CRUISE DESTINATIONS

Surrounded by seas on 3 sides, Black Sea to the North, Aegean Sea to the West and Mediterranean Sea to the South, in addition to the Sea of Mamara in the Northwest inside Turkey- all these make Turkey a popular sailing destination.

Tahiti is the most famous island amongst the Polynesian islands. With the influx of tourists, Papeete, the capital of Tahiti has the bustle of any modern metropolis, complete with diesel fumes and traffic. However, the remote areas of the island remain unspoiled with blue water, tropical palms, sandy beaches....

The Sunshine Coast is a boater's paradise with its majestic scenery of mountains, forests, wildlife and waterfall. Cruising by boat, one can easily carve out a one-week cruising itinerary travelling from Vancouver to Gibsons, Sechelt, Pender Harbour, Powell River and retracing the route back, or a 10-14 day trip cruising from Seattle and back.

Stuart Island and Big Bay has been a popular destination for decades amongst the yachting community, fisherman, wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts. The area experiences some of the most phenomenal natural features which includes tremendous tidal waters, excellent sport fishing and quick access to some of B.C.'s most spectacular inlets as well as the Discovery Islands and everything they have to offer.

Sointula - "Place of Harmony" in Finnish - is a small village with a population of 800, situated in Malcolm Island, within easy reach by BC Ferry from Port McNeil or Alert Bay. Malcolm Island lies between the BC Mainland and Vancouver Island, Northeast of Port McNeil and not far from Alert Bay. It was first settled in the early 1900 by Finnish immigrants who dreamt of an utopian village.

Singapore is an island state located at the south end of the Malay peninsula. With a total area of 704 square kilometers, it is the smallest country in Southeast Asia and also the smallest island-state country in the world. Singapore consists of 63 islands including the Mainland Singapore. The 4 big islands are Jurong Island, Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin and Sentosa.

Alaska with its many waterways, bays and waterfalls offers a lot to the sailor. Every year, boats set out to make their long journey from big cities including Seattle, California, Oregon and Vancouver to make their "pilgrimage" to Alaska. Here are some of what the sailors have to say.

Port McNeill (population: 2,623) is laid out along the shores of Broughton Strait on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island. It was named for William McNeill of the Hudson’s Bay Company, who captained the first steamship to operate on BC’s west coast. Sometimes referred to as the “Gateway to the Broughton Archipelago,” it’s also known as a good, centrally located jumping off point for daytrips to north island communities like Alert Bay, Sointula, Port Hardy and Port Alice. Logging and fishing are its main industries and whale watching is its greatest tourist draw.

Phuket is the largest island in Thailand and is Thailand's maritime jewel. A mountainous island, 70% of the place is covered with rainforest. The west side of the island offers beautiful sandy beaches, while the east side consists mostly of muddy flats. North of the island has about 20 km of rainforest.

Pender Harbour is said to be the Crown Jewel of BC's Sunshine Coast. Its muli-inlet makes it a popular place for boating. Many Vancouverites keep their boats in Pender Island marinas.