~ imagine you’re on deck of a beautiful sailboat, sails hungrily harnessing the wind, the strong bow cutting through the sea like a hot knife through butter, & as far as the eye can see ~ only water



~ this can be YOU on the 14 DAY VANCOUVER ISLAND CIRCUMNAVIGATION course ~

in addition to experiencing the sheer exhilaration that sailing out of sight of land can bring, you will cover offshore boat preparation for cruising, passage planning & techniques for heavy weather sailing

sail with other excitement seekers on this thrilling two week excursion ~ LIMITED SPACE!  book with us early to avoid disappointment!

the RALLY is on, with 3 boats leaving june 8th

BOAT #1  SUMMER SOLACE ~ WEST COAST adventure ~ explores the coastline all the way around

BOAT #2 ALEGRIA ~ ADVANCED/OFFSHORE adventure ~ heads offshore for a few days on the WEST COAST

BOAT #3 is NORTHWEST PASSAGE, a BALTIC 42 which is fully subscribed



care to join the RALLY? other boats looking to join the group may do so ~ both chartered vessels & private boats ~ contact the office to arrange

BEAUTIFUL weather at the VANCOUVER BOAT SHOW for 2014 ~

we are partnered with DISCOVER BOATING to do short demonstration rides on small power boats & sailboats ~ here's club member KAY enjoying a quick 40 knot ride on the GLACIER BAY catamaran ~ can't wipe the smile off his face



the sailors are having a great time as well





a host of boat show specials on sailing & power courses, charters & club memberships

you can also drop by our booth at BC PLACE & try your hand at similated CATAMARAN handling!

to sail hard or not to sail hard?

THAT is the question

there are times aboard to push a little, grow a little and see what you’re made of

at other times, it’s best to kick back & CHILLAX ~ allowing others to take the above steps while you just recharge in the magical way that life afloat affords

so goes the story of “ADMIRAL EASTER BUNNY” getting his ears (so to speak)

while visiting the BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS for the first time years back, a question surfaced about his intent to be the skipper (as the veteran sailor / senior ‘officer’ aboard – otherwise known as the 'boss')

“YOU be the SKIPPER ~ I’LL be the ADMIRAL ~ over there reading my book!”



combine this quick statement to a regular desire to make increasingly more challenging treasure hunts each EASTER weekend 

these concepts combine to the name “ADMIRAL EASTER BUNNY” ~ the name has stuck since

more recently, CREW CLUB cruises with freshly minted crews with a combination of eager people to push forward, ADMIRAL EASTER BUNNY prefers to kick back & relax

“DO WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE WITH THE BOAT (as long as I don’t have to call the owner or the insurance company!) is the standard line honed from this approach

so, when joining a capable crew, some push forward, some CHILLAX, but everyone having an enjoyable time is THE objective   

JUST HAVING FUN ~ an admirable goal from ADMIRAL EASTER BUNNY

the days are back getting longer & that indicates we’re back on our way to boating season (when does it really end anyways?!)
 
the year kicks off with the POLAR BEAR CRUISE JANUARY 1 & roars along to our HOLIDAY PARTY in DECEMBER, with plenty of large & small adventures in between



here are a few highlights:

 
january 5 FIRST sunday sail of 2014 ~ casual sailing through our CREW CLUB
 
january 22 * earliest VANCOUVER BOAT SHOW ever!  ~ join our SHOW & TELL & grab a free ticket!
 
april 17 ~ easter FLOTILLA ~ boat show is early & easter is about as late as it gets this year ~ check out our 2013 photo logbook
 
may 9 ~  friday night RACING ~ become a FRIDAY NIGHTER!
 
may 15 ~ MAY LOOOOONG weekend cruise ~ our long weekends are longer
 
june 8 ~ circumnavigation of VANCOUVER ISLAND ~ course & rally
 
june 14 * * * BROUGHTONS FLOTILLA * * * with the DREAMSPEAKER TEAM

 
july 3-7  VICTORIA -MAUI 2014 (our crew is SOLD OUT)

 
july 20 - 25 ~  WHIDBEY ISLAND RACE WEEK       

 july 26 ~ VIC-MAUI banquet in MAUI
 
july 27 ~ MAUI back to BC offshore course/passage (our crew SOLD OUT)
 
october 26 ~ BAJA HA HA – rally from san diego to cabo san lucas

 november 23 ~ ATLANTIC RALLY FOR CRUISERS ~ cruise rally style across the ATLANTIC from LAS PALMAS to ST LUCIA


this is just a sample of some of the great adventures ahead -- check back for more as the season gets rolling
 

 
a GIFT CERTIFICATE for BOATING COURSES and ADVENTURES will be the best way to have your loved ones realize their DREAMS.

let  the COOPER ELVES customize a special certificate for you!

we are open daily at our office on GRANVILLE ISLAND from 9AM - 5PM, with just a few exceptions

Dec 24th  9AM - 1PM
Dec 25th  closed
Dec 26th  closed
Dec 31st 9AM- 1 PM
Jan 1st  closed

NORTH of DESOLATION SOUND & CAMPBELL RIVER ~ but still within the protection of our lovely VANCOUVER ISLAND is the BROUGHTON ARCHIPELAGO & your once-in-a-lifetime chance to explore it as part of a group led by the DREAMSPEAKER CRUISING GUIDE TEAM is here



this captivating group of islands, islets & passages that make up an exquisite region remains chalked full of wildlife, untouched harbours & quaint villages

your leaders literally WROTE THE BOOK on this region & plenty of great times were had at their 2013 event in DESOLATION SOUND


DETAILS:

our adventure begins JUNE 14 2014

come to our session & meet the DREAMSPEAKER TEAM  LIVE  &  IN PERSON

got a book? ~  get it autographed ~

need a book? ~  we can hook you up! ~

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1 at GRANVILLE ISLAND (starts 6.30pm) RSVP

check back at our site, we'll roll the cameras to capture some fo the 'preliminary' magic

this summer we have seen orcas, humpbacks & pods of white sided dolphins in the region ~ the fall has different adventures in store
 
magnificent sailing & boating adventures await once you have that big boat experience & this is the official launch of the “OTHER” sailing season ….. the season that has clear blue skies & empty anchorages in all of our favorite cruising areas
 
remember that all the boats are well equipped with furnaces, you’re always warmer when you share a cabin & you get a chance to try out your new “foulies”
 
our SIMPLE PLEASURES FLOTILLA is a great event where every crew brings a pot luck food dish & we share our offerings on the biggest boat or rafted boats in the flotilla  ~ bring your best dish & an appetite!
 
we board FRIDAY EVENING & review weather & the fun ahead of us as a group at 6.30 pm at GRANVILLE ISLAND
 
weather permitting, we leave SATURDAY morning from VANCOUVER bound for the GIBSONS area
 
we’ll recover from the POTLUCK on SATURDAY night  by crashing the famous MOLLY’S REACH in GIBSONS for breakfast before navigating to SNUG COVE on BOWEN ISLAND
 
on MONDAY we shall observe REMEMBRANCE DAY & thank our fallen heroes with a special ceremony for mariners, then sail home, having enjoyed the SIMPLE PLEASURES of great people, a great pastime & some wonderful food - check out last year's event highlights 


 
DATES: boarding FRIDAY NOVEMBER 8 for 6.30 briefing – home on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11 by 5pm
 
CONTACT: 604-687-4110 to book a charter boat or to join a group of members through the CREW CLUB

we have a knockout weekend ahead ~ NOVEMBER 1 - 2 - 3 ~

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1

~ from 6.30-8.30 pm on FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1, we have a YOLO evening (You Only Live Once) to help you with those life changing decisions to put a big boating adventure into your life  ~ many adventurers agree that the only real decision is the one to go in the first place ~ the rest falls into place after a relatively small decision to DO SOMETHING

~ we have the CHAIRMAN of the VIC-MAUI race on site to talk about the exciting group of boats heading off in the 2014 edition of this ocean classic this coming JULY ~

~ we will also be exploring the adventure that is ALASKA to and from GLACIER BAY ~

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SATURDAY NOVEMBER 2



big boat handling ~ strategies clinic

power & sail, some of us find the big boats much easier to handle than their smaller counterparts ~ so if you'd like to take bigger groups & bigger boats (or just the bigger boats) ~ come learn all the magic behind driving what you previously thought of as monsters

a combination of chalk talk ashore & hands on experience is sure to delight ~ power & sail ~ clinic designed for 45'+

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 3

one of the biggest decisions, & for many, the realization of a lifetime dream is the purchase of a boat ~ our BOAT BUYING SEMINAR arms you with the right information to know how the game is played

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contact us today about the knockout weekend ~ we look forward to helping with those small decisions that can change your life

a couple humpack whales decided that this fantastic THANKSGIVING FLOTILLA was too much to miss... they have joined our little adventure!!





others think the event is great too... lots of sailing so far from SIDNEY base





this update brought to you in real time from COULL ENDEAVOUR!!