when you tie up in a cliff dent of a fjord that drops so deep anchors are useless. when you touch rock that no one has probably touched before. when tide recedes and a grizzly comes searching for its next meal, you feel like you are
the only boat in the whole wide world
get lost & found
in the beauty of Canada's untamed wilderness
join us on an exploratory adventure to the depths of Canadian wilderness.
miraculously warm waters, stunning islands, pristine lakes, humbling scenery, and untamed wild life.
you will not come back the same
200 NM | Desolation Sound, Toba Inlet, Discovery Islands | 7 days | Embarkation: Powel River (alt. Nanaimo+2d / Vancouver +3d)
We begin our journey in Powell River on Sunshine Coast, making our way past the quaint town of Lund, then entering Thulin Passage, a narrow waterway with charming resemblance to little Sweden. Soon after, we'll round Sarah Point, where an awe-inspiring sight unfolds before us.
Jagged mountain pyramids cascade into the warmest waters of Canada. Beneath these towering giants lie countless islands and secluded bays. Welcome to our playground for the week.
Note: If you start and finish your journey in Vancouver, we recommend adding an extra 2-3 days to your itinerary. This will allow you to explore the picturesque Sunshine Coast, visit Texada Island, and experience the stunning, Scandinavian-like Jedediah archipelago.
The world is our oyster (quite literally) as we weave our way through the stunning maze of narrow passages and diverse scenery, from secret coves to a famous hot spots. We'll take short hikes leading to delightful lakes, sail past petroglyphed cliffs and tie up next to nameless islands.
After a delicious dinner, you make fire on the beach, watch the stars, perhaps with a wee dram in your hand. And if we're lucky, a visit from an eagle or whale connects us all the more deeper to this ancient wilderness.
In these moments of absolute silence, it is suddenly crystal clear:
The only thing that IS is NOW. This moment.
Life doesn’t get much better than this.
We'll set sail next towards Pendrell Sound, located in the heart of East Redonda Island. As we approach, we'll be welcomed by the inviting warm waters (reaching up to 26°C in height of summer), perfect for long swims and mingling with fellow boaters. Admittedly, it gets pretty busy with a hectic mishmash of powerboats, sailboat cruisers, super yachts and a constant stream of floatplanes.
But when you start craving peace and quiet again, we raise the sails, brave the tide of Dean Point and head out into the magical solitude of...
Suddenly, you feel very, very small. Next to the imposing cliffs, wow-ing waterfalls, thermal winds, and hypnotic glacial melt water, our boat is a visitor to another planet.
Yet there is something calming about this seemingly rough and unwelcoming fjord.
The walls are so steep, and the fjord so deep, that you can literally drive the bow into a waterfall. Makes for a VERY refreshing and natural massage shower (we dare you! ;o)
Unsurprisingly, there are no anchorages - none. However, over the years, we have discovered a few secret spots where, over millions of years, the glacial creeks carved their way through the mountains to create a dent in the cliff. Enter Swedish mooring - a technique not for the faint hearted.
The massive delta at the head of Toba Inlet is traditional Klahoose nation land, and a prime grizzly bear territory. If we are lucky, we can do some grizzly bear watching from the safety of our boat. Either way, watching seals play in the river rapids is a sight to behold.
Nights in Toba Inlet are etched into our memory as some of the strongest moments on a boat. With no light pollution, the stars are brighter than anywhere else we've sailed. The sounds of the waterfalls, the wind through the trees, and the occasional splash of a jumping fish create a symphony of nature that lulls us to sleep.
Leaving the frigid waters of Toba Inlet behind, we set sail to circumnavigate West Redonda Island. Our first stop is Teakerne Arm, where we'll spend an afternoon near an impressive waterfall and the warm, inviting Cassell Lake. The lake can get busy, but it's a chance to re-adjust to civilization before our next stop: Refuge Cove, the only enclave of civilization in the area. It has a wild west feel and is a great place to restock on some basics, top up our water tanks, buy locally hand-made souvenirs, and send unique post cards back home!
Refuge Cove is a small community in the true sense of the word, founded in the 1940s by a group of war veterans who settled there after World War II. Today, it has a small year-round population and serves as a popular stopover for boaters exploring the park. The cinnamon buns are to die for.
As we ride the boundary of Lewis Channel, we enter new territory: Discovery Islands. Interestingly enough, this seems to be the favorite playground of humpback whales. So far, we have met these majestic creatures every. single. time.
Indeed, wildlife seem to love Cortes Island, with its sizeable wild wolf populations, bald eagles, and Jurassic rainforests.
Cortes Island boasts unique topography with protected lagoons, providing us with a calm and serene place to anchor, hike, swim and play. Von-Donop inlet is accessed via a narrow isthmus that is only passable during high tide.
On the south side of Cortes Island, past the proverbial Whaletown, we discover a deep and protected natural harbor that has been used since ancient times. The Gorge, entered through a narrow gate in sheer cliffs, contains a treasure trove of ancient First Nations petroglyphs.
As we begin our journey back to Powell River, weather permitting, we will make a stop at an island that few know about - and even fewer visit.
The miniscule Mitlenatch island, lying remotely in the Salish sea, has a unique Mediterranean microclimate. The island lies in the rain shadow of Vancouver Island, which means it receives much less rainfall than the surrounding areas. This, combined with its exposure to the sun and wind, creates a warm and dry climate unusual for coastal British Columbia.
As a result, the island is home to a diverse range of plant and animal species, including many that are rare or endangered. Home to the second-largest seabird colony in the area, including pelagic cormorants, pigeon guillemots, rhinoceros auklets, and black oystercatchers. The island is also home to a large population of seals, sea lions and otters. We had our closest ever encounter with an Orca pod while at anchor here - literally a boat length away.
We weigh anchor and set sail with the setting sun behind us for the last 20 NM of our journey. Our final dinner ashore and an ice cold beer will be well deserved.
"Thank you very much for the most beautiful week of my life! You are an amazing couple and amazing captain and co-captain! =) Thank you for a real adventure and for everything that turns strangers into a real team of friends!"
Safi
"Whether you've sailed before or not, give these guys a try. I sailed with Patrik at Frisian Islands (Germany), and trust me, it's not easy to find someone who is so friendly, adventurous, open-minded, responsible, and experienced. With him on board, everything is as safe as it should be. Oh, and be warned, there's a danger you might catch the sailing bug!"
Jakub
Video of one of our 2020 sails courtesy of our very talented crew Martin:
The world charter classic. Comfortable, safe, proven. This one is in an excellently maintained condition.
Sourcing a 5 cabin sailboat in BC is a challenge to say the least - with only 2 available on the whole market. Our example is in excellent shape, and lightly used. It provides safety and comfort for up to 10 people and comes with a full complement of equipment.
Price includes the rental of the boat including all fees and insurance, fuel, skipper, hostess, food onboard for the duration of sail (7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 5 dinners, snacks etc. Please see our FAQ for more info), harbor fees (excluding resort fees)
The warmest water north of Mexico
Bears come down from the mountains to have breakfast just a stones throw away from where you eat yours
You can anchor in places that likely no one has ever touched
Whales are playing in front of Whaletown
While some holidays offer you fine dining, we can promise that the views will make for some of the finest dining of your life
Paddle / wake board / kayak / swim under 8000 ft snow capped mountains
You can forget about phone signal, so switch off your device and get your Blue Mind on
Waterfalls pour into water so turquoise that Bora Bora gets green with envy
Morning warm-up includes climbing along the rock to retrieve the lines during low tide
If it rains you hide in the water
Rainforests so deep that even the wolves cannot find you
Friendships not Instagram-ey, but Instant
We cannot wait to share this adventure with you.
We respectfully acknowledge that the lands we explore and enjoy are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Shíshálh (Sechelt), Kwikwetlem (Coquitlam), Kwikwasut'inuxw (Kwakiutl), Tla'amin (Tla'amin), Klahoose (Sliammon), Pentlatch (K'omoks), and Homalco (Xwemalhkwu) First Nations.
We recognize their enduring presence on these lands since time immemorial, and honor their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections with these territories, their ancestors, and their cultures. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from and be inspired by their wisdom, resilience, and stewardship of the land, sea, and sky that sustains us all.