Gabriola Adventure Sailing
TRADITIONAL SAILING DINGHY ADVENTURES

Gabriola Adventure Sailing offers participatory, instruction-based tours focusing on the traditional maritime heritage and natural history of the Straight of Georgia. These trips are open to all ages and skill levels. We encourage everyone to help out in the trip, allowing the group to learn together while sharing in the adventure of Dinghy Sailing. The Wooden Sailing Dinghy Fleet is hand-crafted here on Gabriola Island using traditional wooden boat building techniques.

The BC coastline is ideal for cruising of all kinds, especially for small boat camping explorations. The Gulf Islands are rich in abundant marine and bird life, warm water and spectacular scenery which all combine to make this area a sailing paradise. Those who enjoy dinghy sailing, snorkeling, hiking, fishing, beach combing, natural history and nature photography will enjoy our Gulf Islands Adventures. Dry summer weather, colorful Arbutus trees, ancient Douglas Firs, sandstone rock formations, and warm water characterize the summer in BC.

A collaboration between Barefoot Wooden Boats and Baja Kayak Adventure Tours Ltd., both based out of Gabriola Island, makes these exciting sailing adventures possible. Showcasing these beautifully hand crafted wooden boats, the amazing local coastline and the knowledge and experience of our guides is sure to please sailing and ‘summer-fun’ enthusiasts of all ages. Participants are encouraged to partake in all aspects of our tours, including route plans, navigation, camp setup, meal planning and gourmet camp cooking. We strive to offer the same great adventure trips and participative philosophy while maintaining our emphasis on safety, quality opportunities, and client service as our BC and Baja kayak tours.

Barefoot Wooden Boats is rapidly becoming a hallmark of Gabriola Island maritime scene. After graduating from the renowned Silva Bay Shipyard School, Canada’s only full-time traditional wooden boat school, the Barefoot Wooden Boat Directors rapidly established a reputation for excellent craftsmanship and their care for the traditions, values and culture of the wooden boat. They actively promote the resurgence of traditional boat building and strive to showcase the classic sailing opportunities of this region. (see BOATS below for a description of available boats).

PHILOSOPHY
We wish to attract healthy, fun-loving people who wish to share in the learning and adventure of Dinghy Sailing. We describe ourselves as 'outfitters', and are not a fully catered operation. Our primary role is to outfit your trip, reduce risk, facilitate navigation, teach new techniques and skills, promote maritime traditions and support the group experience. Our guides have considerable experience exploring this part of the British Columbia coastline and have a strong interest in local natural history and the ecology of the surrounding marine environment.

A basic understanding of sailing is strongly recommended, and you must be able to swim. A variety of classic wooden boats are available so opportunities are provided to try sailing in each. We supply dry bags and all cooking equipment. You provide your own personal camping items (we can rent you a tent, depending on availability). Our safety equipment includes; navigation gear, flares, an expedition first aid kit and a VHF marine radio.

3-Day Dinghy Sailing Adventure

7-Day Dinghy Sailing Adventure

MEALS
To keep our rates low we like to involve everyone in a part of meal preparation. Each is responsible for the purchase and preparation of 2-3 assigned group meals. There are several local grocery and health-food stores on Gabriola Island. Water, coffee, a shared cooler and an array of spices are provided for the group.  We are happy to suggest meal options for you and always address individual allergy and food concerns.

GETTING THERE
Gabriola Island is just a 20-minute ferry ride from Nanaimo Harbor on Vancouver Island. There are also daily scheduled seaplane flights from Vancouver.  You can reach Vancouver Island from Seattle and Vancouver by regularly scheduled ferry service as well as by air.

Sailors need to arrive the evening before the tour starts, so that we can organize before departing on the morning ebb. We head out around 10:00 am the first morning. We aim to be back in by lunch on the final day, but due to the nature of wilderness travel we cannot guarantee that you'll be able to meet travel arrangements home on the same day, leaving the day after is much more relaxing.

TRIP PAYMENT
A $100 non-refundable deposit reserves you a spot. Balance of payment is due 14 days before trip departure, by check, Visa or Master Card. If you cancel, you get your balance back unless it is 14 or fewer days before trip starts, in which case we'll refund you 50% and keep the balance as a future credit for you towards another Gabriola Adventure Sailing tour or one of our Baja Kayak Adventure tours.

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW...
In the event of an emergency, there are emergency medical facilities in Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Ganges and Duncan. Gabriola has a 24-hour medical clinic without operating facilities. Our tour area is well serviced by the Canadian Coast Guard and local Coast Guard Auxiliaries. Medical insurance is mandatory. If you have not had a tetanus shot in the past ten years, it is strongly recommended.

SOME ACCOMMODATION CHOICES
There are a number of B & B’s, cabins for rent, a few resorts and a nice campground.

We recommend:
Silva Bay Inn – Oceanfront Inn overlooking beautiful Silva Bay. Kayak and boater friendly with full-service dock, grocery store, kayak tours and art galleries.
www.silvabayinn.ca
(250) 247 – 9351

You can find a list of other accommodations and booking info at the Gabriola Island Chamber of Commerce website.
www.gabriolaisland.org

BOATS:
"Squirt" and "Acorn" Pogi Class – a small fun dinghy with a standing lug rig that is exciting to sail and a pleasure to row.  This safe a durable Dinghy carries 802 feet of sail and is perfect for Gulf Islands camping/ sailing.
2 - 3 crew

"SwordFish" Mower Dory – Provides fast and fun sailing. This is the boat that has won the Silva Bay Shipyard Raid for the last 2 yeas in a row.  It holds a lot of gear and is still roomy and comfortable to sail.  A great multi-day sailor!
2 - 3 crew.

"Miss Helen 2" Lightning – a sloop rigged dinghy with a hard chine that make it a stable design while still allowing for lot’s of sail area. 
3 – 4 crew.

"Bird" – a small Punt design dinghy perfect as a play boat and for beginners and kids to learn on. 
1 - 2 crew.

CONTACT
To book a trip or for more information on this or any of our other adventure tours please feel free to contact us.

Baja Kayak Adventures
By email at: info@bajakayakadventures.com
By phone at: (250) 247 - 8939

For more information on the dinghies, the builders, dinghy day rentals or the Silva Bay Shipyard School contact:

Barefoot Wooden Boats
info@barefootwoodenboats.com
(250) 247 – 9646

Silva Bay Shipyard School
info@boatschool.com
(250) 247 - 8809

TOUR AVAILIBILITY
Availability Request Form