Cruising The Beautiful Gulf Islands
The Gulf Islands
The Gulf Islands receive much summertime sun and little summertime rainfall. Water is in short supply. Boat washing is something that just isn’t done, at least in the islands themselves. Marine parks provide anchorage, mooring and docking possibilities, and facilities ashore. Private marinas run the spectrum from rustic to deluxe, many with excellent dining on-site or nearby. Navigation is straightforward, but pay attention. It’s easy to get confused, and the waters are dotted with rocks and reefs. Drop by to our marina for all your provisioning needs and answers to your questions on the Gulf Islands.
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
The Gulf Islands National Park Reserve came into being in 2004. Many former provincial parks, and most of the uninhabited islands and islets south of Active Pass, were transferred to the new national park, plus a number of other properties that were purchased.
Hope Bay Public Wharf is located on the East side of North Pender Island facing Navy Channel. Open all year, 300 feet of dock space, 2 day-use mooring buoys marked “Hope Bay Store”, If the dock is full (it often is), tie to the mooring buoys and dinghy in
Breezy Bay Saturna Island Family Estate Winery located 8 Quarry Road Saturna Island, BC. The winery and bistro are no longer open, however, visitors can hike the winery grounds and enjoy the spectacular views. Access from a small dock in Breezy Bay, just north of Croker Point.
Ganges Harbour Salt Spring Island
Ganges, at the head of Ganges Harbour, is a favourite destination. This bustling seaside village has marinas, good anchorage, shops, galleries, restaurants, and two large supermarkets with marina delivery. There is a dedicated centrally located dingy dock. Thrifty Foods is the closest to the marinas.
Ganges Kanaka Wharf Salt Spring Island
Ganges Kanaka Wharf monitors VHF 09. These docks are immediately north of the floating breakwater, with 1400 feet of visitor moorage, water, 30 amp power, and pump out. Good free Wi-Fi on the docks or from nearby cafes. Washroom, shower and garbage drop at the Harbour Authority office at Centennial Wharf, about a block away.
Silva Bay Marina & Resort Gabriola Island
Silva Bay Marina & Resort is located 3383 South Road Gabriola Island and monitors VHF 66A. Open all year with guest moorage, 30 amp & limited 100 amp power, water, garbage drop, washrooms, showers, laundry, a liquor store with snack items. Reservations are recommended.
Winter Cove, between Samuel Island and Saturna Island, has an attractive park (part of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve) on the Saturna Island side, and a shallow anchorage. We think the best anchorages are behind Winter Point, north of the cable line, or just off the National Park Reserve lands.
Cabbage Island is open all year, with 10 mooring buoys, toilets, no water and no showers. Dogs must be on a leash. It was reported that several of the buoys were out of place, making some of them potentially unusable.
Tumbo Island, privately owned until recently, is now part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. Dogs must be on a leash. Trials lead through the island although getting to them can be a challenge.
Page’s Resort & Marina Gabriola Island
Page’s Resort & Marina is located at 3350 Coast Road, Gabriola Island Monitors VHF 66A. Open all year, visitor moorage was expanded in 2015 and accommodates yachts up to 65 feet. Mid-grade marine gasoline and diesel at the fuel dock, 30 amp power, washrooms, showers, laundry, garbage, recycling, bicycle and scooter rentals, ice, free Wi-Fi.
Degnen Bay, on Gabriola Passage at the south end of Gabriola Island, is a good anchorage but a little crowded with boats on moorings. Entering Degnen Bay, favour the east side, close to Josef Point, to avoid rocks in the middle.
Sturdies Bay, on Galiano Island toward the eastern end of Active Pass, is a landing for ferries coming to and from Tsawwassen and continuing on to the other Gulf Islands. A public float is alongside the ferry dock. The community of Sturdies Bay, just up the road, has a grocery store, shops and a post office.
Pirates Cove Marine Park De Courcy Island
Pirates Cove is open all year, campsites, pit toilets, hand pump water (boil before use) on the south beach, no other facilities. It’s a lovely little harbour, protected from seas but not all winds, with room for many boats (on a short scope). 24 mooring rings for stern-ties are set into the sandstone cliffs that encircle the bay.
Victoria International Marina Gateway to the Southern Gulf Islands
With Victoria International Marina as your home port, plan a sought-after trip to the Southern Gulf Islands where history, nature and adventure await. There are 5 major Gulf Islands, Salt Spring Island, Mayne Island, Saturna Island, Pender Island, and Galiano Island.
Lyall Harbour on Saturna Island, is a large, well-protected anchorage, with a ferry landing and store near the entrance. Nearby Boot Cove is a beautiful spot with anchorage in 12 to 18 feet.
Montague Harbour is a popular stopping spot in the central Gulf Islands. It is well protected and has an outstanding marine park. Depending on wind direction, you can find good anchorages around the bay.
Irish Bay Anchorage and Samuel Island
Nestled in the middle of the Gulf Islands, halfway between the Victoria International Marina and Vancouver is a teardrop anchorage that can accommodate all sizes of yachts. Irish Bay is located on the SW side of Samuel Island and affords good protection from all winds, even a winter’s SE gale.
North Cove Anchorage Thetis Island
North Cove indents the north end of Thetis Island and is a good anchorage, although it is open to northwesterly winds. A substantial rock breakwater protects a price float and boathouse at Fraser Point, the entrance to North Cove.
Prevost Island is a favourite of many. Annette Inlet and Glenthorne Passage, on the northwest end, are particularly attractive. The bays indenting from the southeast also look inviting, but with a southeastern always possible and with ferry traffic flying by in Swanson Channel.
Conover Cove Wallace Island Marine Park
A reef directly offshore from the entrance to Conover Cove on Wallace Island can be avoided by going around either end. Especially from the southeast, give the reef ample room.
Princess Cove is just northwest of Conover Cove and has room for quite a few boats to anchor. Mooring eyes for stern-ties, usually marked with red or yellow-painted arrows, are set in the rock along the shoreline.
Annette Inlets is a little wider than Glenthorne Passage, with few houses and a good sandy beach at the head. As you approach, note the charted rock that dries at 0.9 meters, off the mouth of the inlet.
Picnic tables and toilet, camping in 7 sites, ideal for kayakers. Dogs must be on a leash. Beautiful Narvaez Bay indents the rock cliffs on the south shore of Saturna Island and is open to southeasterly winds and the wakes of passing ship traffic in Boundary Pass.
The De Courcy Group has several interesting small anchorages. Whale Boat Island, just off the southeast shore of Ruxton Island, is a relatively undeveloped provincial park. The preferred anchorage is south of the island, taking care to avoid a drying rock
Horton Bay. The public wharf is a Canpass/Nexus-only customs reporting station and has room for up to 320 feet of moorage. Entering the area between Mayne and Samuel Islands requires some care but is completely navigable.
Lyall Harbour on Saturna Island, is a large, well-protected anchorage, with a ferry landing and store near the entrance. Nearby Boot Cove is a beautiful spot with anchorage in 12 to 18 feet
Montague Harbour is a popular stopping spot in the central Gulf Islands. It is well protected and has an outstanding marine park. Depending on wind direction, you can find good anchorages around the bay.
Port Browning Marina Pender Island
Port Browning Marina Pender Island monitors VHF 66A. The marina is open all year, 3000 feet of guest moorage, 15 & 30 amp power, free Wi-Fi, ATM, excellent washrooms, laundry, launch ramp, seasonal swimming pool, beer & wine sales. Kayak and SUP rentals.
Poets Cove Resort in Bedwell Harbour Pender Island
Poets Cove Marina is open all year, gasoline, diesel, and ice at the fuel dock. Guest moorage to 100 feet in 95 slips and side tie, 30 amp power. If slips are filled, a floating dock is available at a reduced rate for smaller vessels. Liquor store, cafe, pub with dining, heated pool, hot tube spa, Eucalyptus steam cave, fitness center and free Wi-Fi.
Otter Bay Marina is located at 2311 McKinnon Road North Pender Island and monitors VHF 66A. Moorage opens all year, full services May 15 to September 30th. Washrooms, showers, laundry, 15 & 30 amp power, 50 amp power on “A” dock, launch ramp, gazebo, children’s play area, two heated pools, free Wi-Fi. Scooters for rent.
Formerly Princess Margaret Provincial Marine Park. Open all year, picnic and campsites, toilets, no other facilities. Dogs must be on a leash and cleaned up after. In honour of her last visit to Victoria, Portland Island was donated to Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret, who later deeded the island to BC.
Aerial photograph of the anchorage at Russell Island, Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. Russell Island is just outside Fulford Harbour. Anchorage on the northwest side of the island, fair holding, with views of mountains above Fulford Harbour.
Open all year, anchoring only, campsites and a pit toilet. This is a small, undeveloped, and very pretty park with a walking trail and beaches. Dogs must be on a leash. Rum Island is located at the east end of Gooch Island (private), where Prevost Passage meets Haro Strait.
