May 27, 2022
Cowichan Bay—A Slow-Living Escape to Marine Heritage, Food and Local Artisanry
Cowichan Bay is a waterfront village with a row of shops, artisan products, marine supplies and a variety of places to eat. It also has a delightful Maritime Centre.
April 13, 2022
The Lady-like Atmosphere of Ladysmith
Instant towns have sprung up in the past, especially on the BC coast. In the late 1850s, Victoria grew overnight into a tent city when hordes of prospectors stopped by to provision for their quest to get rich in the Fraser goldfields.
February 28, 2022
Cruising the Rideau Canal
Following the War of 1812, a battle that Canada narrowly won against the United States, the boundaries of Upper Canada were held and the British army realized that the St. Lawrence River was no longer safe as a supply route.
February 22, 2022
Heading South
You’ve weathered COVID and you’re ready to book your charter to paradise. You’ve done some homework, but your float plan’s also got some blank spots.
January 19, 2022
Steeped in Canadian history and French culture: Quebec City as a port destination
If you are looking for an interesting destination for a weekend trip or longer, Quebec City will deliver. Located on the shores of the St. Lawrence River, this Francophone city is a prime boating destination with unique boating conditions, a vibrant waterfront scene, and excellent food, drink and culture.
January 11, 2022
World Cruising: Fjaka – latest self-help buzzword or are the Croatians on to something?
A holiday often is defined by the experiences we make in unique and beautiful settings. But what about that indulgently lazy contentment of doing nothing that turns a holiday into a vacation? Croatia has taken their sentiment of Fjaka to heart.
December 7, 2021
Update from St. Vincent & the Grenadines
St Vincent and the Grenadines is open to tourists and Horizon Yacht Charters are looking forward to welcoming our Canadian friends, old and new! You can fly from various locations in Canada via Barbados and then to St Vincent on InterCaribbean Airways or FlyOne and there are direct flights from Toronto with Air Canada on Mondays.
September 22, 2021
Destination Victoria, BC’s Capital City
We bobbed in the brisk winds while rounding the breakwater into Victoria Harbour, then lowered sail immediately. As the harbour is crisscrossed by full-sized and miniature ferries, pleasure craft and commercial vessels—the whole supplemented by a stream of arriving and departing seaplanes—sailing is strictly forbidden.
July 20, 2021
Boating In the Birthplace of Confederation
Over the course of four days in September 1864, representatives from Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Lower Canada (Quebec) and Upper Canada (Ontario) gathered in Charlottetown to discuss the idea of bringing these diverse colonies together and forming a country.
July 7, 2021
New Ottawa River destination opens
The new owners of L’Orignal Marina offer boaters a new destination. Located in a charming francophone village in Eastern Ontario, this joined marina and restaurant venue is the ambitious initiative of long-time entrepreneur André Chabot and biologist Alexandra Quester, both residents of L’Orignal.
June 8, 2021
Destinations: Victoria, BC’s Capital City
In the June edition of Canadian Yachting Marianne Scott takes us to a city she knows well, Victoria. Victoria Harbour is well protected from strong winds and Coast Salish people flourished in the area for several thousand years. In 1843, the Hudson’s Bay Co. set up a stockaded fort in the area near today’s Bastion Square with the goal of trading with the Indigenous people.
May 14, 2021
Join a Boating Club
In my lifetime I have been a member of 5 yacht clubs. There were big differences. The one that I grew up at, is where I learned to sail and to drive a motorboat. The second one didn’t have a clubhouse. All we did was race off the beach.
April 29, 2021
Ahoy by a Century!
Commemorating 100 (+1) years of through-navigation on the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site of Canada
March 24, 2021
TRIPPING The Niagara soars over the River on TVO
On Friday, April 2 at 7 pm ET on TVO and streaming anytime after that on tvo.org and the TVO YouTube channel, TVO presents the world broadcast and online premiere of TVO Original TRIPPING The Niagara. This is the second installment of the hugely popular and immersive Tripping series.
March 15, 2021
Salt Spring Island with Gourmet Food and Drink
Salt Spring Island, the largest among the Gulf Islands, has a certain mystique—much of it having to do with locally produced food. It started thousands of years ago when the Coast Salish First Nations used the Island as a summer camp, collecting wild foods while also processing the abundant sea food for winter sustenance.
March 5, 2021
Protecting North Channel Shoreline at Vidal Bay, Manitoulin Island
The North Channel is one of the most beautiful sailing destinations on the planet – known the world over for its spectacular scenery, its clear waters inviting you in for a cool dip, and its pristine shorelines boasting stunning jagged coastline and quiet coves. Following the southern border of the channel is Manitoulin Island – the largest freshwater island in the world.
February 9, 2021
Cruising: Creating Ontario’s largest protected area complex south of the Canadian Shield on Manitoulin
Located in Lake Huron, the internationally significant Manitoulin Island is the largest freshwater island in the world. It supports some of the highest quality alvar habitat on the planet, interspersed within sand plain forests, wetlands, sand dunes, shoreline and the Niagara Escarpment.
January 18, 2021
Bahamas – There and Back Again – Part II
In Part I, Sheryl Shard ended the story at June and the start of Hurricane Season when they were once again joined by friends. This time it was Noel and Tracey Dinan, whose new shallow-draft Allures 49.5 was in build at the time, we headed north from the Exumas across the expanse of the Great Bahama Bank, dodging coral patches as we sailed to Eleuthera then Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco.
January 13, 2021
New carrier means you can fly direct to a BVI charter
You likely aren’t quite ready to travel yet, but we have our fingers crossed that we can all fly soon. If that turns out to be during winter charter season or around the BVI Spring Regatta, you might take the opportunity to what you’ve long wanted to, fly direct to Beef Island.
December 21, 2020
Trent-Severn: The Great Canadian Waterway
Ontario’s best-kept secret, the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic site holds the key to boating bliss in the time of pandemic-era travel. An epic 386km long, this historic navigable network of gorgeous lakes and rivers invites you to plan an endless array of mini holidays from one Great Lake to another.
December 16, 2020
Raise Your Spirit(s) at Sidney’s Seaport Place
Sidney is a great destination for boaters. Two marinas provide access to provisions and many restaurants and shops. Another attraction, Victoria Distillers, is located next to Port Sidney Marina and offers informative tasting tours.
December 16, 2020
One of my favourite anchorages in all of BC is at Montague Harbour Marina (Bob Nicoll)
Located on the sunny south shore of the harbour, the Marina is on pilings over the water, offering annual, winter and guest moorage, a brand new fuel station with zero-ethanol gas and diesel, Wi-Fi and garbage/recycling drop-off is included overnight moorage, an incredibly well-stocked market and general store, ice cream parlour, coffee shop, 15 and 30amp power…
December 2, 2020
British Columbia Is Better on a Boat
With the travel bug inside each of us, we must do what is necessary to keep other bugs out by staying within our region and limiting our long-distance travel. Chartering with us at Nanaimo Yacht Charters & Sailing School may very well be the adventure you have been searching for to explore BC and navigate this unprecedented situation safely.
November 4, 2020
If you’ve ever considered living aboard your boat then The Greater Vancouver Floating Home Co-op is one option to consider.
Spruce Harbour Marina is owned and operated by the Greater Vancouver Floating Home Co-op (GVFHC) as a cooperative liveaboard marina for co-op members. The GVFHC was formed in 1974 to find a legitimate way for people to live on their boats in the heart of the city.
October 21, 2020
Pierre’s at Echo Bay Lodge & Marina
For those boaters wanting to enjoy the majesty of the Broughton as you tour around the thousands of bays and coves that hold all kinds of hidden gems in the form of wildlife, marine life, fresh coastal air, and miles and miles of magnificent scenery, Pierre’s at Echo Bay Lodge & Marina, just has to be included in your plans.
October 21, 2020
Update for Canadians contemplating chartering in Greece
Europe’s largest and most beautiful charter destination, Greece, has fared well throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The infections rates in March were low at only 2500 cases and grew to just 4900 in July with few deaths. Considering the high infection rates in neighboring Italy, France and Spain, the Greeks were thanking their diet of feta cheese and olive oil for the relatively low rates!
October 14, 2020
Chemainus—the Little Town That Did
The approach to the Chemainus Municipal Dock from Stuart Channel is straightforward and is protected from all but strong northerly winds. The only obstacle may be some large log booms often anchored in the harbour. The Dock is immediately south of the B.C. ferry terminal; the ferry runs to Thetis- and Penelakut Islands.
October 7, 2020
Silver Streak Boats: a dream that became a reality.
Silver Streak Boats started from the grass roots in Sooke, BC with its early stages in Andy Barry ’s shop after long hours working at the Victoria shipyard. Andy had a vision and quickly began drafting and carving out foam proto-types which would one day become one of Canada’s premier welded all-aluminum boats.
October 7, 2020
Commodore’s Boats
Commodore’s Boats is a full-service shipyard with over 50 years of generational history and experience on the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Bosun (Bo) Spiller, owner and operator of the business has spent nearly his entire life hanging around boatyards, shipwrights and boat owners.
September 28, 2020
Bahamas – There and Back Again
I leaned my head back into the water and floated easily. Having spent my childhood playing in freshwater lakes in Ontario’s Cottage Country it always surprises me how buoyant one is in salt water. And this water was warm. I could get straight in. No dipping my toes tentatively and inching myself in for a “refreshing” dip.
September 22, 2020
Moutcha Bay Resort and Marina
As summer comes to an end the planning begins for next year’s adventure on the water and Moutcha Bay Resort is high on the bucket list. You can bring your own boat to the Resort. They offer moorage at the fishing resort. Complementary boat launch is provided to registered guests at Moutcha Bay Resort and you can take advantage of their full-service marina with 70 boat slips.
September 9, 2020
Schooner Cove Yacht Club encourages all boaters to get out on the water and support local Marines.
Schooner Cove Yacht Club through their staff Capt. and other volunteers organize cruises so members can experience the best of the coastal waters and enjoyed camaraderie of cruising with the group.
July 21, 2020
Destinations: SVG opens to Canadians for boating
St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) never officially shut its borders to tourists and remains open for business, poised to welcome visitors once they are permitted to travel from their respective countries.
July 21, 2020
New Boat Yard at Maple Bay Marina
Maple Bay, Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, BC – July 17, 2020: Maple Bay Marina is pleased to announce the opening of the new boat yard under new management. The Marina is welcoming Chris Watson to manage the facility, which will be opening September 1, 2020.
July 21, 2020
Bahamas open to Canadians (closed to US)
NASSAU, Bahamas, July 19, 2020 – Due to the continued increase in COVID-19 cases in the United States, as well as an uptick in cases in The Bahamas, Prime Minister, The Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis, has made the difficult decision to close borders to international commercial flights and commercial vessels carrying passengers from the United States.
July 7, 2020
Summer Report: Kingston YC sails past and not ‘racing’
KYC SOLPast was an unbridled success! Thanks to ALL who dressed up their boats, and made up the KYC fleet to ring in the 2020 sailing season. Thirty-eight boats saluted the Flagship in what were perfect conditions for a lazy sailpast. We did this caper without sailing instructions (per se), and the fleet sailed past mostly in order.
June 29, 2020
Cruising Destinations – From Montreal fun to Lake Champlain serenity
Protected waters, great marinas, historical sites and superb scenery make for a fine mix of adventure and no-stress navigation between Montreal to the Richelieu River and Lake Champlain.
June 29, 2020
The Rideau: Living the Past today
History: right after gym and just before chemistry class. Fifty minutes of naming the prime ministers by date and looking out the window. Who knew it was actually interesting.
June 29, 2020
Canadian Cruising – There’s No Place Like Home!
Canadians are blessed in many ways and especially when it comes to boating. We enjoy some the world’s most beautiful cruising waters and many places are as sheltered as they are scenic.