Charter Guide

Away From It All...

Pacific Northwest British Columbia & Alaska

48° North’s Charter Guide 2010

Chartering serves as a means to

cruise destinations you would never have a chance to see from your own boat. If you’re a day sailor or a club sailor, chartering gets you into a larger boat for more extended cruising. And compared to owning a boat, chartering is cheap. If you’re unfamiliar with the Pacific

Northwest, a good charter company can help you arrange an itinerary that fits your vacation time and experience level or furnish you with a skipper/ guide. The basic ingredients will be the same: island hopping, leisurely cruising through sparkling blue water, anchoring in sheltered coves under a star-filled night sky, but mostly, it’s about stepping into the slow pace of island time. When considering a charter

vacation, you have two basic options: bareboat or skippered. Like everything with boats, there are advantages and disadvantages to either choice, and there are variations of each.

48° NORTH, APRIL 2010 PAGE 32

Why charter in the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia

and Alaska? Simply, few places on earth combine the safety of cruising protected waters with the sheer natural beauty found in this region. The diversity of cruising destinations is awe inspiring. The verdant islands and cozy harbors of the San Juan Islands and the

Canadian Gulf Islands beckon from nearby Anacortes and Bellingham. The quaint British Columbia capital, Victoria, and the bustling metropolitan area of

Vancouver, B.C., are only an easy afternoon sail away. The more rugged and isolated Desolation and Barkley Sounds are well within reach if you have a couple of weeks.

Cruise-And-Learn

You also may want to consider

a cruise-and-learn charter, which is a variation of the skippered charter. Instead of being a guest, however, you are an active part of the crew, taking part in all aspects of the trip, from trimming sails to navigating to cooking. The goal is to teach you how to sail. The skipper acts as instructor. If future charter plans include bareboat- ing, a cruise-and-learn is an excellent way to prepare for the day when you just throw off the dock lines and head out on your own.

Price

How much does it cost to charter?

Once you choose a boat, the charter company will give you an exact price. Be sure to ask about liability insurance, security deposits and other costs that may not be included in the quoted price. These may include cleaning charges, fuel, chase boats and sales tax. Add Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96