Advice for newcomer to BC

Armchairsailor2 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-13-2011

Hi there. I'm new around here, although some of you may know me from the YBW Scuttlebutt.

I'm going to be emigrating this summer to Vancouver and am looking to get afloat once there, so I'm on the scrounge for as much advice and local knowledge as I can get.

My experience has been in sailing our family boat around the Menai Straits, in Wales (v. tidal) since the grand age of 6 weeks old, and sporadically dodging around in the Forth, under the famous bridge, over the past few years. I've never done a practical exam, but have a shorebased qualification under my belt, never saw a kicking strap on a boat bigger than a dinghy until I was about 37 and always hanked on my jib, so to speak. So, I'm definitely at the lo-tech end of things, although I'm looking to upgrade to more modern when I get my own boat.

Advice on what sort of boats to look at would be good - 27-30' & no more than $15-20k is my target range, with the Whitby 25 (I know...), CS-27, Ericson 29 and the like currently being shortlisted. My knowledge of sailboats built in the US and Canada is limited to what I can find on the net, so first hand opinions would be welcomed.

I'd also like to get as much information as I can on the sailing grounds over there, and how best to get onto them. I think I'll probably do some crewing this year and look at a purchase next, so a friendly yacht club with an active racing and cruising program would be a must for me, as would be recommendations for pilot books and charts to whet my appetite.

Thanks in anticipation!

jackdale · #2 (**permalink**) 06-13-2011

The Pacific Northwest (as the Americans call it) is a great place to sail.

I have not sailed any of the boats you mention, but a friend had a CS 27 they quite liked. Take a look at Yachtworld.com to see what is available.

Cruising guides.

Inexpensive - Northwest Boat Travel Northwest Boating Northwest Boat Travel On-Line, Waggoner The Waggoner Cruising Guide, Annual Guide to Northwest Boating from Weatherly Press

Expensive, bit worth it - The Dreamspeaker Series. (Boating Destinations in the Pacific Northwest | Dreamspeaker Guides)

Official publication - Sailing Directions from the Canadian Hydrographic Service Sailing Directions - British Columbia coast (South Portion) Volume 1, Seventeenth Edition, 2004

Yacht clubs can run from very expensive to something more reasonable:
CYA Member's Area

Feel free to fire away with more questions.

Jack

Faster · #3 (**permalink**) 06-13-2011

Welcome, you should be looking forward to sailing/cruising here in BC. Where are you going to be based?

I don't know any unhappy CS owners... of any size. So that's a good sign. The early models have their roots deeply into 'merry old', with the designer Ray Wall having moved here from Camper Nicholson. You could do much worse, but there are other equally viable options once you get here, and the boat market in the PNW United States is quite good esp if you're shopping with Canadian money these days. Boats found in the Puget Sound area are easy on-their-own-bottom deliveries.

You're coming into one of the world's premier cruising grounds and just in time for summer. Jack's posted some good links to information and options.

Armchairsailor2 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-13-2011

Thanks chaps - I had hoped that you two would chip in as I've noticed you are both good on the local knowledge front. We're not sure exactly where we're going to be based- ideally it would be the island, but given that I have a job offer in New Westminster, working 2 weeks out of 4 from FSJ (not close to the sea, or my family) and we have to find somewhere to set up a stud, we're thinking possibly Maple Ridge/ Langley/ Fort Langley at the moment, depending on how much we can afford. Ask me again in a couple of weeks time, once we've done landfall and met with the bank!

Thanks for the reading material Jack. I've got a few of those in my amazon wishlist, but shall be adding to that forthwith...

I agree with the CS yachts - I'm looking at a certain CN 30 on Yachtworld at the moment, and went from there in my researches to the CS's. I agree, they certainly seem to have a reputation for underlying quality, which I like if going for a MAB.

I have previously been told of the Tiddly Cove YC as a friendly place (without some of the insane membership price tags that are out there). Have you any knowledge of that or other clubs that might be more accessible to mere mortals?

Faster - is the Fast the same as the South African Fasts? I crewed a 42 a couple of years back and had a lot of fun.

Faster · #5 (**permalink**) 06-13-2011

AC2

The Fast is not the South African one, rather it's Brazilian, now out of production however it's orginally a C&N design by Ron Holland.

Tiddly Cove is a racing convenience club - many regattas require a membership of a recognized club to qualify. If you're looking for a good cruising club I recommend the Gulf Yacht Club - a cruising club with about 100 memberships, monthly meetings Sept to June, monthly cruising rendezvous' pretty much year round. I'll be happy to introduce you in Sept if you like. This club has no assets, no floats, no facilities (nor does TCYC) but it's a great group and only $100/yr.

Armchairsailor2 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-13-2011

Many thanks for the offer - I'll bear it in mind. We'll get settled in and see how we go - so many things in the air just now. Our realtor has offered me a sail out of VRC, which I'm hugely looking forward to!

AdamLein · #7 (**permalink**) 06-13-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faster

I recommend the Gulf Yacht Club

Really? Never heard of them before.... is there a website?

Armchairsailor2 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-13-2011

It doesn't appear to be working. There is an snailmail address however. (That's sooo 20th century...!)

Faster · #9 (**permalink**) 06-13-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamLein

Really? (Gulf Yacht Club) Never heard of them before.... is there a website?

Weird.. there is a web site.. we just renewed our domain name but I guess something's gone wrong with that. The site is in committee for a major overhaul but the old one should be online still.

Will look into it (monthly meeting tonight)..stay tuned.

Adam.. meetings tonight at 8 pm at the Maritime Museum (right after the Canucks win the cup!!

)

AdamLein · #10 (**permalink**) 06-13-2011

Hm, tempting! Maybe next month. Meantime I will keep an eye open for the website.