this is one of the best marinas I've stayed at, such a good environment, staff are great, facility…read moreis outstanding, such a great experience all around. The docks are so new.

Best marina I've ever been to. The staff is incredible - Carter is the hardest worker out there!…read moreFish tables - SO clean. Docks are super new and also SO clean! The amenities are great, they have showers, laundry, gas, and even ice cream in the summer! Definitely add Fairwinds Marina to your next trip!

Spectacular afternoon sailing on Canada's southern-most fjord with David and Crew…read more A few turns at the helm and some grinds of the winch gave me an even greater appreciation for the power of the wind and the sport of sailing. If you're visiting Squamish, this is an experience not to miss!

Wow! What an experience out on the water with Michael and Michelle! Super-friendly, engaging and…read moreentertaining - letting us get involved with crewing, grinding and unfurling the sails - in THE MOST spectacular setting. We're only giving it 5 stars because there is no option to give 10.

Beautiful evening sail with Captain Ward at 4:30. The sound really clears out at that time so you…read morehave a ton of space to enjoy the wind and water to yourselves! We have some sailing experience and we were able to man the tiller nearly the whole cruise. It was so fun to experience the islands from the water and learn about all the sailing opportunities for adventure nearby. Thank you for one of the highlights of our trip! Definitely grab dinner at the BBQ joint at the Deer Harbor Inn after your sail, hearts and bellies full!!

What a fun afternoon on the water! Captain Ward was educational and funny. We sailed around islands…read morefor which he knew all the names and history. Great time and even flew the spinnaker. Highly recommended this wonderful experience!

JSCA is a fantastic organization with a great facility located in the perfect location. Really…read moregreat events to support the local sailing / windsurfing community such as regular racing on Tuesday evenings and Sundays as well as periodic larger regattas - all for the small boats that JSCA supports - dinghies and catamarans. Really excellent staff help the clubs at JSCA support their goals and events and a very well maintained facility. Hard to be critical of these guys. Not to be confused with The Galley Patio and Grill (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/the-galley-patio-and-grill-vancouver) which is the restaurant located upstairs at the JSCA offering fantastic views, cold beers and decent pub fare (tho a bit pricey). This restaurant is an added gem and makes for the perfect end to a day of sailing sitting in the sun on the balcony sharing a pitcher. Check the JSCA website for a list of the clubs at the center or just come down and rent a boat for the day or take a lesson at Mac Sailing. Excellent and welcome community at the JSCA!

After a fun and long tennis match we decided to find a casual spot to tingle our taste buds and the…read morefun atmosphere here caught our attention. The member's only part of the patio had a band going with some drum pipes in the background. Arguably one of the best patios in the city with a non pretentious crowd all back from being on the water and needing to fill the empty stomach. We ordered the salmon burger which was although generous in size not that tasty. The fries were thick and nicely cooked so I was binging on them as opposed to my burger. All in all the food is ok, view is fantastic and the crowd is friendly.

Nat took my family out last month for an amazing half day on the water. It was truly the highlight…read moreof our month on Orcas! He has gorgeous boats but most importantly, is a very skilled sailor and guide and just such a kind human. We plan to do another sailing with Nat when we're next back on Orcas and I cannot recommend the experience highly enough!

We had an amazing lesson and a wonderful time with Orcas Island Sailing. Nat was so kind and…read morepatient in his learning style and also loads of fun. Highly recommend. We made our way over towards Blakely from the dock at Leiberhaven. Great teacher, great tkme

Under new ownership, captain Scott made me feel like part of the crew. NW sailing is classy. It was…read moregreat learning so much about weather, currents, local history, and exploring the islands. Go for a multi day charter, you do not want to miss Scott's coffee. I am a vegetarian and the food was so healthy and delicious! Scott has a clear love for sailing and sharing the islands with guests. Best vacation ever. If you are going sailing in the San Juan's don't mess with other charter companies.

Captain Scott and First Mate Todd were excellent sailors and hosts again. We have sailed with them…read more3 times now , once in the San Juan Islands and twice in the British Virgin Islands. They make sailing in the BVI easy, arranging the boat charter, provisions and details. Todd is a great cook. We always felt safe. This team is highly recommended and we will be sailing with them again.

I recently chartered a Jeanneau 440 through Island Cruising--a stunning yacht with sleek lines and…read moresuperb sailing performance. Having owned a similar vessel and chartered more times than I can count, I know what separates a top-tier charter company from a floating headache. Island Cruising, unfortunately, falls squarely into the latter. Let's start with the good: the boat itself was excellent. Well-equipped, comfortable, and ideal for a couple--or two. The twin rudders do have a knack for attracting kelp, but that's a minor quirk in an otherwise delightful sailing experience. Now, the company. Island Cruising's operations are a masterclass in how not to run a charter business. I won't echo the more colorful reviews suggesting Larry, the owner, return to South Africa--but I will say he's one of the most combative individuals I've encountered in the boating world. I understand being protective of an $800,000 yacht, but Larry's approach is less "professional caution" and more "ego on parade." When I submitted a perfectly reasonable sail plan, he pounced on the fact that it crossed ferry lanes--as if I'd never sailed from Sidney to Salt Spring before. Spoiler: you have to cross ferry lanes. His critique felt more like a self-aggrandizing performance than a concern. Ironically, in Larry's own marina, there's a submerged buoy that becomes a stealth hazard at high tide. When I asked why it hadn't been fixed, he shrugged and said he'd get to it "someday." Apparently, safety is negotiable. Our charter began with half a tank of fuel. Larry's solution? "Fill it up and I'll sort it out later." Famous last words. I trusted him and set sail. Things went smoothly until we headed from South Pender to Port Friday in the U.S.--where I discovered the boat's registration was missing. The manual said it should be in the chart table. It wasn't. I called Larry and he insisted I wasn't looking hard enough (I was). Eventually, he sent me the bill of sale, which U.S. Customs obviously deemed useless - Obviously, Larry didn't seem to know the difference between a bill or sale and a boat's registration. I had to pay a fee to enter and exit the country. Larry's response? Indifference. Would I charter from Island Cruising again? Only if I could bypass Larry entirely. His communication style is transactional at best--emails only get answered when money's involved. He charged us for linens that turned out to be torn sleeping bags, and one storage compartment was a science experiment of leaking beer cans and slime. We paid for a 4 p.m. pre-board, but Larry was still pressure-washing the deck at 5. Larry's goal is to sell the company and retire. Based on my experience, he'll need more than a mop and a smile to clean up his reputation. As of today, I've received no compensation for the fuel or customs fees, despite multiple follow-ups. In short: the boat was a dream, but the charter experience was a headache. If you value professionalism, steer clear of Island Cruising--unless you enjoy navigating bureaucracy more than the open sea.

Our third charter with Island Cruising was a great experience leading us two up the Broughton's…read moreArchipelago with the powerboat "Melisssa Ruth" covering easily 650 nm in 20 days. Though the boat had some unexpected issues Larry was permanently attainable by what's up phone and always found a solution. After a challenging journey passing twice the Seymour Narrows and the Johnstone Strait we returned safe and in time. I'd like to add that the homebase Deep Cove Marina has quite a tricky approach due to some large rocks and can be reached only with a tide over 2m and best with very low or no wind. In doubts fix the boat at a buoy and ask for help. Larry will give his best to assist you.

This is a 1925 era schooner you can charter for a private sale…read more Run by a non profit group whose objective is to keep her sailing We had a perfect afternoon

Captain Mark was delightful. He obviously loves to sail and shares his knowledge and passion. He is…read moreboth charming and personable. Prices were reasonable and the boat is well kept. I would highly recommend Penn Cove Sailing and Captain Mark for any adventure.