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MAKING WAVES - ALASKA CRUISE & LEARN - MAY 2008
Departing Vancouver May 11, 2008 - Arriving to Juneau, Alaska May 24,
2008.
Departing Juneau, Alaska May 26, 2008 - Arriving to Vancouver June 08,
2008.
This is a quick run-down of the planned excursion, and some of the details about the crew, the yacht, and the plan!
This is to allow a more relaxed and slow-paced cruise, and avoiding duplication of scenery along the way. The northern trip will involve a cruise of the coast of Eastern Vancouver Island, via Nanaimo, Campbell River, Port Hardy, then across to Fitz Hugh Sound. After that, running the protected waters of the coastline as much as possible up to Juneau. We are planning 9 days passage to Juneau, followed by three days of sightseeing the local area. There are two unscheduled days for weather along the route. The return trip South, will be the opposite schedule. With two skippers, and 3 crews, there will be 3 watches, with shifts split to allow everyone plenty of opportunity for training, running the yacht, as well as enjoying the views, and getting some sleep!
Training:
We plan to offer the following International Sail and Power Association Qualifications:
Competent Crew, Day Skipper, Coastal Navigator, Coastal Skipper & Marine Radio License/DSC.
We will be covering all aspects of the above course, with plenty of practice in chart plotting, Radar, GPS and GPS Chart Plotting, some night steaming, and onboard emergencies. We will cover aspects of seamanship that you will not be likely to find elsewhere, such as loss of power, loss of steerage, flood control, firefighting, and planning for abandoning ship, as well as survival. We have excellent onboard classroom facilities, complete with digital projector and 72 inch screen, for lectures, presentations, and of course, movies. We will incorporate an emergency scenario into several of the watches. Fuelling procedures, docking, customs clearance, we cover it all. When we arrive at the end of the trip, you will be fully confident in your ability to handle all aspects of coastal cruising in a large yacht.
Entertainment!
Movie nights - We have an excellent assortment of movies for a sea loving crew. We will be shooting lots of pictures and video during the trip, so nightly screenings of the best shots, and the best silliness. While at anchor, we have crab and prawn traps, fishing gear, as well as the RHIB, and three Kayaks. Salmon, Halibut, and Ling Cod are the goal! We can fish from the RHIB, or troll from MAKING WAVES, with the downriggers. Try your luck during the passage at handling the RHIB, and sticking drills, which involves learning how to safely bring the RHIB alongside a moving vessel, an invaluable tool in a rescue scenario.
We have a well stocked library of local books and magazines, covering the local flora and fauna we will encounter along the way. Divers are welcome to bring along their gear, however we will not have a compressor onboard, and no dive master, so only experienced divers with credentials please. All dives will be agreed upon prior to the dive, and depths of 60 feet or less only. There is no quick access to a hyperbaric chamber, so safety must come first.
During the trip we will be planning shore excursions, both to populated spots, and some scenic areas. The idea is to have a good time, so planning is flexible enough so that if we spot something really interesting, we can divert and explore!
What to bring:
A good sense of humour, good teamwork skills, and lots of layered clothing. Be prepared for everything from sun tanning to snowball fights! Hiking boots for going ashore, and good soft-soled footwear for onboard. All towels, bedding, and lifejackets are supplied. Food is supplied, if you have any special dietary concerns, please let us know well in advance. We will email draft menus out before the sail, and want your feedback. Between meal snacks will also be provided, but be sure to bring your favorites! Passports are handy, in case we divert to Guatemala, or get lost and run into Japan. (seriously, far easier for customs clearance).
Legs:
There are several leg options:
Option 1: Half Leg - Southern portion Vancouver/Rupert.
Option 2: Half Leg - Northern portion Rupert/Juneau.
Option 3/4: Full Leg - North, or South.
Option 5: The entire month long extravaganza
I would recommend for those looking to achieve all ISPA qualifications to book Option 3/4. Option 1 and 2 are good values for the travel only, or for achieving one qualification. Option 5 is in place for those who own, or want to own a yacht, and require considerable time on the water for insurance purposes.
Fees: (Contact Blue Pacific directly for more information)
Fees are based on first come, first serve basis. There are two single berths in the salon, a queen-sized berth in the aft cabin, and a queen, or two single V-berths in the forward cabin.
Regardless of which/any courses you take, this is a working cruise, hence the low price, and you will be expected to share equally in all operations of the boat , ship's husbandry, cooking, etc. Bring your favorite recipes, movies, and games.
What does your fee not include:
Airfare - to/from Vancouver/Juneau/Rupert (as applicable).
Booze - buy what you like, but remember import/export rules when entering/leaving Canada/US waters. We will stock some local wines and beer. We encourage moderation, and insist on sobriety when operating the yacht. For the safety of all onboard, we cannot allow anyone to work impaired.
Fishing Licenses - at your expense.
Souvenirs
Gratuities
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