HomeSunshine Coast Adventure

Sunshine Coast Adventure

This is an exceptional opportunity to join this mix-and-match cruise in whatever combination works best for you. The Cruise Captains, Jane & Michael Asbury and Debbie & Bob Williams, will be taking this cruise from end to end and invite you to join them.

The overall cruise is divided into five legs that can be joined individually or in multiples. Want to enjoy the camaraderie of the group all the way to the Broughtons and back? Great, sign on for all five segments. Or, if you've always wanted to get to Desolation Sound, sign on for the segments that get you there and then have an independent trip back. The choice is yours!

To participate in all or any portion of this cruise, sign up for the overall cruise and then select which of the five legs you'll be joining.

If you're still thinking about this, please take this brief survey to let us know your thoughts on the cruise options.

Leg 1: Deer Harbor to Bowen Island from May 24 to May 30

We start this cruise in the San Juan Islands at Deer Harbor on May 24 (anchor or moorage). Late Spring weather will dictate each boater's decision how and when to cross into the San Juan Islands. The following morning, May 25, we will cross over to Canada for check-in at Customs in Bedwell Harbour (13 nm). After clearing Customs, we will then continue to Montague Harbour for an overnight stop (13.5 nm, anchor or moorage). The Montague Marina is holding space for PTYC boaters for the night of May 25th, at a cost of $1.85 per ft. plus $10 for 30 amp power. The Marina is staffed on Saturdays and asks all cruisers to call in by January 1st, say you're with the PTYC cruise and leave a credit card to hold the slip (no charge, 48 hr. cancellation policy). Phone # 1-250-539-5733. After January 1st, the marina will do their best to fit in late registrants.

The following nights of May 26 and 27 will be scheduled at Silva Bay (22.3 nm), awaiting the best window of time for crossing the Strait of Georgia to Howe Sound on the B.C. Coast. Silva Bay offers marinas and protected anchorage.

Our prime destination in Howe Sound is Union Steamship Marina & Resort in Snug Cove on Bowen Island (21.4 nm) for 3 nights May 28-30. This is a first class resort and marina and worthy of choice as a cruising destination. Here boaters will find a 600 acre park and lake, great walking trails, beaches, resort amenities such as a general store and hand-scooped ice cream, some outstanding restaurant choices and shopping. In addition, a nearby ferry can take riders to Horseshoe Bay on the mainland with an added 45 minute bus ride into downtown Vancouver for day tripping. Landlubbers could even join the cruise at the rental cottages and float cabins at the marina.

After enjoying the serenity of Bowen Island, cruisers can choose to go on their own, or with Buddy Boaters, to one of many Vancouver destinations, or they may continue up the Sunshine Coast with your Cruise Co-Captains on Leg 2 of the adventure.

Leg 2: Bowen Island to Lund Harbour from May 31 to June 5

After Bowen we are planning a one night stop May 31 at Gibsons Public Wharf on the north shore of Howe Sound (10.7 nm). From Gibsons we go north up the coast to Secret Cove Marina (23.1 nm) or the adjacent Smuggler Cove Provincial Park for anchorage on June 1. Continuing north the next stop will be a short 9.8 nm trip to Pender Harbour and the Madeira Park Public Wharf with 2 days scheduled for June 2-3. This is a great provisioning stop and the decision point for boaters wanting to traverse Jervis Inlet to Princess Louisa Inlet and Chatterbox Falls.

Our next stop will be Sturt Bay on north Texada Island (aka Van Anda) for moorage and protected anchorage (21.9 nm) on June 4. From Sturt, those boaters wanting to return home can traverse the Strait of Georgia to Comox on the Vancouver Island coast and south to Nanaimo and the Gulf Islands.

On June 5, boaters heading further north will cruise to the village of Lund (15 nm) which will be the last stop on the Sunshine Coast, home to Mile 0 of Highway 101, famous Nancy's Bakery Cafe and Pollen Sweaters & Books ~ just a few of the interesting places to visit in town.

Leg 3: Lund Harbour to Desolation Sound from June 6 to June 11

Suggested itinerary for approximately one week in Desolation Sound anchorages includes a two night stay in Prideaux Haven (Melanie or Laura Cove) where exploring by kayak or dinghy is popular and hiking is possible, one night at Roscoe Bay Provincial Park (short hike to Black Lake with trails along the shore of the lake), one night at Squirrel Cove (where you can visit the public dock and Squirrel Cove Trading Co for provisions and then find a peaceful anchorage), and then transit Hole in the Wall rapids to visit the Octopus Islands Marine Provincial Park. Itinerary is flexible and weather dependent.

Leg 4: Desolation Sound to the Broughtons from June 12 to June 22

An additional 10 days will be spent exploring the The Broughtons, a vast area of deep channels, fjords, vistas of snow capped mountains and great cruising. The itinerary is flexible and may include stops at Shoal Bay, Blind Channel resort, Echo Bay, Lagoon Cove Marina, Kwatsi Bay (anchorage only), Sullivan Bay and always a provisioning stop at Port McNeil as needed. For provisioning, be prepared for many an informal happy hour with shared appetizers at each of these small marinas. Here you will meet many other boaters who are eager to share their knowledge and experience in this beautiful cruising ground.

Leg 5: Broughtons to Port of Sidney from June 22 to July 2

The final leg of the cruise will take us down the east coast of Vancouver Island with possible stops at Campbell River, Comox, Hornby Island or French Creek Harbour, Nanaimo and/or Boat Harbour, Ladysmith, Telegraph Harbour, Maple Bay, Mill Bay, and ultimately arrive at Port of Sidney on June 30 with departure on July 2nd to meet up with the Reid Harbor 4th July cruisers after crossing back to the U.S. The Sidney Days and Canada Day celebration in Sidney B.C. is a sight to behold with a fantastic downtown parade, street fair, musical entertainment, fireworks and a fun boat building competition with a "race" in the bay to see which boats survive the seas.