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Prepare For Your Charter

Before you Arrive

 

 Island Cruising

 

Before arriving at our base for your charter vacation it pays to be prepared.  One of the best ways to do that is knowledge of the local cruising area and anchorages.

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Dreamspeaker Cruising Guides are ideal for getting the inside scoop on must see sights and local amenities.  All our yachts are equipped with a copy of this cruising guide for the sailing area.

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Contact Island Cruising to order your Dreamspeaker Cruising Guide.

Day of Arrival

 

 Island Cruising

 

Before heading down to the marina please stop in at the office to complete your check out paperwork and provide your damage deposit.  If you are Pre-Boarding after hours please contact the office prior to arrival to arrange access to the vessel and marina.

 

After completion of the paperwork you can head down to OUR Marina.

 

Prepared for orientation, please have your itinerary ready to show along with your first days voyage  marked on the chart, including tides, wind and timing of your exit and entry of docking. 

Major Hazards

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Running Aground can be expensive-expensive enough for a couple

of local charter companies compare notes about groundings.  The

findings are startling.  Almost all of their accidents occurred repeatedly

at on of 9 places in the Gulf Islands.  The most notorious "keel-biting"

rocks lurk in the waters around Enterprise Reef, Porlier Pass, Clam

Bay, Danger Reefs, Pylades Island, Ruxton Pass, Pirates Cove,

Rogers Reef, Silva Bay and Gabriola Reefs.

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In most cases, the navigational errors were identical.  Most accidents

occurred at or near low tide, the skipper was "cutting the corner" rather

than navigating mid-channel, and was not on deck at the time of the

accident.

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Here are the locations, dangers, navigation aids and a cautionary not for each site.  Bear in mind that the cautions are merely admonishments - you must use current charts and publications for your navigation.

Navionics App

 

For your IPad or mobile phone   

 

Download this App and you are able to do route panning at home with the family for your next charter. You can review tides, wind and distances and info on each marina or anchorages.

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Paper charts are aboard all yachts for the cruising areas. Review the Hazards below. 

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You may not move the yacht without a detailed route plan !  .......tides, wind, currents and hazards on route, no exceptions............

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PredictWind App

For your IPad or mobile phone   

PredictWind is the only company in the world that runs their own global weather model at 50km resolution with 2 sources. In addition 1km / 8km resolution forecasts are generated for popular regions around the world.

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Anchor Watch App

For your IPad or mobile phone  

Your anchor watch for a peaceful night's sleep

Safe Boating Guide

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Download the new Safe Boating Guide today!

Welcome to the SAFE BOATING GUIDE. Transport Canada publishes this resource to make sure that you know the regulations that apply to boating and that you learn more about safe and responsible boating practices. 

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Download the new Safe Boating Guide today!

 

Pleasure Craft Operator Card

 

Proof of Competency:

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Everyone who operates a power-driven boat in Canada needs proof of competency — something that shows they understand the rules of the road and how to safely operate a boat. The most common proof of competency is the Pleasure Craft Operator Card. You can get one by passing an accredited boating safety test.

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Proof of Competency:

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Non-Residents of Canada Non-residents may demonstrate proof of competency by providing proof of competency from their own country or by completing a Rental Boat Safety Check List

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The Canadian Aids to Navigation

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The Canadian Aids to Navigation System is comprised of a mix of visual (lateral and car- dinal), aural and electronic aids to navigation. Visual aids are short range aids to navigation including buoys, daybeacons, daymarks and lights. In Canada, a combined Lateral-Cardinal system of visual aids is used.

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Every Charter Includes

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  • ​Sleeping Bag 

  • Bed Linen

  • Towels

  • Wet Weather Gear

  • PFD's (Adult sizes only) Ask about Child sizes

  • Safety Harnesses

  • Starter Package

  • Ask about Bedding options

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International Proficiency Certificate

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Is it required?

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ASA strongly recommends you apply for an International Proficiency Certificate if you are chartering in the Mediterranean as well as the inland waterways of Europe and northern Europe.

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Who can get one?

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Only sailors who have been certified through ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising can get the International Proficiency Certificate by completing the application online .  The IPC is valid for 5 years from the date of issue.

The IPC is accepted in the following countries:

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Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom & Turkey.

Raising a Cruising Chute

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Check out this YouTube video on how to raise a cruising chute.

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Communication at sea

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InReach

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In today's world of communication, its best you get in early. InReach offers you a great tracking and Text program for very reasonable pricing. Allow family and friends to track you from home and text them from the most remote locations

 

Iridium Phone

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Somewhat more expensive with full internet connectivity coming soon. 

 

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