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

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

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!!

We are finalizing our 2012 course schedule at the moment and have some exciting new programs to unveil.  
Some of our programs have a habit of booking quickly, so we are introducing a few of them here so people can get thinking about them and start planning - contact the office today to enrol:
Advanced Sailing - Inside Passage - Vancouver to Prince Rupert starts June 1
Rally Around Vancouver Island - June 17 Multiple Boats - Do CYA Intermediate, Advanced or Offshore
CYA Intermediate (Caribbean) - Grenadines - Starts January 2012 (details coming soon)
7 Day Advanced Sailing - July 21 Vancouver to Ucluelet or August 11 Ucluelet to Vancouver
7 Day Offshore Sailing - August 4 (Start/Finish Ucluelet)
VHF - January 7  or February 18Coastal Navigation - January 16 or February 13
The remaining courses in 2011 still have openings:
Diesel Course (1 Day) November 20Advanced Diesel Starts November 22

We're at RIPS race week - one fun filled week of sailboat racing.  Follow along at www.rips.ca

 

 

Seen a Canadian dime lately?  That's not just any boat.  Bluenose II is officially a huge part of our sailing heritage and something to be proud of as a Canadian.  The original Bluenose doubled as both fishing schooner and undefeated racing machine of her day and was sadly lost on a reef years ago (nb - take your navigation courses!)



The current incarnation is Bluenose II, built in the same yard in Nova Scotia by many of the same people.  Now a handful of them and their kids and grandkids are busy at work putting her back together as can only occur on a wood vessel:



We thought Don Martin's Lady Van project was intense.  This is officially takes 'keeping up with the Jones' to another level.

Thanks to the miracles of modern day technology, all of Canada (and the world for that matter) can watch the rebirth of a legend.  Visit the live webcams and youTube channels. 

Some of us were delighted to be part of hosting Bluenose II when she came to Vancouver Harbour to welcome the world to Expo '86.  Okay, some of us were cutting class to stowaway on her as much as we could!!  We're digging for those photos now... so stay tuned here to the Bluenose's west coast connection right here at Cooper Boating!!

Just added - the second Bruce Farr designed Bavaria model.  ACappella is under construction at the Bavaria yard in Germany and will feature this massive power (up/down) swim platform: 
 (how cool is that?)
and she's got 2 rudders and 3 heads!  You can also split the boat between 4 couples or a large family with the 4 cabins.  
 ACappella (sistership)
ACappella will join her smaller sister Arcturus - landing in our Powell River base once thorough sea trials are complete.  
 Arcturus (sistership)
One favourite change to see back 'in style' (thanks in part to this fold down platform) is a big transom (of sorts)  - a place to put the name!

To compliment the friendly instructors we have around here, we've re-organized the courses into a modular format to allow people with busy lives to get this great pastime into their lives and ensure the sailing classes meet student objectives.  Surrounding the basic level for new sailors is three core modules - CREW, BAY SKIPPER and CRUISING NUTS & BOLTS.  If you would like the well rounded, cover all the bases approach, take all three modules.  If you are looking to sail smaller keelboats (perhaps with our sailing club - the JIB SET - you can take the CREW module and start crewing on the 24 footers - putting your new skills into practice and having a lot of fun with the great group of people in our club.



Progress to the BAY SKIPPER level when you are keen to take things up a level and be comfortable in command of these great pocket cruisers -


Looking to crew on larger boats, take the CREW module followed by the CRUISING NUTS & BOLTS weekend.



Skippering these boats is best done with the BAY SKIPPER module in English Bay before the CRUISING NUTS & BOLTS weekend to Gibson's on the Sunshine Coast.

None of these modules is over one week in duration and can fit into a busy work schedule.  Need any help - our office is open daily and ready to assist.

Basic details and destinations are up for the May LOOONG Weekend 5 day flotilla.  At this popular time, boat selection is limited, so act fast if you want to join this event.  Looks like 5 boats are planning to join this flotilla so far.