Join us for a sailing adventure in one of the world's great cruising grounds as we circumnavigate Vancouver Island. Treat yourself to a marine safari as we explore one of the richest coastal eco systems in North America. Opportunities abound to enjoy its splendid diversity of scenery, wildlife and cultural history.
Step aboard our 38 ft sailing sloop Agua Verde and join skipper/instructor Colin Campbell as one of four guest crew. Gain your Basic CYA Learn to Cruise certification or upgrade your skills to Intermediate or Advanced as you experience the joys of a unique liveaboard sailing vacation. Rise to the challenge of mastering sailing skills as we encounter a wide variety of conditions from gentle coastal breezes to the ocean swells of the open Pacific. Our journey is broken into three legs of 5 to 10 days each. Choose one or more of these segments to fit your needs.
First Leg
Depart Vancouver the weekend of May 31th, 2008 and sail northwest along the beautiful Sunshine Coast. Fish for prawns in renowned Desolation Sound. Leave Campbell River June 5th or 6th, explore the Discovery Islands, then navigate Johnstone Strait. Search for killer whales at Robson Bight as we proceed from Telegraph Cove to the captivating first nations community of Alert Bay and nearby Village Island. From here we can explore the southern reaches of Queen Charlotte Strait and the Broughton Archipalgo prior to making Port Hardy. Choose either a 5 day cruise from Vancouver to Campbell River, 5 days from Campbell River to Port Hardy, or combine the two for 10 days.
Second Leg
Leave Port Hardy on the weekend of June 14th and overnight at Bull Harbour. Round the northern tip of Vancouver Island at Cape Scott to enter picturesque Winter Harbour. Roam magnificent Rugged Beach before skirting Brookes Peninsula to check out the sea otters in Kyuquot Sound. Visit historic Nootka then bathe at Hot Springs Cove or visit Cougar Annie's garden before weaving through Clayoquot Sound to Tofino.
Third Leg
Sail on to Uclulet around June 25th and explore the enchanting Broken Islands of Berkley Sound. Great salmon fishing, whale watching, and gunkholing. Return to Uclulet, or continue to cruise down the route of the West Coast Trail to Port Renfrew, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and tie up in front of the Empress Hotel in Victoria. From there we meander at leisure through the southern Gulf Islands back to Vancouver.
LOGISTICS (More info on our web site at www.seabc.com)
We have considerable flexibility as to dates and activities, so please let us know what suits you and if possible we’ll adjust accordingly.
Cost for 7 days $1,595.00, 10 days $2,295.00. Course materials if required approx. $75.00. All subject to 6% GST. No experience needed unless you wish to do the CYA Intermediate or Advanced course.
Port Hardy, Tofino and Victoria all have good connections by road and air to Vancouver.
Check www.pacific-coastal.com for flights between Vancouver, Victoria, Campbell River, and Port Hardy; www.flyorcaair.com for Tofino.
Use Greyhound bus line, (604) 683-8133, for Campbell River and Port Hardy, Tofinobus for Tofino, www.tofinobus.com. Budget Rent a Car has service in all the aforementioned locations. www.bcbudget.com
Agua Verde is a classic offshore cruiser/racer which comfortably accommodates 5 crew.
Your host, Colin Campbell, is an Advanced Cruising Instructor with the Canadian Yachting Association (CYA). With more than 25 years experience of local waters, Colin has also sailed extensively in the Caribbean and South Pacific. In 2003 he sailed Agua Verde 10,000 miles to Mexico, Hawaii and back to Vancouver.
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