Bareboat Chartering Canada Desolation Sound

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Bareboat Chartering - Canada Desolation Sound

Charters > Charter Library > Destination Reports > Canada Desolation Sound

From Vancouver to Desolation Sound British Columbia

Desolation Sound Canada

Generally, the Bareboat Chartering region can be devided into two sailing areas.

The Sunshine Coast:
This sailing area is situated next to Vancouver. Just about 15 sea miles to the north from the city, you will find yourself between countless islands and can enjoy the beauty of the nature. There are hundreds of good anchorages and many good marinas around the Howe Sound and Jervis Fjord. The Sunshine coast was called so because the region statistically counts the most number of sunny days in British Columbia.

Canada Desolation Sound

Desolation Sound:
This area begins some 90 sea miles to the north from Vancouver. Breathtaking landscapes, deep fjords, warm bathing bays and national parks with nature that cannot be described – you should have seen it to believe it!
For a two week Bareboat Chartering cruise you can combine either the Sunshine Coast and Desolation Sound or the gulf and the San Juan Islands. If you want to explore the whole region, you will need at least four weeks or even more. In any case, you should plan at least 3 or 4 days for the region around Vancouver, as there is a lot to see and do. Vancouver is diverse like no other city. If you like sushi, the “Tsunami Sushi” on the Robson Street Nr. 1025 will be your favorite. The noblest restaurant in Vancouver “Joe’s Oysterbar” is also worth visiting. Remember to reserve a table in advance.

If you wish to stay over night in the city, the central Four Seasons Hotel is the perfect place, as from there you can explore the centre of the city afoot. The visit of the Granville Island is a must for all passionate sailing crews, as they will find the biggest Farmers Market and a range of maritime shops there. The best place for a drink is the “Bridges”. The “Bojangles” in the end of the robson Street serves the best breakfast in the town. The best shopping malls are the Granville Island or – if you start from the Bayshore West Marina in Cool Harbour – the Saveway in the Robson Street. The “Capers” on the opposite side of the street is famous for great cheese, bread and fish.

Snug Cove on the Bowen Island is just some 10 sea miles away from Vancouver a perfect first destination if you start your Bareboat Chartering cruise from Vancouver. Some 25 sea miles further to the west from there, Namaimo is situated, which is the northerly border of the Gulf Islands. From there you can already start watching out for whales. There is a good maintained marina, many restaurants and numerous clubs and bars with great night life.

Jedediah Island Canada

If you like oysters, the Deep Bay, also called Long Bay on the Jedediah Island (40 sea miles) is our special tip for you. There you can eat your fill with this delicacy. We recommend you to come early enough to secure a good place to anchor, as there are only a few of them.

Jedediah Island

Powel River (20 sea miles) is a ferry and fisher port with a small marina and some pretty restaurants, among which we recommend the small mexican restaurant on the main street. The Rocky Mountain Coffee offers good breakfast starting from 6:00 am. In the “Seafood Shack” in the southern part of the port you can eat fresh fish, oysters and the frozen Alaska King Crab. There is also a small “Western Bar” with live music.

On the way to desolation Sound you will pass by the Savary Island. This is a nice place to anchor during the day with a dreamlike sand beach for sunbathing. The island Redonda is perfect as an anchorage for the night. In Desolation Sound itself, you will also find hundreds of hidden anchorages.

We recommend you to enjoy this beautiful Bareboat Chartering region with its nature parks during some days without making big distances. Refuge Cove, Squirl Cove as well as Prideaux Haven are especially worth seeing.

Wales Reach

Jervis Inlet is a 50 sea miles long bay. Here you should consider the tidal stream, which can achieve 12 knots on some spots. A nice anchorage is the St. Vincent Bay, just behind the Junktion Island.

Canada Princess Louisa Inlet

Some 45 sea miles further, the Princess Louisa Inlet is situated. On the way you will pass by the Prince of Wales Reach with up to 1600 metres high mountains, the Vancouver Bay and the Marlborough Hights. You should pay attention to the cataract in the entrance of the Princess Louisa Inlet – it is very narrow and may have streamings of up to 12 knots.

Princess Louisa Inlet

If you wish to enter the inlet, you must report it via radio and be aware of the streaming. Despite of the difficult entering conditions, the inlet with the breathtaking waterfall on its end is really worth seeing! There is a pontoon for yachts that can be used free of charge.

Egmont Marina

The Egmont marina (www.egmont-marina.com) in Skookumchuck Narrows will come for a welcome change after so much nature. There you can take a warm shower just for one luni (Canadian dollar), eat in a nice restaurant and use the shopping possibilities. There are also diving and canoe excursions organized by Patti and Paul Hansen from the West Coast Wilderness Lodge (www.wcwl.com).

You can continue to the south through the Agamemnon Channel passing by the Pender Harbour. The Smugglers Cove and the Secret Cove are good marinas to stay overnight, the last one offers the best modern equipment and comfort (www.secretcovemarina.com), charging 80 cent per feet. If there is a free place, you can also moor at the Government Dock and pay less. The Pirta Cove restaurant, 10 walking minutes away from the marina, is a nice place with great view over the whole bay. The Smugglers Cove with its narrow entrace is very attractive because of the beautiful nature. These two places are perfect as a springboard back to Vancouver, as there are just 30 sea miles to go till Granville Island.

Chatterbox Falls

The Howe Sound could be a good last Bareboat Chartering destination, as it lies just 15 sea miles away from Vancuover.

To fill your tanks after the cruise you will find a swimming fuelling station in the Bayshore West Marina.
The descriptions above do not provide full information about the offered destinations. From the experience we know that sailing crews often do not calculate enough time for their way back. Therefore, we recommend planning some extra time as a buffer.

This description of the Bareboat Chartering area is a general guideline for charter crews. The following suggestions do not include specific factors such as nautic experience and ambitions, exact weather conditions, early or late risers. The Bareboat Chartering area is very large, that is why a charter crew should discuss and choose destinations accordingly to their individual wishes. Therefore, the following description is just a subjective selection of possibilities and does not substitue region and port manuals.

All data was researched accurately. However, we do not warrant the full correctness and completeness of the information given.

Bareboat Chartering Canada Desolation Sound