Fleet
Sailing School
Charter Area
Yacht ManagementArticle by Mary Ann Moore
Sailing Adventures
The sailor… responds to the subtle shiftings of the wind, the imperceptible ebbings of the tide.
He changes course. He trims the sheets. He sails.
– Richard Bode, first you have to row a little boat
The spectacular beauty of Vancouver Island and British Columbia’s coast is unparalleled anywhere in the world. While visiting or living on the mid-Island, you have convenient access to the most central cruising location available on the west coast.
“This is the most spectacular place in the world,” Shari MacPherson, co-owner of Nanaimo Yacht Charters & Sailing School, says of the Pacific boating adventures available here. Shari has sailed across the Atlantic several times and had the pleasure of cruising in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean so can make some awesome comparisons.
There are challenges to the beauty of sailing the coastal waters of British Columbia, Shari points out: “Sailing in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean are a breeze compared to the west coast. There’s a 14 foot tidal range here.” The potential danger can be appreciated and prepared for by taking lessons at the Sailing School before chartering a vessel. As Shari says, “We need to respect nature and what it can do to us.”
If you’re new to boating, a sailing adventure can begin and end in Nanaimo’s harbour. Explore the many wonders of Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park by sailing along its distinctive shoreline of sandstone cliffs and ledges. You can tie up to the wharf or drop anchor in Mark Bay where there is good holding ground. After a walk through the rainforest, you can head back to your boat via a stop at the Dinghy Dock Pub on Protection Island before returning home.
Shari is enthused about Nanaimo and lets boaters know what to see here as well as on the smaller islands such as the flea markets on Gabriola and Salt Spring Island. Sailors receive a briefing before they set sail and have manuals on board to remind them of any forgotten details. A dinghy and outboard on each yacht help sailors to make onshore visits.
Shari’s favourite spot is Silva Bay on Gabriola Island. “You turn a corner, the bay opens up and it’s so peaceful with the rocks and trees on the shore,” she says. Silva Bay offers sheltered, overnight anchorage. You can enjoy a meal onshore at Silva Bay Resort & Marina and take in the panoramic view of Silva Bay and the Flattop Islands. While on Gabriola, you can visit Silva Bay Shipyard School, Canada’s only full-time wooden boat building school.
As each yacht has a barbecue, you can do your own cooking wherever you stop to relax and share adventure stories with other sailors nearby.
Whether you’re planning a one-day adventure or a longer jaunt, Nanaimo Yacht Charters offers several unique cruising itineraries. A 10-day cruise through the Gulf Islands and a 2-week cruise up the Jervis Inlet to Princess Louisa National Park are among the possibilities. Princess Louisa is rated by National Geographic as one of the 10 top sailing destinations in the world. Imagine sitting on the deck of your boat watching the eagles swoop for their fish breakfast. “All this is right on our doorstep,” Shari says.
Must Visit
Shari, her husband Ian, and Shari’s sister Lorraine Bell have sailed together to Princess Louisa National Park. Together, they describe the adventure: “There are no words to describe the emotion as you sail into Princess Louisa Inlet. Your eye catches an elongated white scratch mark rising about 2000 feet on a sheer cliff face. It slices across and disappears into the dark green at the top. Suddenly, your attention is diverted as another splash of white beams across your face. As you cruise closer you can see movement and you hear the power of water. The white water tumbles down, as steep rapids, disappearing behind rocks and reappearing closer to the water and then finally, in one magnificent leap, it plunges off the cliff and into the tranquil inlet water, 100 feet below. As you sail closer to the falls, a mist comes out to greet you and finally you reach a beach, adjacent to what is commonly known as Chatterbox Falls.”
Shari MacPherson, Ian MacPherson and Lorraine Bell make up the management team at Nanaimo Yacht Charters. Originally from Africa, Shari and Ian spent ten years cruising, travelling as far as the Caribbean where Shari ran a day charter boat operation and Ian ran Sunsail, one of the largest charter companies in the world. The company enticed the couple to Greece where they looked after 250 yachts and 6 hotels.
The MacPhersons and Lorraine Bell own Nanaimo Yacht Charters. Lorraine has a background in sales and marketing and ran a large employment operation in South Africa and in Ontario before moving to Nanaimo to become part of the three-person management team.
Yacht chartering is done through a partnership with the owners of the vessels. As Shari points out, “Insurance and moorage are major expenses. We manage the boats in a partnership to help offset expenses. The owner gets a percentage of the revenue.” Yacht owners live locally as well as in Alberta and the U.S. Part of the fleet is owned by Nanaimo Yacht Charters. Sailors need to prove their competency when chartering a boat. You can choose from a charter fleet consisting of sailing yachts and powerboats ranging from 27 feet to 50 feet. The Catalina 27 for instance, is one of the world’s most popular smaller sailboats, which include the Barakette and the Joss that sleep 4. If you’re looking to sail with a larger group, for a company party for instance, the Beneteau 50 sleeps 12. It’s a superb 50- footer with a fully battened mainsail, lazy jacks and electric halyard winch.
“You don’t have to own your own boat. You can pay a monthly fee to use one. It’s great for retirees,” Shari says. “You can also join the Sailing Club, get taught and then practice.”
The Sailing School is accredited to teach International Sail and Power Association as well as the Canadian Yachting Association methods of instruction. At on-site classrooms, students can take a Basic Sailing course to learn sailing safety, docking, sail handling, emergency procedures, knots and weather in order to competently skipper or crew a sail or powerboat. Certification can be achieved through a course run over weekends (practical) and weekday evening lessons (theory).
With “tailor made” Power and Sail courses for individuals, couples or families, you can charter a boat, take an instructor along, and learn at your own pace on a 5-7 day cruise. Programs range from basic (competent crew) to advanced level including a Yachtmaster Offshore Certification Course.
In fall Ian will be teaching the dying art of celestial navigation. Although sailors don’t sail their yachts at night, learning to navigate in the dark is the perfect preparation should navigation equipment ever fail.
Nanaimo Yacht Charters also offers a Seawise Women’s Cruise. – for women wanting to sail with like minded women with a female instructor for a 5 day cruise and learn
“There’s a completely different perspective from the water,” Shari says. The only limitation to your boat rental or sailing vacation is the length of time you have to spend. The Pacific Northwest is open to you with countless islands, private coves, safe anchorages and a variety of marinas – and it’s all right here.
