THANKSGIVING FLOTILLA
So many of us look forward to this excellent event - a long weekend sharing boating, food and friendship!

This year our trip boards Friday October 11th in Vancouver with a couple of boats joining us from Sidney.
We’re heading thru Porlier Pass on the 12^th ….  Around noon and so our departure time should be 0800hrs.
 
Thetis Island Marina and Pub is our destination.  The PUB will be open with its regular menu.
The next day we’re heading for Silva Bay  - slack current thru Gabriola Pass during daylight hours is near noon on Sunday.
Recommendation is to go through the pass at noon and take in the wonderful Gabriola Art Studio Tour.
 

Silva Bay Marina has reservations for us and the Pub is serving Thanksgiving Dinner …. Reservations will be required.  

Call to get your favourite boat booked now!

http://artsgabriola.ca/events/annual-thanksgiving-studio-tour/

complete with their entourage, one of the pods of our resident J clan wandered through ACTIVE PASS – while it was clear from the followers on the various whale watching boats that they were present, they ran deep around us & we only saw them off in the distance along the MAYNE ISLAND shore
 

these giants travel as a family & one must wonder if they feel like the local royal family with all the paparazzi types out to see them… or maybe they like the attention & socializing
 
this video clearly taken by somebody that had more luck than we did on a recent delivery, but we are happy they found some space from those chasing them (with cameras)!
 

 
 
for more information, WIKIPEDIA has some great info on our SRKW’s  (aka ORCAS of the SALISH SEA)

the famed & favourite authors ANNE & LAURENCE YEADON-JONES will be personally guiding our COOPER BOATING flotilla to the most beautiful area of our coast – DESOLATION SOUND

 

ANNE & LAURENCE are experienced sailors who, over the last 25 years, have logged thousands of cruising hours charting, recording & photographing their travels along the rugged and beautiful coastline & islands of the PACIFIC NORTHWEST

 

check out the entire DREAMSPEAKER CRUISING GUIDE series HERE

we will be boarding our boats in POWELL RIVER in the late afternoon of SEPTEMBER 11^th, departing the next morning (12^th) & then returning to the base and homeward bound the morning of SEPTEMBER 19^th

 

SEVEN days of exploring the delights of DESOLATION SOUND with its spectacular mountain views well-maintained marinas & tranquil, protected anchorages

 

at this time of the year the water will be the warmest for swimming - the tidal patterns allow us to have the warmest water north of MEXICO! 

 

the whales should be heading south & we hope to cross paths 

 

NOW you can experience all of this from the authors’ perspective & under their personal guidance ~ FLOTILLA ITINERARY HERE  

 

EXCLUSIVE - ANNE & LAURENCE will be skippering and managing a beautiful sailing vessel from the COOPER BOATING charter fleet

 

there are three, two-person cabins available for you to join them on this adventure

 

NEW SAILORS may get a thorough introduction to being crew;  EXPERIENCED SAILORS may join in & practice navigation, helming, sail trim …. participate as much as you wish & HAVE FUN! 

 

price per person:  $1,999  plus GST

 

includes food onboard, bedding, fuel, moorage & the boat coach skippers’ guidance for this special excursion ~ dining out is not included and galley duties are shared across the crew

contact our shore crew today to join this crew!

social media treat:

TOP FUN SAILING INSTRUCTOR STEPHEN DESROCHES photgraphed and clearly turning into another famous seafarer



provisioning to include more spinach in the future

we have a new selection of truly unique course opportunities on our fresh page

one more chance to explore the WEST COAST of VANCOUVER ISLAND with us this season!

we still have a couple spots left on our AUGUST 4^th trip starting in UCLUELET for 7 days of spectacular cruising along the west coast including stops in the BROKEN ISLANDS & BAMFIELD before making your way back to our PORT SIDNEY location

build upon your existing sailing skills in this MILEAGE BUILDER program or work towards achieving your INTERMEDIATE certification 
it’s up to you what you would like to achieve during this unique experience

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DATES ADDED ~ ADVANCED COURSES NEW DATES ~ after rave reviews on sold out programs on the pure sailing machine that is ALEGRIA, our new DUFOUR 45e, & a spike in interest, we will be adding another 5 day advanced program later this SEPTEMBER 

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SEPTEMBER 11 - cruise with the DREAMSPEAKER TEAM on the DESOLATION SOUND flotilla ~
join COOPER boating and the authors of the DREAMSPEAKER cruising guide series,  ANN & LAURENCE YEADON-JONES, on a trip of a lifetime



LAURENCE and ANNE YEADON JONES would like to make this flotilla a unique experience where clients feel that they are going on a personal voyage with the DREAMSPEAKER TEAM and where they will share some of their favorite destinations & experiences

with LAURENCE as the coach on this MILEAGE BUILDER program, this cruise is with an instructor but the goals are building up experience at your current level without looking at new material. With Ann, you will learn all the history &details of every bay & island in DESOLATION SOUND without turning a page
                                                                                                                                                  
this trip is 7 days, 7 nights starting and finishing in POWELL RIVER Sept 11th, to book a cabin on ANN & LAURENCE'S  boat please contact our office as soon as possible as we are booking up fast ~ this flotilla currently has 6 boats confirmed but we have room to add a few more if you would like to book your own group on your own private charter

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become an INSTRUCTOR


share your passion for introducing others to the art of sailing this program is for you!  dates for the fall INSTRUCTORS' courses have been set with a condensed 6 day option starting in VANCOUVER on NOVEMBER 5th

they say if you can't tie knots, tie lots

we see a lot of interesting creations dockside, we've termed this one a CHARTER HITCH:



to learn how to create more beautiful & effective knots, join one of our courses or check out this link to the animated knots page

you'll be doing it right in no time!!

a maze of emerald islands & chalcedony coloured bays comprise BARKLEY SOUND ~



YOU can explore these magnificent cruising grounds on one of great WEST COAST ADVENTURES:

~ JULY 21 ~ travel from SIDNEY to UCLUELET

~ JULY 28 ~ begin & end in UCLUELET

~ AUGUST 4 ~ travel from UCLUELET to SIDNEY



~ 7 day course price ~ $1,899 per person (includes meals) ~ inquire about charter opportunities

we'll be having an OPEN HOUSE in POWELL RIVER this SATURDAY AFTERNOON (MAY 11)~ come sail with us for 1.5 hours at either 1pm or 3.30pm



our boats are in NORTH HARBOUR on A & B dock - to register for a complimentary boat ride aboard one of our charter fleet boats,

~ interested in lessons? - one of our local instructors who's sailed 2/3 around the world is on hand ~

interested in charters? ~ our crew is happy to show you around the fleet ~

please register your interest so we may book you into a time slot

our first FRIDAY NIGHT RACING session was an absolute success (apart from the crew that lost every race - which I helped lose one race!)



~ to say we were off to a slow start would be an understatement ~ took the first boat almost 22 minutes to START (after the start signal) ~


~ the crew of WAYNE, JOANNE, JOEL & LEO took every race in the newly wrapped TEACHER'S PET ~ perhaps racing cars on the side of boats makes them faster? ~


BREAD 'N BUTTA put out a good showing on the last evening with her original mainsail ~ maintenance day saw the addition of new rags!


~ will we see you FRIDAY night? ~ JIB SET would love to have you aboard - see our new site & never miss one of our fun events by signing up with our MEETUP group (now with 400 sailing enthusiasts!)

& let's not worry about those last place finishes - the crew knows there's nowhere to go but UP now!

as 'FRIDAY NIGHTERS' can be heard saying:  SEA U FRIDAY

we’re thrilled with new boats joining our fleet ~

take a look at look at MAGDALENA  ….. immaculate 36 GRAND BANKS trawler at our PORT SIDNEY base ~ feel free to email DAWN and the crew in SIDNEY for more information on this great boat



or ~ how about IOLAR NA MARA ~ the gorgeous 2 cabin BAVARIA VISION 46  ~ perfect for two couples wanting larger state rooms

expected in service this AUGUST is BOHEMIAN ~  a 3 cabin 49’ HANSE just being finished before her travels from EUROPE shortly

check out all the additions

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we'll mention how exciting it is to get a 36' GRAND BANKS - (a bunch of others have been pretty BIG) ~ let us know if you are interested in a 33-36' boat (power or sail) for SIDNEY ~ we could use a few more & it is easier now to get a slip than a few years back