British Columbia Cruising Guides
Detailed, accurate cruising guides for British Columbia — written for real conditions.
Desolation Sound: BC's Premier Cruising Destination
Canada's largest marine park, 84 km² of fjord and island at the northern end of the Strait of Georgia. Twenty-five named anchorages, surface water temperatures of 24°C in August, no roads, no towns. The week of cruising every PNW sailor measures their cruising life against.
- ✓ Canada's largest marine park (84 km² of water)
- ✓ Warmest saltwater swimming north of Mexico — 24°C in Tenedos and Prideaux Haven in late summer
- ✓ Prawn and oyster harvesting (DFO licence and closure check required)
Princess Louisa Inlet Cruising Guide
A four-mile fjord at the head of Jervis Inlet, walled by 6,000-foot granite, with Chatterbox Falls dropping 120 feet straight into the anchorage. Entry is through Malibu Rapids, transitable only at slack water. The destination that, once visited, recurs on the schedule every year for the rest of the visiting cruiser's life.
- ✓ Chatterbox Falls — 120-ft cascade dropping directly into the anchorage at the head of the inlet
- ✓ Malibu Rapids — tidal pass, 8–12 knots peak; transitable only within 30 minutes of slack
- ✓ Princess Louisa Marine Park — free anchorage and dock managed by BC Parks
Victoria, BC Sailing Guide
The capital of British Columbia and the most-visited international sailing destination for Pacific Northwest boats. Victoria's Inner Harbour puts the boat at the foot of the BC Legislature and the Fairmont Empress Hotel after a 17-nm crossing from Port Angeles. Full customs clearance, the most spectacular city arrival in North America, and a compact waterfront with everything in walking distance.
- ✓ Inner Harbour — one of the great sailing arrivals in North America
- ✓ CBSA port of entry — Canadian customs at the dock
- ✓ 17 nm from Port Angeles, 25 nm from Friday Harbor
Nanaimo Cruising Guide — BC's Harbour City
The largest city on Vancouver Island's east coast and the working hub for Gulf Islands and Desolation Sound cruising. Full services, fuel, provisions, marine repairs, BC Ferries connection to Vancouver, and Newcastle Island Marine Park sitting directly in the harbour. The midpoint stop on every northbound BC cruise.
- ✓ Newcastle Island Marine Park — provincial park anchorage inside Nanaimo Harbour
- ✓ Full marine services: fuel, haul-out, chandlery, diesel mechanics
- ✓ Nanaimo Bar — chocolate-coconut-custard treat invented in town; ask for the Bowen Park original
Sidney & the Saanich Peninsula Cruising Guide
Seventeen miles north of Victoria and eight miles from the US border at Boundary Pass. Sidney is the working customs port for boats entering Canada from the San Juans, the gateway to the southern Gulf Islands, and a small town that earns the stop on its own. Most cruising boats clearing into Canada from the San Juans clear here.
- ✓ CBSA customs port of entry — clear here when arriving from the San Juans
- ✓ Sidney Spit Marine Park — sandspit anchorage 3 nm from town
- ✓ 8 nm from Roche Harbor, WA — the working two-country day sail
Gulf Islands (BC) Cruising Guide
The Canadian half of the Salish Sea archipelago — Salt Spring, Galiano, Mayne, Saturna, the Penders. Quieter, slower, and arguably more beautiful than the US San Juans, with proper Canadian customs and a different rhythm.
- ✓ CBSA clearance via NEXUS or CANPASS phone-in (1-888-226-7277)
- ✓ Ganges, Salt Spring Island — full provisioning, Saturday market, restaurants
- ✓ Sidney, BC — gateway town with all services and customs facilities