The Sunshine Coast Cruising Guide
10-Day Sample Itinerary
- Day 1 - Bedwell Harbor. Across Bellingham Bay, up Hale Passage, and over the top of Orcas Island (consider a lunch stop at Sucia), you'll head for South Pender Island to clear customs at the Bedwell Harbor Customs Dock. Enjoy the evening docked at Poets Cove Resort & Spa, or pick up a mooring ball or anchor at nearby Beaumont Marine Park. (32 NM)
- Day 2 - Nanaimo. Northwest up Trincomali Channel, through the Gulf Islands; transit Dodd Narrows at slack tide. A grocery store and liquor agency located just above the marina makes it easy to grab a few more provisions before heading north. As an alternative you can anchor or dock at Newcastle Island Marine Park.(40 NM)
- Day 3 - Sechelt Inlet. Contact Winchelsea Control to see if Whiskey Golf is active (in which case you'll need to divert around it) and head across the Strait of Georgia to the mainland. Dock at Backeddy Marina and enjoy dinner at their pub overlooking Sechelt Inlet. This is a good place to top off fuel if needed for the run up to Princess Louisa Inlet. (40 NM)
- Day 4 - Princess Louisa Inlet. Timing is important today so check the current tables to make sure that you give yourself enough time to arrive at Malibu Rapids before slack. Head up Prince of Wales, Princess Royal, and Queens Reaches, then through Malibu Rapids at slack water. Anchor beneath Chatterbox Falls, grab a buoy or find a space on the park dock. (35 NM)
- Day 5 - Lay day at Princess Louisa Inlet. Explore the inlet by dinghy or kayak. Stop at the dinghy dock across from MacDonald Island to complete a loop hike through the forest and along the shore. You can also dinghy back to a dock just before Malibu Rapids for a tour of Malibu Club, a historic resort that is now a Young Life camp. Or just relax, look for black bears along the shoreline, and watch the waterfalls do their thing. (0 NM)
- Day 6 - Pender Harbor. Say a reluctant "until next time" to Princess Louisa Inlet and head back through Malibu Rapids at slack water and down Jervis Inlet and Agamemnon Channel. On your way, see if you can spot the pictographs on the rock wall 2.7 NM SW of Patrick Point. Then around the corner into bustling Pender Harbor, where you can anchor or stay at one of several small marinas (for reservations in advance we recommend John Henry's Marina). This is a good place to reprovision with fuel or groceries if needed. (44 NM)
- Day 7 - Telegraph Harbor. Back across Georgia Strait (checking that Whiskey Golf is not active) and then transit Dodd Narrows or Gabriola Pass at slack water to re-enter the Gulf Islands. Telegraph Harbor is scenic and laid-back, offering anchorage or a choice of two marinas. If your preference is to anchor you could also try Princess Cove on Wallace Island. Alternatively, if neither the Dodd Narrows or Gabriola Pass slack times fit your schedule, you could overnight at one of the marinas in Silva Bay and transit Gabriola Pass in the morning. (46 NM)
- Day 8 - Port Browning or Winter Cove. Meander down through the Gulf Islands, choosing whichever destination suits your mood today. Port Browning (26 NM) offers a cozy marina, restaurant, pub, swimming pool, and walkable access to a grocery store and liquor agency. Winter Cove (24 NM) is an idyllic anchorage on the north side of Saturna Island, with shoreside walking trails that lead to views over Georgia Strait. If you choose Winter Cove be cautious of the reef that guards the entrance.
- Day 9 - Cypress Island. Across Boundary Pass, clearing customs via the CBP Roam App, then meander through the San Juan Islands to anchor or pick up a buoy at Cypress Island. Cypress offers an abundance of trails that lead you to lakes, pocket beaches or a bluff overlooking the islands. (28 NM)
- Day 10 - Bellingham. Head south of Sinclair, past Viti Rocks, and across Bellingham Bay. While it is time to pack up and head home, you'll have a wealth of wonderful memories to take with you! (13 NM)
Special Opportunities
| Courses & Stateroom Bookings | Spring & Summer Guided Flotillas | Fall Guided Flotillas | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Learn-n-Cruise | 10-Day Sunshine Coast | 7-Day Independence Celebration | 7-Day San Juan & Gulf Islands |
| Refresher & Maneuvering | 14-Day Desolation Sound | 7-Day San Juan Islands | 14-Day Desolation Sound |
| Private Courses | 10-Day End of Season Hoorah | ||
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