Come and see us at the 2017 Vancouver International Boat Show – we look forward to meeting new students/ charterers as well as catching up with our regular charterers. Our booth is 54-56 on the concourse level. Come ...
Boat Show 2017
Boat Show 2017
Nanaimo Yacht Charters & Sailing School
Nanaimo
Come and see us at the 2017 Vancouver International Boat Show – we look forward to meeting new students/ charterers as well as catching up with our regular charterers. Our booth is 54-56 on the concourse level. Come and see the new lagoon 42 that is joining our fleet at the Floating boatshow in Granville Island too! 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 Visit our booth between January 18-22 Vancouver Boat Show 2017
Sailing safety is of utmost importance when you are off on a trip. Before setting sail, it is a good idea to have some sort of a checklist in your mind, or better still, a physical checklist which ...
The Sailing in Vancouver Safety Checklist
The Sailing in Vancouver Safety Checklist
Nanaimo Yacht Charters & Sailing School
Nanaimo
Sailing safety is of utmost importance when you are off on a trip. Before setting sail, it is a good idea to have some sort of a checklist in your mind, or better still, a physical checklist which you can use to make sure you and the rest of your crew and companions are prepared for the journey ahead. A checklist used before setting sail, will limit the possibility for problems once underway. Throughout this article we will look at some of the things you will want to bear in mind before setting sail. Check weather report Not once, not twice, but continuously. With modern technology as it is now it is easier than ever to check the weather continuously, and as it always has been, a very important part of yacht safety procedures. Weather can change and turn at the drop of a hat, and so it is always best to be prepared for all sorts of weather eventualities. Also be aware of the different difficulties that the especially cold weather can bring, as well as the hot. In cold weather hypothermia can become a risk, and in hot dehydration is one of the biggest risks. Know how to […]
With Nanaimo Yacht Charters there are a couple of itinerary options for exploring the glorious Gulf Islands of British Columbia. Within the Gulf Island cluster, we have Gabriola Island, Galiano Island, Maybe Island, Pender Island, Salt Spring Island, ...
Sailing in Vancouver? Try the Gulf Islands
Sailing in Vancouver? Try the Gulf Islands
Nanaimo Yacht Charters & Sailing School
Nanaimo
With Nanaimo Yacht Charters there are a couple of itinerary options for exploring the glorious Gulf Islands of British Columbia. Within the Gulf Island cluster, we have Gabriola Island, Galiano Island, Maybe Island, Pender Island, Salt Spring Island, and Saturna Island. Situated in the Salish Sea, just off the coast of Nanaimo the Gulf Islands each have their own unique character whilst sharing the natural breath-taking beauty the region is renowned for. The people that live on the islands are an extremely diverse and creative bunch which makes the area great fun for visitors. You can find retired millionaires, spiritualists, writers, artists, musicians, cheesemakers and more! This eclectic mix of people means that the whole place is set to ‘island time’ which basically means sit back, relax, enjoy the scenery and don’t rush around. These islands sit along the eastern coastline of Vancouver Island and run from Saturna near the UC and Canada border, and up to Nanaimo. There are around half a dozen bigger islands and this is where you will find the before-mentioned residents, and then there are several-hundred smaller islands that are favourites for sea-sportsman, wildlife, and greenery! There are lots of activities to do across this […]
Sailing in Vancouver with Technology He was quoted in the Nanaimo Bulletin recently: So this got us thinking here at Nanaimo, what tech innovations have there been in the sailing industry? Well lots over the last 40 years ...
Sailing in Vancouver with Technology
Sailing in Vancouver with Technology
Nanaimo Yacht Charters & Sailing School
Nanaimo
Sailing in Vancouver with Technology He was quoted in the Nanaimo Bulletin recently: So this got us thinking here at Nanaimo, what tech innovations have there been in the sailing industry? Well lots over the last 40 years apparently. Let us walk you through some of our favourites in no particular order… Pod Drive Manoeuvrability These devices are for power boats. They enable better manoeuvrability in docking but also in other tight situations – aiding in propulsion control. Dock’N Go started the trend with their Sense 50, and Saildrive technology. There are now lots of other versions on the market, and they have become the power boaters favourite tool. GPS Sounds simple, as we all use it all the time now on our smart phones to help us get around –even when walking! But the complexity of the systems available now for use on board a vessel when at sea is simply mind-boggling. There is celestial navigation, underwater navigation, and all manners of chart maps. The accuracy of weather reports is also really useful, as you can get the latest information straight to deck thanks to satellites. The geek in any sailor gets excited by the options. You can also […]
We have touched on navigation here before as it is an essential sailing school skill to learn, either here at Nanaimo or wherever you are learning to sail. Before we looked at the two fundamental sides to navigation ...
Sailing School Skills – Navigational Elements & Terms
Sailing School Skills – Navigational Elements & Terms
Nanaimo Yacht Charters & Sailing School
Nanaimo
We have touched on navigation here before as it is an essential sailing school skill to learn, either here at Nanaimo or wherever you are learning to sail. Before we looked at the two fundamental sides to navigation i.e. To know exactly where you re at any given moment Knowing which way to go in order to best reach your intended destination. So continuing on from this at sailing school, learning the basics of navigation includes knowledge on certain elements, which are known as Position, Distance, Direction and Time. Learning these terminologies will make it much easier to learn and understand Navigation much better. So let’s look at the different navigational terms in more detail; Position The position of your sailboat can be stated in terms of coordinates of longitude and latitude of an imaginary grid placed on the surface of the earth. You can direct your sailboat to any direction you like once you have determined the exact position that you are in. Distance This is another very important element of Navigation. Between two points, the length of the straight line that connects them is what we call Distance. In navigational terms this distance is measured in terms of […]
A new initiative is afoot in Nanaimo. A leadership group is looking to build relationships between Nanaimo businesses like ourselves and the indigenous population. So much of Vancouver Island is reliant on the outstanding natural beauty of the ...
Sailing Holidays in Vancouver with Nature Protected
Sailing Holidays in Vancouver with Nature Protected
Nanaimo Yacht Charters & Sailing School
Nanaimo
A new initiative is afoot in Nanaimo. A leadership group is looking to build relationships between Nanaimo businesses like ourselves and the indigenous population. So much of Vancouver Island is reliant on the outstanding natural beauty of the area, but the rich cultural heritage embodied within that is too often ignored. The initiative entitled ‘Toolbox for Change: a Local Perspective on Indigenous Culure’ launched this month (May, 2016) consists of a series of cedar boxes being sent to various points in the community via a mobile library. These boxes hold a whole host of interesting artefacts including books on indigenous culture to help educate the wider community about this group of people.The boxes themselves have the beaver, the eagle, the raven, the bear, and the wold on the box – these animals symbolise the main family groups of the nation. Instigated by the Leadership of Vancouver Island – a leadership development programme in the area, the project aims to reconcile some difficulties between indigenous populations and the new settlers. Tara Plett, spokeswoman for the initiative said how the initiative is mainly aimed at the over 25s, as there is a gap to bridge in the knowledge of younger and older […]
When taking on a new hobby, there is always the fear of walking into the class for the first time and being judged. This fear is usually amplified if there are mixed genders in the class, and so ...
Sailing Courses in Vancouver – The Advantages of Ladies Only Courses
Sailing Courses in Vancouver – The Advantages of Ladies Only Courses
Nanaimo Yacht Charters & Sailing School
Nanaimo
When taking on a new hobby, there is always the fear of walking into the class for the first time and being judged. This fear is usually amplified if there are mixed genders in the class, and so single gender classes can be a way to try new things with less of the social anxiety that can come with that. Sailing courses are no different. Many women want to learn in a fun, relaxed environment and gender politics can often cloud that. Female instructors tend to have a better understanding of these fears and thoughts and can be better at teaching women in ways that women learn best. Ladies only sailing courses are often easier as it takes away the problem of sharing a cabin with a stranger of the opposite sex. This can make many women (and men for that matter) uncomfortable and significantly detract from the overall learning experience. You are of course, there to learn so that you can enjoy your new found skills later with loved ones, or potential partners, as well as friends and family. Some men also have the tendency to ‘mansplain’ – that is, re-explain something in their language just to check women […]
If you are an experienced sailor then you may already know these nuggets of information. Cooking on board can be great fun or if after 4 days afloat you are still eating canned soup and sandwiches then you ...
Planning for Cooking on Board a Yacht
Planning for Cooking on Board a Yacht
Nanaimo Yacht Charters & Sailing School
Nanaimo
If you are an experienced sailor then you may already know these nuggets of information. Cooking on board can be great fun or if after 4 days afloat you are still eating canned soup and sandwiches then you may want to think about being more inventive. Whatever the holiday, normally food is an important aspect. If you are staying close to port then people often eat ashore, but if you want to enjoy the seclusion and majesty of parts of our recommended itineraries then you will need to plan and shop ahead. On board cooking tips Do an inventory Have a good look through the kitchen area and work out what equipment you have and more importantly if there is any essential equipment you are missing. If there are dishes you’d like to cook which require unusual ingredients such as particular spices it is worthwhile bringing them with you. Plan out the main meals Lunches can be easy – fresh bread, cheese, ham and some salad and hey presto lunch is done. Snacks are also easy – crisps, crackers, fruit and some local biscuits make for a good snack cupboard. Evening meals though need to be well planned – the […]
When embarking on a yacht charter with Nanaimo Yacht Charter, you have to stop and take a moment to appreciate the variety of incredible creatures you are sharing the waters with. From the humble sea urchin, to the ...
Nanaimo Yacht Charter – Best Sea Creatures
Nanaimo Yacht Charter – Best Sea Creatures
Nanaimo Yacht Charters & Sailing School
Nanaimo
When embarking on a yacht charter with Nanaimo Yacht Charter, you have to stop and take a moment to appreciate the variety of incredible creatures you are sharing the waters with. From the humble sea urchin, to the great Orca. The diversity of marine life in British Columbia is truly something to be awed and appreciated. In this article, we are going to walk you through some of our favourites to keep an eye out for on your yachting voyage. We look forward to hearing about all your personal experiences with some of these creatures of the sea when you visit us. The Orca Not that this magnificent creature needs much of an introduction, but the Orca (more commonly known as the Killer Whale) is actually a quite misunderstood creature. Now, not to shatter your dreams, but it isn’t advised to try out some Free Willy style moves with these Kings of the Sea, but you can enjoy them from the comfort and luxury of your Nanaimo yacht charter. The population of Orcas in the Northeast Pacific are currently listen as ‘threatened’ with some pods as ‘endangered’. Pods known as the Southern Population stretch from the Queen Charlotte Islands here […]
As well as the variety of nightlife available in Nanaimo, perfect for when you are on the deck of your yacht, having a few drinks with your friends, and the rum runs out. There is a different kind ...
Nanaimo – Not Just Yacht Charter!
Nanaimo – Not Just Yacht Charter!
Nanaimo Yacht Charters & Sailing School
Nanaimo
As well as the variety of nightlife available in Nanaimo, perfect for when you are on the deck of your yacht, having a few drinks with your friends, and the rum runs out. There is a different kind of bar which you must check out whilst in Nanaimo. This bar is a decadent, creamy, chocolatey indulgence certainly not for the faint of heart. The bar originated in Nanaimo itself – hence the name! It dates back to the early fifties in the Edith Adams cookbook (14th edition) although there was some controversy when someone claimed it was published in a newspaper earlier under a different name such as chocolate slice, or fridge cake. Who knew baking could be so catty? It has since appeared in numerous cookbooks across the globe in its various forms. It seems to be a favorite among the ladies – so gentleman, why not try making your own version to impress the lovely lady in your life? It couldn’t be more simple… It consists of all of the main ingredients of chocolate based puddings but for an extra twist in the first layer you add coconut, almonds, and wafer crumbs (it’s a little messy to eat […]