Van Isle Marina
2320 Harbour Road V8L 2P6 Sidney, BC, Canada

How Far Can Yachts Travel? Cruising the world is a dream for many, and there’s no better way to do it than in your own yacht. When it comes to the question of how far yachts can travel, there’s no one set answer for this. There are so many different types of yachts, all designed for travel ranging from open ocean exploration to island hopping. Really, there’s no limit to how far or how long a yacht can travel, if it’s suited to the trip you have in mind. The success of your t...rip will depend on how well your goals mesh with the category of yacht. It will also depend on whether you’re captaining a sailing or motor yacht, how often you need to stop to refuel or restock supplies and what forms of auxiliary power are used aboard. Whether your goal is to yacht around the world or explore the coastline closer to home, there is a yacht designed for the voyage you envision. To Determine How Far a Yacht Will Be Able to Travel, Ask: - Is it a sailing yacht or motor yacht? - What type of yacht? - How large is the yacht? - How large is the fuel tank? Categories of Yachts There are four main categories of yachts. It’s important to know which category your yacht falls into in order to plan and prepare for your trip. Category A Also known as Explorer or Expedition Yachts, Category A yachts are crewed and designed for open ocean. They have a large hull that can handle waves up to 23 feet high. These yachts can also handle extraordinarily strong winds, up to 47 knots. Category B These yachts are also worthy of the wider seas but are not capable of crossing oceans and are less capable of strong winds and rough water. They can handle waves up to 13 feet high. Category C Used inshore, Category C yachts are ideal for larger bays and lakes. They can handle waves up to about 7 feet high. Category D Great for sheltered areas like lakes, protected harbours and rivers, these are vessels meant for day trips. Category D yachts can travel in areas with waves reaching under 4 feet high. Read the full post on our blog: https://vanislemarina.com/how-far-can-yachts-travel/

Oh my gourd, Happy Halloween! Our crew had a pumpkin carving contest, and it was @emmajespy ‘s Pumpkin Pie that won!

Vancouver Island Anchorages - How to Sail Around Vancouver Island The largest island off the West Coast of North America, Vancouver Island is a boater’s dream come true, offering every vista and experience you can possibly imagine. Sail alongside a pod of pacific white-sided dolphins, explore ancient petroglyphs on shore and toast spectacular sunsets as your yacht bobs in the waves. If you’re up for a longer trip, it will take anywhere from 3-6 weeks to circumnavigate the ent...ire island if you sail with the Northwest winds (counter-clockwise.) Some boaters take months to slowly explore every inch of Vancouver Island and its many coves and inlets. Using the example of a full circle route of the Island, we’ve chosen anchorages in secluded coves as well as busier marinas and harbours. Whether you cruise around the Gulf Islands or go further afield to more remote locations, this list highlights key anchorages around Vancouver Island. 1. Gulf Islands 2. East Coast of Vancouver Island 3. Discovery Passage 4. Johnstone Strait 5. Queen Charlotte Strait (East) 6. Queen Charlotte Strait (West) 7. West Coast of Vancouver Island 8. Cape Scott 9. Quatsino Sound 10. Brooks Bay, Brooks Peninsula and Checleset Bay 11. Kyuquoat Sound 12. Nootka Sound 13. Clayoquot Sound 14. Barkley Sound 15. Cape Beale Get the full story on our blog: https://vanislemarina.com/vancouver-island-anchorages/

SOLD! 58' Riviera 5800 Sport Yacht 2013 Check out our current listings on our website: www.vanislemarina.com/listings

Contact our office to arrange for your personal tour of this exceptional, late model Navigator 5500 Pilothouse Motor Yacht!

Touring Vancouver Island 8 Secluded Destinations You Can Get to by Boat Owning a boat is like having a ticket to the most exclusive locations around Vancouver Island. From jaw-dropping coves and inlets to trails leading to hidden crystal-clear lakes, stunning ocean vistas and serene campsites, boating here means you can experience the power and beauty of the coast firsthand. Landing in places where RVers cannot or do not dare to go, your yacht will let you access secluded ...spots where you can moor for a few hours or a few days, or even go ashore and experience wilderness camping. 1. Cabbage Island Marine Park - Not many boaters make the journey to Cabbage Island and with its white sand beaches, you’ll feel like you’re in paradise when you land. 2. Desolation Sound - With over 6,000 acres of shoreline, Desolation Sound is the largest marine park in BC and the perfect place to find your new favourite anchorage spot. 3. Pirates Cove (Decourcy Island) - While Pirates Cove is popular among boaters, the sheltered anchorage makes it ideal for mooring off the coastline. 4. Savary Island - In the Sunshine Coast, Savary Island feels almost tropical, with white sandy beaches and a warm southern tide. 5. Thurston Bay Marine Provincial Park (Sonora Island) - In Johnstone Strait, Thurston Bay Provincial Park provides sheltered anchorage and is undeveloped, with no facilities. 6. Wallace Island Provincial Park - Between Saltspring and Galiano Islands, Wallace Island Provincial Park is an ideal place to explore the Southern Gulf Islands at a quieter port. 7. Walsh Cove Provincial Park (West Redonda Island) - Though named a Provincial Park, Walsh Cove is undeveloped and very secluded. 8. Whaleboat Island Marine Provincial Park - Open for day use, this is an islet in the Decourcy group of islands. Read the full write-up and view pics on our blog: https://vanislemarina.com/secret-secluded-areas-off-the-be/

Wildlife of Vancouver Island Between the months of May and October, Vancouver Island comes alive with wildlife sightings. From land animals such as bears, cougars, and deer, to marine animals like whales, otters, and salmon, Vancouver Island is bursting with wildlife. Here are some of the different types of wildlife living on and around Vancouver Island on Canada’s West Coast look out for them from the deck of your boat or yacht, or while on land for a hike. In the Water:... - Sea Otters - Sea Lions - Harbour Seals - Whales - Dolphins On Land: - Deer - Black Bears - Cougars - Raccoons - Grey Wolves Spend any amount of time on and around Vancouver Island and you’ll quickly come to realize the region is filled with all sorts of wildlife. In and amongst all the flora and fauna of the region, Vancouver Island offers many amazing opportunities for wildlife viewing. Visit our blog for the full list of Vancouver Island wildlife: https://vanislemarina.com/wildlife-of-vancouver-island/

Vancouver Island Caves You might be surprised to learn that caves are everywhere on Vancouver Island, ranging from barely accessible fractures leading to extensive underground networks, to the well-known caves in Horne Lake Provincial Park. Because Vancouver Island is partially formed out of karst limestone, a unique topography that results in caverns, springs, and disappearing streams, there are over 1600 known caves, with countless more sure to be discovered by enthusiastic... spelunkers. Artlish Caves Provincial Park Getting to Artlish Caves is half the adventure. Located 80 km south of Port McNeill, and about the same distance northwest of Woss, there are no developed trails in this remote location. Gordon River Caves Because the Cowichan region also features the Karst geology found all over the island, it’s home to a southern network of impressive caves that hide in plain sight. Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park The most widely known and used caving system on Vancouver Island, Qualicum’s Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park provides the opportunity to explore the caves yourself, or experience a guided tour, and rappelling, year-round. Little Huson Regional Park Often described as magical with disappearing waterfalls and rivers, and an emerald green lake, the Quatsino system near Zeballos offers an incredible opportunity to explore the underground world nestled between the Nimpkish Valley and Strathcona Provincial Park. Nitinat Caves This series of caves in Cowichan’s Looper Creek Canyon lies just east of Nitinat Lake. Sea Caves at Owen Point A different form of cave, the sandstone sea caves at Owen Point can be explored along the West Coast Trail when tides are below 1.8 m. Upana Caves Upana Caves is a huge system of over 100 known caves in Nootka Sound, about 17 km west of Gold River. Whether you’ve never set foot in a cave or have decades of experience in the subterranean world, Vancouver Island is an adventurer’s dream with caves galore to explore. Check out our blog to learn more about Vancouver Island caves: https://vanislemarina.com/vancouver-island-caves/

Just launched and arrived at our sales dock! 32' Pursuit OS325 Offshore 2021 The OS325 delivers innovation and excellence in the perfect sized package.... Twin Yamaha F300's w/DEC Digital Electronic Control Lewmar electric Bow Thruster and Diesel Generator Underwater Lights, Premium Stereo Upgrade and Kenyon BBQ Grill Garmin Package, 2 x 12 multifunction displays, Radar GMR 24 xHD & autopilot And much more! Call our office or visit our website see full specs or arrange for your personal or video tour. www.vanislemarina.com/listings 250-656-1138

Kinds of Shellfish in BC Waters With so many species of fish living in BC waters, there is something to fish for at practically anytime of year, including many types of shellfish. In our previous posts covering all the different kinds of fish in BC waters, we’ve touched on the highly sought-after pacific salmon, trout, and groundfish that draw anglers to the West Coast of Canada. To round out the series, we thought we’d end with another extremely popular type of fish our regi...on is known for: shellfish. What are Shellfish? The term shellfish is a colloquial term referring to an extremely broad category of aquatic (water-dwelling) invertebrates. The term covers two main types of aquatic invertebrates: shelled molluscs like oysters and clams, and crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp. Shellfish are not actually fish they are simply a certain type of animal that live in water. The term shellfish is used by fisheries and the medical and restaurant industries to group together edible marine invertebrates. Here's a list of the most common types of shellfish found in BC: - Oysters - Clams - Mussels - Scallops - Crabs - Shrimp - Prawns - Abalone - Sea Urchins - Krill - Sea Cucumbers To learn more about the various shellfish found around the island, check out our full blog post here: https://vanislemarina.com/kinds-of-shellfish-in-bc-waters/

New Listing! 32' Bayliner 325 Ciera 2006 $94,500 Twin MerCruiser 5.0L MPI 260hp Bravo III sterndrives (750 hours)... Furuno gps/chartplotter/radar, Mercury SmartCraft VesselView New diesel furnace, Magnum MS2012 inverter/charger Haulout & mechanical maintenance completed Sept. 2020 Always boathouse kept (40’ boathouse available to Purchaser for $19,900) For more details, call our office or visit our website: www.vanislemarina.com/listings

Best Diving Locations Near Vancouver Island Spend enough time above the waters around Vancouver Island and it will only be a matter of time until you get curious and want to get a closer look and what’s below the surface. When this happens, and you go for your first scuba diving experience in the Pacific Northwest, you’ll quickly come to realize the region is filled with all sorts of underwater scenery from reefs, walls, shipwrecks, and plenty of marine life. Don’t forget y...our dry suits and headlamps waters around here are cold and dark, but worth it! Check out our blog post for the best Artificial Reefs, Shipwrecks, Shore and Boat Dives: https://vanislemarina.com/best-diving-locations-near-vanco/

What Does It Mean to Charter Your Yacht? Chartering your yacht, or enrolling in a yacht charter income program, refers to private boat owners making their yachts available to others to rent out while they are not using them. This is typically done through a yacht charter company. Companies typically ask their chartered boat owners to make the boat available for a minimum of ten weeks a year. Owners can reserve or block off time in advance for their own use, and earn about 60%... of the income generated by the charter company. Read our most recent blog post to learn all about chartering your yacht - from which types of yachts are "eligible" to the pros and cons of chartering => https://vanislemarina.com/chartering-your-yacht/

New Listing! 36' Carver Aft Cabin MY 1989 $79,900 Twin MerCruiser 7.4L 330hp ... Heart Interface 2000 watt inverter & Satellite TV receiver New Espar Diesel Furnace, New solar power and charge control Davit system incl.tender, 20 HP Mercury outboard (zero hrs) For more details visit our website: www.vanislemarina.com/listings

From Sails to Motors: The History of Yachting As a boating enthusiast like us here at Van Isle Marina, you probably spend a lot of time thinking about boats, looking at boats, and being on boats at every opportunity you can seize. But have you ever wondered how today’s luxury vessels came to be? What was there before the motorboat grew to become a luxury yacht, which further grew to become a superyacht? ... Origin of Yachting So, where did the term yachting come from? Originally called jachtschips (hunting boats), yachts were invented by the Dutch Navy in the 14th century to catch pirates and thieves quickly in shallower waters where larger ships couldn’t be sailed. After a while, yachting slowly became fashionable among the wealthy, with the first social Yacht Club (the Water Club) in Cork, Ireland, being established in 1720. It was first used as a coast guard style organization. In the Water Club, races were actually chases, where the fleet of vessels raced to catch a nonexistent enemya nod to the yachts’ original crime-fighting purpose. Check out our full blog post for more on the history of yachting: https://vanislemarina.com/from-sails-to-motors-the-history/

A father and son share a special summer day aboard their Pursuit Boats S 268 Sport. Contact our office or visit our website to learn more about the available Pursuit models: https://vanislemarina.com/pursuit/