Delivered this morning -- wrapped and ready to go under the tree... a Beneteau 343 for our Powell River base. 

The dinghy on davits will be a big hit up north! 

This boat includes a brand new dodger and bimini -- carefully wrapped in snow this morning.

What a SPECTACULAR EASTER event!  We had 11 boats - power, sail, monohull and multihull - all cruising the glorious Gulf Islands together.  The rain gods stayed away for almost the entire trip, with the exception of the bonfire.  We did get the bonfire warm enough to not worry about the rain.



Corus approaches dock at THETIS.




Raven Magic, Unprincipl'd and Simply Dreaming leave Thetis island headed for Dodd Narrows



None of us could pronounce Past Commodore Peter's boat name, so it was renamed "Eenie Meenie" (tender is Miny Mo)




The crews of GRYPHON and STRAY CAT contemplate life at sea over dinner at the floating Dinghy Dock Pub (some came aboard tender "Stray Kitten")




While the EASTER BUNNY had some trouble had trouble getting the fire started in the rain (umbrellas come in handy).... the end result was fantastic!




You can't find a better spot for an EASTER TREASURE HUNT -- a might treacherous however after the evening rains the night before




"Skipper the kayak coach" watches from the tender as the youngest crew members explore Silva Bay by kayak.



Be sure not to miss the next one:  May LOOONGER weekend flotilla.  Long weekends should be longer... ours is 5 days!  Boats already booked to leave VANCOUVER and SIDNEY locations.

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• CHARTER a boat ~ contact our office for boat availability
• bring your own boat ~ contact our office to register your vessel for the event
• join the CREW club boat CLUB MEMBER PRICE $349 per person  (NOT A MEMBER? - you can obtain a 30 day trial membership to try out our events once before joining the club)
• JIB SET MEMBERS - a few of your fellow members are looking to put together a charter

the WEATHER gods were kind to this year's EASTER FLOTILLA - check out our photo logbook with preliminary images of this year's event!



owners, bareboat charter clientele and club members enjoyed the fun and camaradarie of the northern GULF ISLANDS in this trip'

CHARTER - we've been busy hauling, painting & polishing the fleet to ensure you've got a great ride for the EASTER FLOTILLA for the group you like to cruise with - boats from VANCOUVER & SIDNEY will join the flotilla & boats from POWELL RIVER have also been seen in VANCOUVER getting ready for the season 

 

CREW CLUB - if you don't have a group to cruise with, our CREW CLUB is all about BOATING ADVENTURES MADE SIMPLE - easter flotilla per member rate of only 

 

not a member? - try out the club with our current  bonus offer

 

COURSE - our mileage builder courses are great ways to cruise with professional coaching & we have one lined up to sail with the flotilla

 

contact MARLA today (604.683.6837 ext 19) & join us this FLOTILLA  FRIDAY for a fun filled session to get you ready for the season  

 

MARCH 15 FLOTILLA FRIDAY *PARTY*

 

MARCH 22 FLOTILLA FRIDAY *PLANNING & PREPARATION*

celebrate the SIMPLE PLEASURES - great food, great cruising and great people as we wrap up the 2012 flotilla lineup with what has been, at times, our largest event (why we may never know!)

YOUR GROUP our OURS?  - if you have a group, charter one of our boats or bring your own - if you don't, we are rolling out our new CREW membership and you can experience your first event as a trial member of our club - only $349 per person for this great 3 day, 3 night event

so far, we have 4 vessels confirmed - SHADOWFAX V, PRINCESS PATRICIA, CORENIA and GENA II (formerly ARISTA)



a few more details here

when cruising on a power boat on our spectacular BRITISH COLUMBIA coast, sometimes it is the getting there that you enjoy -- and sometimes it is what you do when you get there - the TOYS!!



the flagship vessels at COOPER boating are charters with something special in every case - at the VANCOUVER LOCATION, you can charter MORIA and enjoy a few of the special extras (accessories) that make this boat special:



1) HOW ABOUT a couple cute KAYAKS? MORIA's got 'em

2) A GIANT RIB to explore further on the 'small boat' - this RIB has more equipment than some of our 30 foot charter vessels!

3) A CABIN FOR your very own CRUISE DIRECTOR (or CAPTAIN).... let's face it, some PERSONNEL can make all the difference between running the boat and feeling like work and taking someone along to handle all the details - big FUN option is a place to put your key PERSONNEL (they even have their own head and mini galley on this boat!)

4) SUN BRITE TV - yup - a TV optimized for watching outside... just in case it's MOVIE NIGHT on your private cruise!

5) GIGANTIC FLYBRIDGE with open CALIFORNIA KITCHEN and plenty of seating both open and under cover of the gigantic BIMINI

MORIA is visiting GRANVILLE ISLAND at the moment - DROP DOWN and check out this flagship.... also consider ISLAND ROAMER out of POWELL RIVER and LAST TANGO out of SIDNEY

we've got two SPECTACULAR flotillas lined up with the DREAMSPEAKER TEAM - a couple to literally wrote the books on cruising this region

later in JUNE we're heading to PRINCESS LOUISA INLET from COOPER BOATING VANCOUVER and in SEPTEMBER we'll sail to DESOLATION SOUND from the POWELL RIVER location

you can join a flotilla with your own bareboat charter here in BC, on a mileage builder course, or hire a skipper to handle the boat for you... one lucky group on each of these trips can have LAURENCE YEADON JONES of the dreamspeaker team as their skipper and ANNE as first mate!

 

many people ask how to get from their first courses to comfortably chartering - FLOTILLAS ARE A GREAT WAY TO do this because you are on your own boat with your own crew, but you have a shepherd of sorts, and these two are THE BEST!

Today we lined up lucky number boat #13 for our growing Powell River location - and this one is an absolute home run experience.  This Westcoast Custom Yachts 64 footer has been personally tested by the builder to demonstrate the workmanship of his crew over the past few summers.  

Enjoy charters in the untouched beauty of Desolation Sound this summer from this ultra quiet, ultra efficient locally built masterpiece.  From the centre console tender kept up top on the world's best yacht crane to the satellite television system through the granite counters and underwater exhaust, whether you're a passionate boater or guest of one, this boat is sure to delight.  COME SEE HER TODAY AT OUR GRANVILLE ISLAND LOCATION OPEN DAILY THROUGH DECEMBER 24 before she starts her reign as the finest boat in Powell River next spring. 

Island Roamer remains for sale, but with all the strong interest so far indicating she is headed for our charter program, Forbes Cooper, the founder of Cooper Boating, gave the order today to start lining up a spectacular season for this fine vessel. If you are interested in charter ownership with this vessel, our the doctor is in and waiting to see you.  There are opportunities for a recently launched Pilothouse 62 and an Express 64 launching this spring as well. 

The redevelopment of Powell River's waterfront turns this logical jump off point to the worlds best cruising grounds into a showpiece and this city has been fantastic rolling out a welcome mat for fleet. 

If you're looking for something a bit smaller out of Powell River, please note that Calypso (addition 12) and Mariner's Compass (11) have also given the orders to move to Powell River in the spring of 2012.   Returning this spring are the great sailing pair of new Bavaria yachts that were fleet favourites in 2011 - Arcturus (32') and ACappella (45').

Desolation Sound - look out, we've got a fleet approaching the size of the Canadian Navy coming to invade your waters! (oops - that might be a little strong - sorry about that!)