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Our three stop Sunshine Coast cruise began on Friday, August 16 with the arrival of three boats at the Garden Bay Pub & Marina in Pender Harbour. Bacalao, Panache and Me Shell all settled in to the dock before gathering for heavy appetizers aboard Bacalao that evening. Hosts Martin & Katherine, Bill & Guest Dan and Steve & Michelle were joined by Ed & Diane who had arrived by land since Papa D’Eau was permanently moored nearby. Everyone enjoyed cocktails and great food while getting to know each other better. One of the advantages of a smaller cruise
Saturday was mostly a day to explore Pender Harbour and to pick up any last minute provisions for those going further north. Steve & Michelle picked up members of their crew who had flown in from California to join them on their Desolation South cruise. Later the 8 of us onboard boats dinghied over to the docks below the Grasshopper Pub. After a monumental hike uphill we met up with Ed & Diane and enjoyed great wine and craft beer with our pub dinner enjoying the view over the harbour. We said our goodbyes to the crew onboard Me Shell and Panache who would be continuing north the next day.
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On Sunday, Bacalao headed out early and was joined by Papa D’Eau enroute to Bowen Island. It was a bit of a windy and rocky ride from the mouth of Pender Harbour south to Gower Point where both boats opted to tuck in to the lee of Bowen Island. From there it was smooth sailing into the Union Steamship Company Marina in Snug Cove where Gran Marnie-Eh was already docked with co-hosts Richard & Marnie onboard. After settling in and shopping for dinner the 6 of us enjoyed a salmon and steak meal onboard Gran Marnie-Eh courtesy of the Club. The next morning some of us took advantage of the fine weather to hike around nearby Killarney Lake. After an afternoon on our own exploring the shops nearby we enjoyed a tasting at the Copper Spirit Distillery followed by a communal supper at the iconic Doc Morgan’s Pub.
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After bidding adieu to Papa D’Eau Tuesday morning, Gran Marnie-Eh and Bacalao continued to the last stop of the cruise in False Creek where Katherine & Martin anchored out and Richard & Marnie returned to their home port. The 4 of us enjoyed another evening of beautiful weather overlooking False Creek from Mahoneys Pub. The next morning we were treated to a bespoke tour of the Vancouver Maritime Museum where Richard, a long time museum volunteer, gave us the insider scoop on the history and operation of the St. Roch, a former RCMP expedition ship.
Overall we lucked out with the good weather and generally favourable seas. With such a small group of cruisers it was a wonderful opportunity to get to know cruisers we had met and briefly chatted with at bigger events previously
Some great photos of all of the Sunshine Coast Cruise activities are available on our Photo Album page, or via the links below: