Vancouver Island Yacht Charters

Nanaimo

Vancouver Boat show 2014 is on between January 22 and 26th Stop by our booth as we look forward to chatting to you about our range of boats for charter, courses on offer and any other boating questions you may have. We have the full team there who will be happy to share their experiences with you.

Nanaimo

A hassle-free getaway for two through the heart of the gulf islands. When one thinks of the LOVEBOAT, the image of a luxury cruise liner with lovers promenading about the decks comes to mind. For my husband and I, it was the idea of chartering a sailboat to explore the Gulf Islands on a four-day getaway just for two; a chance to relax and re-connect to ourselves, each other and to the sea. After dropping off our young children at Nana’s and heading south to Nanaimo, Greg and I are giddy like two teenagers alone for the first time. Our station wagon is packed with crab traps, gear and provisions as we drive to Stones Marina in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. We’re chartering with Nanaimo Yacht Charters and Sailing School, located in a convenient and central location to the Gulf Islands, and a direct flight or ferry from Vancouver. Within minutes of pulling into the main dock’s unloading zone, we are met by friendly staff member Trevor Matthew, a certified instructor, who promptly leads us down the marina to our gorgeous Beneteau 331, Kala Kala. Unzipping the fully enclosed cockpit cover, past the binnacle instrument pod and steering wheel, we […]

Nanaimo

Further expansion to our Nanaimo Airport now allows for an even easier travel to your charter from Alberta Twice daily direct flights from Calgary with westjet Daily flights from Calgary with Air Canada Daily flights from Edmonton with Westjet www.westjet.com and www.aircanada.com This will be in addition to the eight daily Air Canada Express flights from Nanaimo to Vancouver in the summer schedule.

Nanaimo

YES, ITS TRUE! OUR 2017 SEASON WELCOMES  – STRAIGHT FROM THE FACTORY – NEWLY DESIGNED LAGOON 42 Call us now to book your charter for the 2017 Season! Not only is she new, she is the only Catamaran available for bareboat chartering from the mid island. Charter a catamaran around Vancouver Island and enjoy the fantastic scenery of Canada. She is fully loaded with all the latest electronics and all the luxury one would expect in a state of the art catamaran from CNB Lagoon.

Nanaimo

Perhaps the hustle and bustle of daily life has given you the need for a rest. If this is the case, why not consider taking a yacht charter to the wonderfully timeless and restful port that is Egmont. If it’s some good old-fashioned ‘Sunshine Coast’ living that you’re after, you’re certain to find it here. The residents are wonderfully welcoming and will be keen to greet you and share their relaxed approach to life. As you dock your yacht at the port, do take the time to visit the Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park. A beautiful location to walk some of their well-maintained paths and enjoy some wonderful views. You’ll also experience a traditional welcome at some of Egmont’s venues including its city hall and local store at Bathgates. If you’re looking to travel further, and have the urge to see some of the kayakers in action, why not take the easy 8km hike for a fantastic view of the raging rapids. As you travel towards your destination, look out for interesting facts on history of the area. Make sure you don’t miss the best views of Egmont at Roland Point. Pack your camera and a picnic and you’ll easily make […]

Nanaimo

About On our list of must visit places on a bareboat yacht charter around Vancouver Island, would have to be the stunning Princess Louisa Inlet on the British Columbia Coast. The inlet is approximately 8km (5 miles long), is almost completely enclosed and is never wider than 800 metres (½ mile) for it’s entire length. It can be found at the north eastern end of the Jervis Inlet, parts of the Inlet form the Princess Louisa Marine Provincial Park. Why visit? The Inlet is a unique example of fiordland on the pacific coast, and has a charm and beauty that really must be seen. The breathtaking scenery includes sheer granite cliffs rising from the placid water, along with dozens of waterfalls scattered along the coastline, created from the sun melting the snow on the mountains. At the head of the Inlet, you will encounter Chatterbox Falls which takes water from the surrounding mountain meadows which then cascade 40 metres into the Inlet throughout the year. Getting there: The entrance to the Inlet by boat is through a narrow entrance at Malibu Rapids where there can be a fast current of up to 7-10 knots, especially at spring tide, so caution […]

Nanaimo

This summer, my wife and three kids (15, 12 and 10) and I decided to try out sailing. My wife and I have been toying with the idea of sailing when we retire for a while now but had never actually done it before. With a couple weeks holidays available in the summer and no plans I started e-mailing around to the charter companies, originally planning on just a couple days out with a captain. After numerous replies we settled on Nanaimo Yacht Charters. Shari was very pleasant to work with and before you knew it, my wife and I were talking home courses (capable crew and day skipper). Anytime we had any questions, Shari was only an e-mail away from answering them. Finally the day arrived and my kids took their first ferry ride (we live in Alberta) as our adventure began. The hospitality we were shown by all the staff there was amazing and we felt very comfortable right off the get go. We got on the boat for the night and for the first time realized what retirement could be like, and we loved it. The next morning our instructor Paul showed up. He is a 30yr […]

Nanaimo

The sailing season is sadly coming to an end, and here at Nanaimo Yacht Charters our thoughts turn to winter maintenance on our sailboats. Follow our guide to get your sailing boat ready for winter and the quicker you will be on the water again come Springtime! Allow yourself plenty of time and make a plan of the jobs you need to do and when you are going to do them. Ensure that all your plumbing systems are completely drained as water freezing can cause lots of damage over the winter – check all pipes, tanks, pumps and strainers. Empty the holding tank and check your yachts manual on the best procedure to lay up your system heads. Check the bilges and the water tanks. Take off your boat all personal and housekeeping items, including cushions, bed linen and curtains – if left onboard over the winter they can get damp and mouldy. Remove all loose electronics and battery powered items from the boat, such as torches etc.., these can become damaged by damp and corrosion. Wash down all surfaces and hardware. Check all your onboard safety equipment is in good working order, eg fire extinguishers and buoyancy aids. Get […]

Nanaimo

Nanaimo Yacht Charters & Sailing School has been accredited by International Yacht Training to be one of its Sail training partners. Now we can offer you courses on the IYT curriculum that are recognised by 25 different Governments worldwide for commercial use including the British Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). INTENDING TO BAREBOAT CHARTER IN EUROPE OR THE MED – READ ON….. International Certificate of Competence – ICC What is an ICC? An ICC may be considered as an International License to operate a specific type and size of vessel within Greater European Waters; that is the countries that make up the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE or ECE). It is a certificate, which may be issued to anyone who has successfully completed certain national boating licenses or has successfully passed an ICC examination to prove the necessary competence for pleasure craft operation. The ICC itself provides documentary assurance from one government to another that the holder meets the levels of competence laid down in Resolution 40. Resolution 40 lays down the competency standards required to be met and other legal requirements such as languages on the certificate, and was developed by a sub commission, The Inland Water […]

Nanaimo

If you’re looking to buy your own yacht to sail Vancouver – or even further, there are so many factors that you need to bear in mind. No doubt you’ll be fully aware that this is a costly decision to make. So how do you know that you’re making the right choice? Ensuring that your purchase becomes a thing of joy and beauty rather than a financial drain, here are four pointers that are well worth considering. How much is it? Obviously this will depend on your budget. Normally the first decision that you need to make, it will give you the opportunity to see what you can realistically afford. Certainly a point you need to consider is how much it’s likely to be worth should your financial situation change and you need to sell. Is it ship shape? It goes without saying, but regardless of age, it’s vital that you find out exactly how the yacht fares in both looks and performance. An older or used yacht may be lower in price but if it is not up to a certain standard may end up costing you much more in the long run. Find a yacht surveyor To make […]