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.
June 23, 2020
Homfray Lodge is a welcome respite on your yachting adventure in Desolation Sound
There are new owners and of course we are still dealing with Covid 19 so check in for current updates at their website.
June 23, 2020
Safe anchorages in Desolation Sound
Desolation Sound is a deep-water sound located at the northern end of the Salish Sea and the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. Boasting some of the warmest waters on Pacific coast as well as pristine wilderness rainforest with spectacular fjords, towering mountains and abundant marine life.
June 10, 2020
Destinations: Glendale Cove, Knight Inlet
If you’re planning to cruise the inside Coast between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia, then make sure you put Glendale Cove and Knight Inlet on your itinerary.
May 26, 2020
2020 Erie Canal Season Schedule
On May 19, the New York State Canal Corporation today announced an updated opening schedule for the 524-mile Canal system based on maintenance and construction projects resuming in the Capital, Mohawk Valley, Central NY, Finger Lakes, and Western NY regions under the “NY Forward Reopening” plan.
May 13, 2020
Dream Charters opens USVI base
Dream Charters has opened new Caribbean base at Compass Point Marina, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, in partnership with Virgin Islands Yacht Charters.
April 29, 2020
Burlington Sailing & Boating Club – a successful four-way partnership
It’s always amazing to me how life has degrees of separation that are incredibly small, even when you spend your adult life in another country than the one you grew up in. I grew up sailing on Lake Erie and when my father’s health was on the decline it was decided that I would be appointed to sell his boat.
April 7, 2020
TVO Original documentary TRIPPING The Rideau Canal
If you have four hours to enjoy a fine tour of one of Canada’s most interesting waterways (let’s face it, these days we can all find four hours!) you will love this doc that is boat ride looking at the Rideau as you might yourself.
February 24, 2020
Belize: Sailing Solitude
We’ve just weighed anchor off Thatch Caye, a tiny island nuzzled by Caribbean waters flowing between the world’s second longest barrier reef and the mountainous coast of Belize to our west, and now we’re navigating a serpentine course through a crowded congregation of coral heads.
February 11, 2020
Gulf Yacht Club
Their monthly meetings (of which there are eight, plus two pub nights) generally include a short business meeting then a presenter. They conduct the meetings at the Vancouver Maritime Museum.
January 8, 2020
Marinas: Krates welcomes the coming season
Krates Marina Resort provides over 500 slips, a 50-ton travel lift, two boat launches, a full-service gas dock, boat and RV seasonal rentals, and so much more. Pride Marine Group offers onsite boat sales and a service and parts center.
January 8, 2020
Destinations: The Port of Everett Marina honored as the 2019 Marina of the Year in the large marina category
The Port of Everett Marina in Washington State, the largest publicly operated marina on the West Coast, was among more than 20 marinas nation-wide considered for the prestigious industry award.