Join us this June on an incredible journey through the Magical Gulf Islands!

When:

June 17-21, 2019

Monday June 17th - 1 PM

Friday June 21st - Approx 11AM

What:

4night/5 day sailing adventure through the Entire Gulf Islands.

Where:

Our Adventure begins in Nanaimo, And Ends in Sidney

Monday June 17th Board Hopscotch at 1PM in Nanaimo

Friday June 21st Depart Hopscotch at 11AM at Port Sidney Marina

Who:

The Rose Party

You will join Captain Brendan and Chef Bri as the sail you through the incredible Gulf Islands aboard 50’ foot long sailing vessel Hopscotch.

 "Slow Travel" and THE THREE "W"S

We want you to remember your time in the Islands as one of the most wonderful and relaxing adventures of your life. We have a schedule that we "try" to stick to, but we almost never do entirely. 

The main reason we don't is because of the "Three W's": Wind, Weather, and Whales!

This usually means that we are having too much fun sailing, watching whales, or enjoying a lazy day on the beach to hurry off to our next stop, so we are flexible and always try to make the best of any situation that comes our way!  

THOUGHTS ON WHALES

The question we get the most is: "Will we see whales?" The answer is: "We can guarantee a possibility of seeing whales."

The whales of the Salish Sea (particularly  the Orca members of the J,K, and L pod) are in a very difficult situation right now. There are a number of factors that are contributing to their current situation, and we want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Our trips are not focused on seeing these whales, but when the opportunity presents itself, we certainly try to see them. Viewing whales in the wild is one of the most spectacular experiences you can have, and we love to share this with our guests in hopes that our passion and concern can spread further through their network of friends, and maybe this can lead to understanding and action on a larger scale. 

One factor that is certainly not helping the situation for orcas is noise. You can read all about how noise pollution affects, communication, hunting, and travel for Killer Whales.  We have a simple philosophy when we encounter whales, and it's just one small thing we can do to try and help: 

"SEE WHALES, RAISE SAILS"

(*and turn off the engine)

Our Schedule

Please note: When you arrive in Nanaimo the Hopscotch Crew will be busy provisioning/cleaning/and prepping the boat for your adventure on board. You'll likely see Hopscotch at the Marina in front of town.  It's quite possible that you'll see Brendan or Bri running around town too gathering supplies! Feel free to come say "Hi"!... but unfortunately we won't be able to stow any of your luggage or have you on board yet, as we will be in the middle of many projects preparing for your adventure!

• DAY 1: MOnday 

  • Board Hopsctoch at 9:30 AM. We will be coordinating exactly where we meet (which dock number, etc) the evening before. But it will be near the main Nanaimo Guest Dock Marina

  • We will need to arrive at Dodd Narrow just before 10:40 am to make our “Tide Gate”.

  • Once through the narrows we will set sail and make our way to Pirates Cove Provincial Park! Pirates Cove is a magical spot with great trails to explore, exceptional kayaking and paddle boarding, and surprisingly warm water to swim in!

• Day 2: Tuesday

  • We’ll depart Pirates Cove and sail south to Wallace Island Provincial Park! WI is another one of Brendan’s favorite places! It’s a very tight anchorage that again has spectacular trails, and paddling!

  • Depending on the wind and our moods we may stop at Thetis Island for a quick milkshake break (Best Milkshakes in Canada!)

• Day 3: Wednesday

  • We depart WI and head to the awesome town of Ganges! Ganges is small and quaint, and we will dock right off the main town. This afternoon/evening is all yours to explore and eat on your own at one of the many restaurants!

• Day 4: Thursday

  • We’ll depart Ganges and sail south toward Portland Island…a magical island that is entirely a provincial park! The beaches and trails on Portland island are spectacular for exploring!

• Day 5: Friday

  • After a great last breakfast we will sail south to Port Sidney Marina, arriving at approx. 11 am. to say our farewells!

Logistics

• What to Bring:

• MOST IMPORTANTLY: PLEASE PACK YOUR ITEMS IN SOFT-SIDED LUGGAGE (IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STORE SUITCASES AND HARD SIDED LUGGAGE ON BOARD)

  • In the Summer we recommend packing like you are going to San Francisco in the Summer Time! Most of the time shorts and a t-shirt or sweatshirt will be perfect. Evenings you may want pants or sweats. We value comfort over style on Hopscotch, and nobody is going to judge you for wearing the same thing twice (or all week!).

  • Shoes, or barefoot is fine on board. On land, tennis shoes, are usually great. Hiking boots are not really necessary in the Islands. Flip flops are great for the Islands, but we don't recommend wearing them on board (too many things to get caught on).

  • We have plenty of sunscreen, and extra toiletries on board, but please feel free to bring your own as well!

  • Unfortunately Hair Dryers and Electric (plug in) Razors tend to use a lot of electricity so we try to minimize use of those...but every other day we are at a Marina with shower facilities.

  • Please bring any Alcohol you wish to consume. Alcohol is available for purchase in Friday Harbor, Roche Harbor, and Rosario Resort.

• Other Expenses: Prices include all food (you are responsible for Your meals while in Nanaimo/Sidney, and one meal "out on the town" in Ganges), beverages, gear, and supplies. You will need to make travel arrangements to and from Nanaimo/Sidney. Prices do not include any of the following (if you choose to): alcohol, anything you wish to purchase on land, or crew gratuities.

• Gratuity: In the Charter Industry, if service was excellent, it is customary to leave a %15-20 Gratuity on the total cost of the Charter. If service was less than excellent, we ask that you speak with us about it.

BOOKING AND CANCELLATION POLICY

• To secure and confirm your Charter, we require that you make a 50% deposit (of the price of your Charter) upon Booking.

• Your remaining balance (50%) is due 90 days prior to your Charter start date. Due March 17th, 2019

• Prior to 90 days ( to your charter start date) you can cancel your trip and receive the full 50% refund of your deposit.

• If you cancel a charter is within 90 days of the start of your charter we will not be able to refund any amount. However we will work with you to re-book your trip for a later date/season.

IT IS OUR GOAL AND EXPECTATION TO GIVE YOU A TRIP OF A LIFETIME. EMERGENCIES HAPPEN, AND SCHEDULES CHANGE. WE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO COME UP WITH THE BEST OUTCOME POSSIBLE.

TO BOOK YOUR SAN JUAN ISLAND ADVENTURE, PLEASE GIVE US A CALL: 206-755-5786, OR EMAIL: SNWHOPSCOTCH@GMAIL.COM