Special Charter Flotilla Opportunities!

Beauty and grandeur around every corner, the delights of cruising the waters and islands of Desolation Sound and the Broughton Islands Group, are many and memorable.  Keep a watch out for bears, whale, deer and eagles, gather muscles and oysters, bird watch, fish and relax, as you explore these wondrous cruising grounds. Join any one or more of the five flotilla legs, timed to provide the best weather and scenery, before the summer crowds arrive.  Charter one of our well-maintained yachts yourself or, if you prefer, we have several by-the-stateroom rental options available. Beginning and advanced learning opportunities as well.

General Information

Booking for the May/June 2009 Broughton Flotilla is now completed.  Please contact us if you are interested in participating in a flotilla to the Broughton Islands group during the spring of 2010.  1-800-677-7245 or charter@sanjuansailing.com.  Thank you!

 

Flotilla Leader:  Roger Van Dyken is the founder/owner of San Juan Sailing and San Juan Yachting. He loves boating and has led flotillas circumnavigating Vancouver Island as well as the B2B (Bellingham to the Broughton Islands) Flotillas. He and his wife Marlene also cruise in Europe each year. He's logged 6,000 miles on their 70’ 1908 converted Dutch barge on Europe’s inland waterways and authored a book on the subject. Roger is a USCG licensed captain, a racing skipper for over ten years, and holds multiple instructor certifications by the American Sailing Association. In addition to his work at San Juan Sailing and San Juan Yachting, he is founder and currently president of the Pacific Northwest Charter Association  (PNCA), a retired Air Force colonel, a former Washington State Representative and is active in many civic organizations locally.  The flotillas are his “wonderful getaway time”.  Aside from knowing all the "ins and outs" of crabbing, Roger has become an expert shrimper. And you'll be invited to partake in the bounty!

By-the-Boat Options:  Charter one of our well-maintained sailboats, motoryachts, or trawlers for one or more legs of this exciting flotilla adventure.  Explore beyond the reaches of a normal charter by taking advantage of the one-way itineraries of the first, second, fourth and fifth legs or the Port McNeill start/finish of the third leg.  Simply choose from our list of eligible flotilla boats and charter it for your chosen portion of the flotilla.      

By-the-Stateroom Option

Several yachts, both power and sail, will be available for by-the-stateroom charter for some or all of the legs of the flotilla.  Depending on your skill level and/or what you learn from your skipper/instructor, you will be welcome to participate (as the skipper deems prudent) in the operation of your vessel, including helm time.  Or, sit back, relax, and let the skipper handle everything!

Stateroom Rates:  $1400 per cabin for Legs 1,2,4,5 (seven day legs)

$2000 per cabin for Leg 3 (ten day leg)

Note:  In addition to the cabin rate, everyone onboard (including the skipper) will split the following expenses equally through use of a "ship's kitty":  food, moorage fees, fuel, flotilla fees ($250 per week) and other incidental expenses.

Instruction Options

1.  Basic Sailing to Bareboat Certification Learn-N-Cruise:  A one-way weeklong Basic Sailing to Bareboat Charter Certification Learn-N-Cruise (ASA 101/103/104) is being offered during at least one leg of the flotilla.  Please contact the school at 1-800-677-7245 or school@sanjuansailing.com for date options and details.

2.  Cruising Catamaran Learn-N-Cruise:  We typically offer at least one weeklong Intermediate (ASA 114 Cruising Catamaran plus ASA 105 Coastal Navigation Option) Learn-N-Cruise during the flotilla.  Please contact the school at 1-800-677-7245 or school@sanjuansailing.com for date options and details.

3.  Advanced Lean-N-Cruise:  One-Week and  Two Week Advanced (ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising plus ASA 105 Coastal Navigation Option) Learn-N-Cruises will be offered during the Broughtons Flotilla.  Please contact the school at 1-800-677-7245 or school@sanjuansailing.com for date options and details.

Photo Gallery

With so much to see and explore, these photos are but a quick sampling of the delights of cruising the waters and islands from Bellingham, up through Desolation Sound and to the Broughton Group. 

This is the photo that sums up why we travel to these beautiful places.	Marv catches the first fish.	The falls above Toba Wildernest. These falls power the resort via a homemade hydroelectric plant.	The view towards Toba Inlet from the docks at Toba Wildernest.	Another view of the Toba Inlet area.
One of many beautiful waterfalls in Toba Inlet.	Due to the shear cliffs of the inlet, water falls straight down into hundreds of feet of water, allowing admiring boats to venture quite close.	A bear spotted in Okisollo Channel.	A bear spotted in Okisollo Channel.	More fresh shrimp in the Broughtons.
The mountains of Thompson Sound.	Sailing up Malaspina Strait.	The mountains of Thompson Sound.	The towering heights of Thompson Sound really dwarf a 45 foot sailboat.
Roger "picking" mussels.	One of the joys of flotilla cruising is sharing meals with your fellow boaters. Here a group meal of those freshly picked mussels.	Mussels, showing the telltale signs of growing up in the wild.	The beautiful Lacey Falls.	Sailing Sutlej Channel.
Roger practicing his hunter/gatherer skills again.	Esprit de Mer entering Roaring Hole at slack tide.	Shrimp boat and heron.	Esprit de Mer entering Roaring Hole at slack tide.	Sailing along Well's Pass.
Another view of Well's Pass.	Totems at Alert Bay.	A brisk sail through Queen Charlotte Strait.	Buying shrimp straight from the boat in Powell River.	Enjoying a fresh shrimp dinner aboard!
Another beautiful sunset in Lund.	A view of the mountains of Desolation Sound.	Swimming in Melanie Cove. Not as cold as you might think.	Esprit de Mer wrapped in the quiet solitude of Melanie Cove.