Vancouver Island Article

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

This months Cruising World magazine has a really nice pair of articles on sailing in the Pacific Northwest. The cover feature is an article on Vancouver Island. The largest island on the North American west coast, 300 miles long, 2000 miles of coast line.



And that doesn't even count the BC coastline and all the Canadian islands between Vancouver Island and the mainland up the inside passage. Throw in the San Juans and Puget Sound with it's 2500 miles of shoreline and we have quite an amazing place to cruise our Macs.

They also have a nice review of 4 new 30' sailboats. Nice to see them focus on the reasonable size boats instead of the monster million dollar cruisers.

[Fairwinds]

If every city could be a copy of Victoria, Vancouver Island, B.C. the world would be a fine place indeed. And yes, a few people have managed to get Palm Trees to grow there!

[Frank C]

The latest issue of Sailing magazine has a special section called Backyard Cruises. It covers a half-dozen venues, short cruise stories including the San Juans, Lake Champlain and Sea of Cortez, among others.

[Mark J]

Thanks for the notice. I'll have to pick-up a copy.
In addition to a SJ cruise this summer, I'm considering catching the ferry to Vancouver Island, and trailering up to Barkley Sound. Another possibility is to head North the end of 101, and launch at Lund. Then a quick jaunt to Desolation Sound. If someone has done either trip, I'ld appreciate any info. Probably shoot for one week in August.

Barely Spring, but pleasant thoughts on a 50F, rainy day.

[Chinook]

We cruised Desolation Sound for a week on a chartered sailboat out of Comox on Vancouver Island a number of years ago. In 2004 we again passed through the region in our 26X en route to Alaska. That trip started in North Vancouver. Send me a personal message on this site and I'd be happy to provide details on the area. It provides some outstanding cruising opportunities, and the MacGregor is an excellent boat for the trip.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

My wife and I were just having a discussion this evening about where we should go for a couple weeks this summer.

At this point we have two places on the table, trailering to Port Alberni and cruising Barkley Sound, or staying closer to home and visiting a bunch of spots in the San Juans we have not gotten to yet. We may start from Bellingham as we have never cruised out of that area to date.

I know the Macgregor Yacht club of BC is talking about a possible rendezvous in 2008 in Desolation Sound. We'll be keeping an eye on those plans as well. http://mycbc.ca .

[Shane]

Duane,

The Vancouver Sun had a tourism insert (63 pages, tabloid style) for Vancouver Island in one of this past weeks papers. I took a quick search, but couldn't find it on line. If your local library gets it, I think it was from Thurs. or Fri.

...this might help you track it down:
'Discover Vancouver Island, Victoria and the Gulf Islands' Nancy MacDonald, editor (nmacdonald@tc.canwest.com)

Looking at the inside page, it may have been inserted into a PI as well. If you want I can p/c or scan the Port section and send it to you, but I'd suggest trying to find a copy as it could be a good (free) reference of events & activities up & down the Island.

Although I never spent much time on the salt water (lots of lakes & rivers, though) growing up in Nanaimo, I do want to re-discover alot of old areas that I haven't seen in 20+ years, so I kept the insert for further reference. There was a bit of info on Port, most notable was the tall ships were coming back there in 2008. They're also stopping in Tacoma & Victoria, but see how they fit your schedule (maybe you could floatilla with them )

http://www.tallships.sailtraining.org/

Regards,
Shane

At this point we have two places on the table, trailering to Port Alberni and cruising Barkley Sound.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

One of our favorite marinas is north of Nanaimo at Nanoose, Schooner Cove Marina. We stopped there twice on our way up and back from Princess Louisa. It was our starting and stopping place each time we crossed the Strait of Georgia.

Watch out around Nanaimo, it is the worst area we have ever encountered for logs in the water.

Another great park just south of Nanaimo thru Dodd Narrows is Pirates Cove and a great marina not far from Nanaimo is Silva Bay Marina on Gabriola Island