a grand piano, an enclosed gym, a wood-burning fireplace and six staterooms.

Compared to some superyachts, which boast helicopter hangars and glass elevators, Archimedes is considered an understated boat.

Owned by U.S. hedge fund billionaire James Simons, the vessel spent at least a week last summer in Cape Breton, moored at the community wharf in Baddeck, N.S., where it caused quite a stir among the locals.

“The larger yachts are the ones that people tend to gravitate to,” said Adam Langley, president and CEO of Superyacht East Coast. “They come alongside, and suddenly there’s hundreds of people around buying ice cream or lunch and taking in the environment that these boats create.”

And the economic benefits don’t end there, Langley said. The owners of these floating mansions typically spend a small fortune on provisions after they arrive in port.

Once Archimedes had completed its eight-week tour of Canada’s East Coast, the captain told Saltscapes magazine that its owner had spent US$400,000 on fuel, groceries, tours, guides and entertainment.

“Think of them as large, floating resorts,” Langley said in a recent interview. “They’ll spend thousands of dollars on things like flowers.”

But Tom Urbaniak says there needs to be a broader discussion about using public funds to attract superyachts to the East Coast.

“What this is really about is marketing to an infinitesimally small group of oligarchs, the uber-rich, hyper-celebrities and the people who swoon around them,” said Urbaniak, professor of political science and director of the Tompkins Institute at Cape Breton University in Sydney.

“This is not just a celebration of wealth. This is a celebration of almost unimaginable excess.”

The professor says that at a time when Canadians are being asked to make sacrifices to deal with climate change, it doesn’t make sense to cater to rich people who flaunt their wealth in vessels that leave a massive carbon footprint.

“I haven’t seen anything from Destination Cape Breton that there will be some kind of standard set to determine which ones get welcomed based on whether they pay taxes …. and whether they subscribe to the rule of law,” Urbaniak said.

Smith says attracting superyachts is a small part of a broader strategy aimed at getting more boaters to come to the region. And he challenged the argument that superyacht owners represent the worst kind of polluters.

“I don’t agree with that,” said Smith, whose non-profit organization gets most of its budget from a levy charged to those who pay for accommodations in Cape Breton, as well the provincial and federal governments. “There are electric superyachts now. I think we’re going to see a transformation in them in terms of cleaner fuels and cleaner ways of operating.”

As for courting oligarchs, Langley says they’re not coming to Atlantic Canada anyway.

“We see more explorer yachts that are not the huge, 600- and 400-foot superyachts,” he said, adding that superyacht builders are now keen on using hydrogen technology to propel their boats.

“These are usually 200 feet and less, and they’re usually owned by people who are very sensitive to where they are going and operated by captains who are respectful (of the environment).”

Meanwhile, Langley says he’s working on a marine tourism strategy for Nova Scotia that will include sections on sustainability and best practices for marinas and waterfronts.

“I am very sensitive to that,” he said. “I grew up in Nova Scotia along the Northumberland Strait and I’m lucky enough to have a place in Baddeck …. These places are very special.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 1, 2024.

Michael MacDonald, The Canadian Press

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'unimaginable excess': bid to attract showy superyachts to cape breton under scrutiny.

'Unimaginable excess': Bid to attract showy superyachts to Cape Breton under scrutiny

With memories of the tar ponds receding, Sydney, N.S., is now trying to cultivate an upscale vibe — one that includes appealing to billionaires and their toys. It wants to become a destination for superyachts, the most expensive, luxurious boats in the world.

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Cape Breton Eagles players injured in multi-vehicle crash

Three Cape Breton Eagles players were injured in a multi-vehicle crash Monday afternoon.

According to a news release from the team, the players were on their way to Cape Breton, driving on Highway 104, when the collision occurred.

The team says all three players were taken to St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish, N.S., and were treated for their injuries.

“This was a scary situation of course, but as an organization we are relieved no one got seriously hurt,” said club general manager Sylvain Couturier in the release.

The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

Angelo Fullerton , 19, and Lucas Romeo , 19, were released from hospital Monday night.

“ Brayden Schmitt was admitted overnight so his injuries could be monitored by medical professionals,” reads the release.

The team expects Schmitt will be released from hospital in the “coming days.”

“Right now we are awaiting further updates from doctors and we will take the situation one day at a time,” said Couturier.

“We are grateful the occupants from the other vehicles involved were not seriously injured as well, and we thank the medical professionals at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital and local first responder for their provided care.”

For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page .

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'Unimaginable excess': Bid to attract showy superyachts to Cape Breton under scrutiny

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HALIFAX — Not so long ago, the largest community in Cape Breton was best known as home to one of the most toxic waste sites in North America: the infamous Sydney tar ponds.

"It's a transformation from what was an industrial economy to one that is more service-based with tech businesses and education, ” says Terry Smith, CEO of Destination Cape Breton, the island’s tourism marketing organization.

Compared to some superyachts, which boast helicopter hangars and glass elevators, Archimedes is considered an understated boat.

"The larger yachts are the ones that people tend to gravitate to," said Adam Langley, president and CEO of Superyacht East Coast. "They come alongside, and suddenly there's hundreds of people around buying ice cream or lunch and taking in the environment that these boats create."

And the economic benefits don't end there, Langley said. The owners of these floating mansions typically spend a small fortune on provisions after they arrive in port.

Once Archimedes had completed its eight-week tour of Canada's East Coast, the captain told Saltscapes magazine that its owner had spent US$400,000 on fuel, groceries, tours, guides and entertainment.

"Think of them as large, floating resorts," Langley said in a recent interview. "They'll spend thousands of dollars on things like flowers."

But Tom Urbaniak says there needs to be a broader discussion about using public funds to attract superyachts to the East Coast.

"What this is really about is marketing to an infinitesimally small group of oligarchs, the uber-rich, hyper-celebrities and the people who swoon around them," said Urbaniak, professor of political science and director of the Tompkins Institute at Cape Breton University in Sydney.

"This is not just a celebration of wealth. This is a celebration of almost unimaginable excess."

The professor says that at a time when Canadians are being asked to make sacrifices to deal with climate change, it doesn't make sense to cater to rich people who flaunt their wealth in vessels that leave a massive carbon footprint.

"I haven't seen anything from Destination Cape Breton that there will be some kind of standard set to determine which ones get welcomed based on whether they pay taxes .... and whether they subscribe to the rule of law," Urbaniak said.

"I don't agree with that," said Smith, whose non-profit organization gets most of its budget from a levy charged to those who pay for accommodations in Cape Breton, as well the provincial and federal governments. "There are electric superyachts now. I think we're going to see a transformation in them in terms of cleaner fuels and cleaner ways of operating."

As for courting oligarchs, Langley says they're not coming to Atlantic Canada anyway.

"We see more explorer yachts that are not the huge, 600- and 400-foot superyachts," he said, adding that superyacht builders are now keen on using hydrogen technology to propel their boats.

"These are usually 200 feet and less, and they're usually owned by people who are very sensitive to where they are going and operated by captains who are respectful (of the environment)."

Meanwhile, Langley says he's working on a marine tourism strategy for Nova Scotia that will include sections on sustainability and best practices for marinas and waterfronts.

"I am very sensitive to that," he said. "I grew up in Nova Scotia along the Northumberland Strait and I'm lucky enough to have a place in Baddeck .... These places are very special."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 1, 2024.

Michael MacDonald, The Canadian Press

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CAPE BRETON ISLAND: One of yachting’s best-kept secrets

Extending from the northeastern end of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia is Cape Breton Island, an enchanting destination that lies surprisingly under the yachting world’s radar, especially given its rave reviews from some of the world’s most influential travel authorities. While the island is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Canso — the deepest natural harbor in North America, with an average depth of 60 meters — it’s connected by the deepest causeway in the world, the Canso Causeway of the Trans-Canada Highway. Although most visitors arrive via road or air travel, the best way to experience the island is by sea.

This is no ordinary island. Its shores are awash by the Atlantic Ocean on the northeast and both the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Northumberland Strait on the west, creating a seascape as diverse as the adjacent landscape. The island’s coastline reveals a rugged yet approachable terrain, from towering highland cliffs to pristine beaches bathed in the warm waters of its western shores. Complementing the intriguing landscape are its many colorful cultures, from the deep roots of its first people, the Mi’kmaq, to well-established French Acadian, Scottish and Gaelic communities. For yachts exploring or transiting through Eastern Canada, Cape Breton Island is an itinerary must.

The exterior coast of Cape Breton Island is unforgettably beautiful — but for the yachting visitor, the island has a special secret to reveal: an inland sea. At the heart of Cape Breton Island, you will find the Bras d’Or Lake, Canada’s inland sea. The lake, a UNESCO-designated biosphere, boasts over 600 miles (1,000km) of pristine coastline with hundreds of coves, inlets, harbors and hidden anchorages. The lake is said to run as deep as the surrounding mountains are high, its warm, brackish waters a swimmer’s delight, and its swirling winds and quiet coves a sailor’s dream. Arguably, the most popular — and famous — anchorage on the lakes is Maskell’s Harbour, where in 1922 the Cruising Club of America was founded, giving this destination some serious street cred. Visitors are likely to share this special place with friendly locals, including resident American bald eagles.

Cape Breton Island has been rated the No. 1 island in North America in Condé Nast Traveler ’s “Readers’ Choice Awards” for the past two years, and the No. 1 island in Canada in Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best” for three years running. It was also recently included by CNN Travel in “Where to travel 2022: The best destinations to visit.”

Centrally nestled on the shores of the Bras d’Or Lake is the picturesque village of Baddeck, the largest community on the lake and a strategic destination for exploring inland, including the world-famous Cabot Trail. Baddeck recently upgraded its main docking facility to accommodate large yachts with 240 feet of floating docks with 23-inch freeboard, power, water, WiFi and direct access by foot to explore the village, with its many shops, restaurants and the Alexander Graham Bell Museum. Bell visited here in 1885, quickly falling in love with the surroundings as they reminded him of Scotland, his place of birth. Returning the following year, he bought land and began to build an estate he named Beinn Bhreagh (“beautiful mountain” in Gaelic), which became his family’s cherished vacation home.

Known as the beginning and end of the Cabot Trail, Baddeck is the baseline for exploration into the heart of the island. Leaving the village and heading north by car, visitors soon find themselves hugging the coastline again as they begin their ascent through the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, where lush boreal-forested river canyons carve into the ancient plateau, edged by rust-colored cliffs. The Cabot Trail gives you a front-row seat to Nova Scotia’s highest mountains, dropping almost straight to the sea and bestowing Cape Breton Island with some of Canada’s most beautiful coastal scenery.

“I have travelled around the globe. I have seen the Canadian and American Rockies, the Andes, the Alps and the Highlands of Scotland, but for simple beauty, Cape Breton outrivals them all!”

Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922)

But there is much more to this area than the dramatic landscapes and endless Instagram-worthy photo ops. Some islands call for sarongs and swimsuits, while others for hiking boots and trekking poles — Cape Breton Island has it all. Whether it’s quaint fishing villages with the finest of all things seafood, moose and whale sightings, world-class golf courses, or North America’s oldest single malt whiskey, Cape Breton won’t cease to surprise and reward you.

Perhaps the rest of the yachting world is just catching on to the island that has already captured the hearts of many, but one visit here and you will know that you have found one of the world’s best-kept secrets.

For more information on yachting along Canada’s East Coast, visit www.superyachteastcoast.com or follow them on social media @superyachteastcoast.

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September 8, 2024

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‘Unimaginable excess’: Bid to attract showy superyachts to Cape Breton under scrutiny

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HALIFAX - Not so long ago, the largest community in Cape Breton was best known as home to one of the most toxic waste sites in North America: the infamous Sydney tar ponds.

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Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 31/12/2023 (251 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HALIFAX – Not so long ago, the largest community in Cape Breton was best known as home to one of the most toxic waste sites in North America: the infamous Sydney tar ponds.

With memories of the tar ponds receding, the port city of Sydney, N.S., is now trying to cultivate an upscale vibe — one that includes appealing to billionaires and their toys. The superyacht M/Y Archimedes is seen docked at the public wharf in Baddeck, N.S., in a summer 2022 handout photo. Destination Cape Breton has hired Superyacht East Coast, based in Halifax, to attract to the island those who own boats like Archimedes, a 68-metre superyacht believed to be worth about $100 million. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Superyacht East Coast, *MANDATORY CREDIT*