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11-11-2020, 14:42
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#16
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Edmonton/PNW
Boat: Hunter 386
Posts: 1,745
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Re: Vancouver or Victoria, BC - Which is a better homebase for good sailing condition
We spent the winter (6 months) in Victoria proper. Great day sailing in the Strait or out to Race Rocks, and easy weekends to the San Juans, Saanich Inlet or Saltspring. Lots of good sailing and really not that expensive.
Boating-related services are a bit of a bother but not much if you have a car (we didn't) and you could always cruise over to Tsehum. Personally i found Sidney a bit of a slog to get to and enjoyed walking off the boat right into downtown Victoria. As mentioned, currents can be fun around Trial Island etc., but get the atlas or just enjoy getting it wrong and motoring against the current—we did a lot of that
__________________
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Gaudeamus igitur iuvenes dum sumus...
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11-11-2020, 14:47
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#17
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: British Columbia
Boat: Sceptre 41
Posts: 1,928
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Re: Vancouver or Victoria, BC - Which is a better homebase for good sailing condition
Yeah, we love it here.
After 14 years of BC cruising, we made the jump, sailing to San Fran and down to the Sea of Cortez in 2013 (we had previously done Hawaii-to-Vancouver as well as Neah-to-SF as crew on friends' boats).
Realized during our first year in Mexico that (i) we prefer cruising in BC, (ii) we don't like heat and (iii) we missed the mountains and skiing. So, after two cruising seasons in Mexico, we shipped boat home, managing to get that Summer (2015) in BC cruising.
We especially love the Central and North Coast of BC (enjoy the Broughtons too), and were headed to Haida Gwaii for a 4th visit in May but then COVID-19.... Hopefully in 2021 [emoji1696]
(Broughtons and Desolation were still pretty good in 2020. Normally we stay away from most of Desolation in July and August - - too crowded.)
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11-11-2020, 15:20
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#18
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: On Vessel WINGS, wherever there's an ocean, currently in Mexico
Boat: Serendipity 43
Posts: 5,508
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Re: Vancouver or Victoria, BC - Which is a better homebase for good sailing condition
I'd say that the inside of Vancouver Island (Oak Bay to Nanimo) gives you more cruising destinations than Vancouver or Victoria.
If you really want to test yourself stay based in Vancouver and sail in Straights of Georgia; that can test the best of sailors, however it is only 40 miles to the NW and you will be into some really wilderness areas with tall mountians, forests of immense fir trees, and few houses; stunning country(see photo).
If it's ocean sailing you want, sail west out of Victoria. The Straights of Juan de Fuca offer the challenge of the Pacific Ocean.
But that's all sort of tireing. Instead, you can keep the boat in Sidney, have lots of wonderful trips in some of the best cruising in the world, and plan longer trips for that offshore experience you feel you need. That part of Vancouver Island is a gateway.
__________________
These lines upon my face tell you the story of who I am but these stories don't mean anything
when you've got no one to tell them to Fred Roswold Wings https://wingssail.blogspot.com/
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11-11-2020, 15:29
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#19
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: At the intersection of here & there
Boat: 47' Olympic Adventure
Posts: 4,852
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Re: Vancouver or Victoria, BC - Which is a better homebase for good sailing condition
From your first post, it sounded like you wanted more "ocean-like" conditions - not sure that Sidney gives you that. There's Haro Strait, but unless you want to practice dealing with big ships, not the best place to hang around. Lots of upsides - close to Vic, boatyards, Gulf Is. but if you want easier access to fetchier (if that's a word) water, then you might want to look at Nanaimo or Campbell River.
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11-11-2020, 15:34
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#20
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Indonesia
Boat: Outremer 55L
Posts: 3,804
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Re: Vancouver or Victoria, BC - Which is a better homebase for good sailing condition
Quote:
Originally Posted by sv_pelagia
Well, not quite Winter yet....
But definitely agree about ease of Sidney. For Victoria, I would worry about getting around Trial Island on some windy days (especially if wind against current!)
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No need to worry as you don’t have to go inside it and can simply give it a wide berth to avoid any rips.
Or, if you’re coming from Oak Bay, go the other way through Baynes Channel - from memory we didn’t experience any rips there.
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12-11-2020, 09:30
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#21
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Tromsø, Norway
Boat: Meta Arctic Voyager 47
Posts: 374
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Re: Vancouver or Victoria, BC - Which is a better homebase for good sailing condition
Sidney would be my choice especially Canoe Cove. Walk to the ferry or bus back to Vic proper plus excellent marine services. As mentioned access to Gulf Islands and San Juans is second to none. Lots of pleasant memories from that area.
__________________
Victor Raymond
M/V Arktika
1984 Meta Arctic Voyager 47
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12-11-2020, 20:31
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#22
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: 49'N on Vancouver Island
Boat: 1998 Hunter 410 (now), 1981 Bayfield 32c (old)
Posts: 119
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Re: Vancouver or Victoria, BC - Which is a better homebase for good sailing condition
Nanaimo may be a better choice for you than either Vancouver or Sidney. Easy access to the Georgia Straight, easy access to the Gulf Islands, easy access to the Sunshine Coast, and a long day sail in the summer brings you to Desolation Sound. There are good chandlers, and haul out faculties.
Ladysmith, Chemainus, Genoa Bay, Cowiichan Bay, and Maple Bay are all great places to keep a boat but require a bit more planning with tides/passes to get into the Georgia Straight. I have a buddy who lives in Sooke but keeps his boat in Ladysmith as it is a much shorter gateway to excellent anchorages and island hoping.
The best service on the island for a marine yard IMHO is Canoe Cove/Blackline. Not cheap but great work. Sidney is a great town, but costs are higher there than mid-island for most boat related things. If living on board, Sidney though would be my first choice or Cowichan Bay as they are both really pedestrian friendly spots. Sidney has good public transit access to downtown Victoria as well as the airport. If living on land with the criteria you listed in the original post and weekending on your boat, Nanaimo may be best.
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12-11-2020, 20:41
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#23
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Victoria, BC
Boat: Alberg 37
Posts: 9
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Re: Vancouver or Victoria, BC - Which is a better homebase for good sailing condition
Thanks for you input VanIslandGuy. Again - Nanaimo won't really be a workable option for me as I don't wish to have to drive 1+ hrs to get to the boat (from Vic if I was to be island based). Sounding like Sidney (while living in Vic) might have the slight edge vs. my current situation in Vancouver. Will keep that in mind while making my decision (some other factors to weigh as well).
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04-12-2020, 22:39
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#24
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 21
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Re: Vancouver or Victoria, BC - Which is a better homebase for good sailing condition
There nothing wrong with sailing in/around Indian Arm. It’s sheltered and you’re not going to get beat up like JDF Straight. Perfect place to practice sailing technique. Grew up on the BC coast waters. Dad and I circumnavigated Van Isl twice when I was younger. Now THATS a trip and very challenging. My dad was a ship captain but sailor at heart. He loved the challenge even though it scared the crap out of me. Prior to our first trip he worked my azz off in Indian Arm so I could get used to my responsibilities. I was only 13 the first time we made the trip. 15 the second time. Awesome adventure
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05-12-2020, 05:34
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#25
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: The Gulf of Maine
Boat: Bavara 37/Soling 27
Posts: 284
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Re: Vancouver or Victoria, BC - Which is a better homebase for good sailing condition
Welcome, Driver, to this forum, and thank you all for addressing a question I've been asking myself—which port to call home—since I soon will be a newbie to BC.
Driver, as one whose seafaring dad taught his sea-fearing son to sail (up and down the coast of Maine), I can relate to your Vancouver Island adventures. I can hardly wait to get out there.
Forum, I have a new-to-Canada question: Is there a Canadian version of NOAA'S fabulous online chart viewer? The U.S. charts only go so far in helping me follow the conversation.
__________________
Be well, take care, and a (dare I say it) happy 2021 to you....
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05-12-2020, 06:41
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#26
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: At the intersection of here & there
Boat: 47' Olympic Adventure
Posts: 4,852
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Re: Vancouver or Victoria, BC - Which is a better homebase for good sailing condition
Quote:
Originally Posted by NedX
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I wish! Sadly ours is a pay to play system.
Just remember our charts are metric.
http://www.charts.gc.ca/index-eng.html
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05-12-2020, 06:47
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#27
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Good question
Boat: Rafiki 37
Posts: 14,142
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Re: Vancouver or Victoria, BC - Which is a better homebase for good sailing condition
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lodesman
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Does this link work for you? All my government nautical chart links go to a 404 error "file not found."
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05-12-2020, 06:55
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#28
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: At the intersection of here & there
Boat: 47' Olympic Adventure
Posts: 4,852
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Re: Vancouver or Victoria, BC - Which is a better homebase for good sailing condition
Works when I click on it.
But it displays as: .charts.gc.ca/index-eng.html on my screen (had to remove the http... part to make it display as plain text)
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05-12-2020, 07:00
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#29
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Good question
Boat: Rafiki 37
Posts: 14,142
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Re: Vancouver or Victoria, BC - Which is a better homebase for good sailing condition
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lodesman
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Thanks LM. I had to clear some old cookies. Works now .
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05-12-2020, 08:27
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#30
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Edmonton/PNW
Boat: Hunter 386
Posts: 1,745
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Re: Vancouver or Victoria, BC - Which is a better homebase for good sailing condition
Quote:
Originally Posted by NedX
Welcome, Driver, to this forum, and thank you all for addressing a question I've been asking myself—which port to call home—since I soon will be a newbie to BC.
Driver, as one whose seafaring dad taught his sea-fearing son to sail (up and down the coast of Maine), I can relate to your Vancouver Island adventures. I can hardly wait to get out there.
Forum, I have a new-to-Canada question: Is there a Canadian version of NOAA'S fabulous online chart viewer? The U.S. charts only go so far in helping me follow the conversation.
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If you are just looking to see the area the navionics online viewer works great: https://webapp.navionics.com/#boatin...kazkH%7C%7ClnV
You are in for some awesome cruising!
__________________
---
Gaudeamus igitur iuvenes dum sumus...
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