Vancouver Island Yacht Charters

Nanaimo

So a must visit place on your Vancouver yacht charter would definitely be Lopez Island, one of the beautiful San Juan islands. There are just over 170 named islands across the San Juan islands, each one with it’s own laid back atmosphere and stunning scenery, and along with Orcas Island and Shaw Island; Lopez Island is one of the most populated and with plenty to do for all visitors. The San Juan Islands enjoy a lovely year round climate with highs around 70 degrees in the summer and 40 degrees in the winter. About Lopez Island Lopez Island is possibly one the friendliest island, nicknamed “the Friendly Isle” expect to be greeted by the local and even waved out by people from their cars! So it’s a welcome stop on your Vancouver yacht charter. The island is fairly small, just 15 miles long, albeit with 63 miles of stunning coastline to enjoy. There is a year round population of about 2,500 people, from artists, musicians to farmers and fishermen. [mappress mapid=”4″] The landscape is stunning with forests and farmlands covering the interior of the island, and the natural beauty of the shoreline consists of quiet bays and beaches with magnificent […]

Nanaimo

On a Vancouver bareboat charter another island to explore in the Southern Gulf Islands would be Valdes Island, with its towering sandstone cliffs it is an impressive island to visit. Where is Valdes Island? Valdes Island is another of the Southern Gulf islands, found in the Strait of Georgia and sandwiched between Gabriola Island and Galiano Island around 25 miles southeast of Vancouver and it is a lovely place to stop by on your Vancouver bareboat charter to appreciate both the quiet and untouched environment of this beautiful island. There is no ferry service to Valdes Island, access is only by boat or seaplane and thus it is a very quiet spot. History The island itself is named after the Spanish naval office Cayetano Valdez y Bazan who first visited the island in 1792 when he was serving as a lieutenant on the ship Descubierta, he then returned again when he was captain of the Mexicana and explored the area along with Captain Galiano on board the Sutil (hence the names of both of these southern gulf islands!) About Valdes Island The island itself is very small and covers an area of just 9 square miles, being just 1 mile […]

Nanaimo

Must Have Emergency Tools While Sailing in Vancouver It is always absolutely vital to be well prepared before embarking upon any sailing trip in Vancouver and indeed anywhere in the world. This includes, supplies, maintenance equipment, emergency tools, and safety items. On something as complex as a boat, there are many things that can go wrong, and it is of great importance to be as well prepared as possible for all eventualities that can occur. Keeping a comprehensive inventory list of all of the items on board the boat is a good starting point, this way it is easier to check before setting sail that you have everything you might ever need simply by checking the list. Organisation is also crucial. A well organised stock room, medical cabinet, and safety zone make for happier sailors in the event of a crisis. As well as all the usual items, there are some tools that can prove particularly useful in a limitless number of situations on board a vessel. Firstly, an adjustable wrench. This may sound quite commonplace, but you would be surprised how often these are missing off the checklist. A seven inch adjustable wrench can get you out of many […]

Nanaimo

Seasickness, and travel sickness in general is quite a common problem. It can be quite an irritant when it arises, and so it is best to be aware of what it is, and how to prevent it, before entering any potential seasickness inducing situations. What is sea sickness? Also known as motion sickness, this ailment is caused by the disruption of the senses when your body experiences some form of imbalance as occurs on board a sea vessel, or indeed on any form of transportation. This is because you receiving conflicting signals from the senses such as your ears and eyes that do not match up, as your body tries to work out where the centre of gravity may be. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and sometimes sweating. It can appear in ranging levels of severity and is different for every individual. Unlike a number of illnesses, seasickness is not well treated after it begins. Instead it is best to be prepared, and take preventative measures to stop it from taking hold. There are a number of things you can do, some of them more effective than others, and each remedy effects each person in a different way. Therefore it […]

Nanaimo

We have been asked on several occasions how we came to know and eventually purchase our charter company on the island. So here is our story – in Ian’s own words: My deep sleep was interrupted by a phone ringing. I cast my eye across to the alarm clock on my bed side table; it was 3 o’clock in the morning. Who could be ringing at this ungodly hour? It was one of those calls that all with aging parents dread. It was my very shocked mother with the worst possible news, the fog of being deeply asleep cleared in an instant as I digested the news that my father had suffered a massive heart attack and had died very suddenly in the middle of their daily walk around their suburb of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. Within one hour my wife Shari had a very stunned me booked on a fight from Athens to Vancouver departing that afternoon, twenty four hours later I landed in Vancouver and two hours after that I was on board a ferry bound for Nanaimo. I had heard at great lengths from my parents all about the beauty of BC and felt consumed with guilt […]

Nanaimo

As some folks may know, before immigrating to Canada, we built a 40’ Endurance Ketch called “Baraka” which became our home at sea for 10 years….. An excerpt from the book (in progress) “Are we East or West of the Equator?” – by Ian MacPherson! Hopefully your fishing while chartering along our spectacular coast will be far more peaceful!…………. ‘This was an important activity on board, one that broke the monotony of the day. To achieve this, we were armed with a large Penn Senator fishing reel onto which was wound 1000 ft of 200lb test braided nylon ending with a 40 ft wire trace and one of my famous handmade lures. (from the aluminium bladder of a cardboard wine box!) This was all handily mounted solidly on to the top rail of the pushpit. To say that this lacked finesse was the understatement of the day. When we set off on our trip to sail the world Shari and I had never fished a day in our collective lives. Clueless was the second understatement worth noting. Despite this minor issue we proceeded to fish! Our first fish was announced by the snarling ratchet of the reel as a fish […]

Nanaimo

Built on the traditional lands of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.  The city is on the east coast of south-central Vancouver Island. Since Nanaimo incorporated in 1874, it’s been a coal town, a timber town, a mill town and a tourist destination. Today, the leading sectors are in health care, technology and construction. The Snuneymuxw Territory is located in the centre of Coast Salish territory on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and the Fraser River in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The Snuneymuxw territory encompasses one of the most productive and resource rich areas at the heart of the Salish Sea. Nanaimo is known as the Harbour City of Vancouver island.   It derives its identity from the wealth of recreation activities available – many of which are centred around the harbour situated at the centre of the city. It has a wealth of history thanks to the marina, which is also of great interest to the many visitors that make the journey over to the island every year. Travellers can try their hand at a number of activities including hiking, boating, biking, kayaking, scuba diving and snorkelling which all form part of the fabric of this […]

Nanaimo

In our series on sailing school hints and tips – this week we are going to be looking at picking up a mooring buoy! Even the most expert sailors amongst us will have had moments of dropping that mooring buoy over and over again! Read our sailing school guide and remind yourself of the best method; Check your marks…. Mooring buoys are most likely attached to a chain that runs along the ground on the sea bed, which in turn is attached to a heavy anchor of some form, buried in the sea bed. The buoy itself needs to be heavy enough to support the heavy riser chain that allows the buoy to sit on the service, so you will often find a ring and a pick up line that sits on top of the buoy, that you will then attach your yacht to. Get Set…. So when you are ready to pick up the mooring buoy, first begin by looking around the area and checking your chart and almanac to see which buoys you have permission to use. Then when you are ready to make your approach get your boat hook and mooring lines ready. Aim your boat into […]

Nanaimo

Now it is a well-known fact that the great outdoors is good for you – body and soul. Getting away from the humdrum of day to day life, and getting back to basics is a dream for some. But here at Nanaimo yacht charter we can help make this a reality. There are a number of scientific studies which prove nature adventures to be good for your health and well being, and so what are you waiting for? Get out there and make 2017 the year you get back to nature, and take yourself on a yachting adventure in Nanaimo, Vancouver. Amazing scenery whilst enjoying the challenge of sailing. A recent study in the UK showed that ‘doing something wild’ every day for 30 days significantly improves overall health and happiness. So imagine how happy you could feel on board one of our yachts surrounded by the beautiful Canadian mountains, waters, and forests. The study also showed that benefits of a spell outdoors are sustained for long afterwards, meaning your Nanaimo experience will keep you going for some time. Being part of nature has shown to improve self-esteem and confidence as well as mood. Well luckily for you, you don’t […]

Nanaimo

Check out our ” Special offers” page – call today to book remaining available weeks on some fabulous sail and power boats info@nanaimoyachtcharters.com Toll Free 1.877.754.8601