SERVICES AND HELPFUL HINTS

SERVICES IN THE COMOX VALLEY

ACCOMMODATION   The Comox Valley has a wide variety of accommodations including Hotels & Motels, Bed & Breakfasts, Hostels & Guest Houses, Chalets & Condos and Resorts & Campgrounds.  For details check out the BC Accommodation Guide at www.HelloBC.com . 

DINING OUT   The Valley also boasts more than 80 restaurants offering everything from a casual family meal to an elegant candle-lit dinner.

Please contact the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce for details:
        2040 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC   V9N 2L3
        Phone: 1-888-357-4471    or    (250) 334-3234        Fax: 334-4908
        email:  chamber@mars.ark.com
        web site:  www.tourism-comox-valley.bc.ca 

RENTALS

Sleeping bags, quilts, sheet sets, towels, foul weather gear and coolers are all available for rent on a first come basis.  All rentals are subject to 7% PST and 5% GST.

  ***Rentals are limited so be sure to book early to ensure you get first choice.***

OUTSIDE RENTALS

If you're interested in Sea Kayak rentals, call Comox Valley Kayaks (250) 334-2628 or email them at info@comoxvalleykayaks.com.  They deliver the kayak(s) to your yacht on the appointed day and pick them up at the end of your charter.  NOTE:  All of our yachts are capable of carrying a kayak, some better than others, depending on the size of the kayak.  Keep this in mind when choosing your yacht.  Check out their website at www.comoxvalleykayaks.com .

PROVISIONING

 Full provisioning service is available for charters of 6 days duration or more, minimum 4 people, for $27 per day per person, plus 5% GST. Our provisioning plan supplies you with an excellent selection of meats, fish and the freshest of fruits and vegetables from our local markets.  These markets also make it easy for you to do your own provisioning upon arrival.  Provisioning requests must be made and paid for 30 days in advance of your charter.

SAMPLE MENU

FIRST DAY

BREAKFAST - Juice, Fresh Fruit Slices and Muffins
LUNCH - Variety of Cold Cuts, Bread, Tomato Slices and Carrot Sticks
HAPPY HOUR SNACK - Potato Chips
DINNER - Grilled Fish, Rice and Tossed Salad

SECOND DAY

BREAKFAST - Melon Wedge, Scrambled Eggs, Sausage Links
LUNCH - Ham and Cheese Sandwiches with Fresh Vegetable Sticks
HAPPY HOUR SNACK - Corn Chips & Salsa
DINNER - BBQ Hamburgers, Lettuce, Tomato Slices

THIRD DAY

BREAKFAST - Juice and Cereal Topped with Bananas
LUNCH - Variety of Cold Cuts, Bread, Tomato Slices and Carrot Sticks
HAPPY HOUR SNACK - Cheese and Crackers
DINNER - BBQ Chicken Breast, Steamed Vegetables and Pasta Salad

FOURTH DAY

BREAKFAST - Yogurt with Fresh Fruit
LUNCH - Tuna Salad Plate with Vegetable Slices, Bread
HAPPY HOUR SNACK - Corn Chips and Salsa
DINNER - BBQ Steak, Baked Potato, Broccoli, Tossed Salad with Dressing

FIFTH DAY

BREAKFAST - Fresh Fruit Slices with Muffins
LUNCH - Tuna Bunwiches, Cookies
HAPPY HOUR SNACK - Crudités with Dip
DINNER - BBQ Salmon Steaks, Rice with Tossed Salad

SIXTH DAY

BREAKFAST - Juice, Ham and Cheese Omelette
LUNCH - Chefs Salad and Crackers
HAPPY HOUR SNACK - Cheese and Crackers
DINNER - Pork Chops, Rice, Glazed Carrots and Tossed Salad

HELPFUL HINTS

PLANNING YOUR CRUISE   An excellent planning book is 'Desolation Sound & the Discovery Islands' by Anne & Laurence Yeadon-Jones, cost $C49.95, or 'Cruising Desolation Sound and the Discovery Islands' by Bill Wolferstan, cost $C44.95, plus postage, handling and taxes.  Both are well-presented with excellent descriptions of anchorages, facilities, points of interest and historical background.  The yachts are equipped with publications and charts needed for cruising Desolation Sound and Princess Louisa Inlet.  If you plan to extend your cruise far beyond these areas, you may require additional charts which can be obtained from us, if you wish.  If your plans are to see the Sunshine Coast and Princess Louisa Inlet, Anne & Laurence Yeadon-Jones have authored 'Vancouver, Howe Sound & the Sunshine Coast', cost $C49.95, that you may find helpful.  For those venturing north of Desolation Sound, 'North of Desolation Sound' by Peter Vassilopoulos, cost $C46.95, is a great planning tool.  Anne & Laurence Yeadon-Jones have yet another volume 5 entitled 'The Broughtons', cost $C49.95, in the same familiar format.   An annual publication from Robert Hale & Co. Inc. is the 'Waggoner Cruising Guide'.  This publication also has lots of valuable information relating to cruising the Pacific Northwest, including Princess Louisa Inlet, Desolation Sound, and North, cost $US19.95.

WHAT TO BRING   Our yachts are equipped with everything you need to sail, navigate and cook.  All you need to bring is your bedding, personal towels, groceries, beverages and personal belongings.  For those wine connoisseurs, you might like to bring along some wine glasses.  BINOCULARS are also handy items to have on your cruise.  You should bring blue jeans or slacks, shorts, a warm sweater or jacket, foul weather gear, soft soled deck shoes (no black soled runners please), suntan lotion and a hat.  DON'T FORGET YOUR CAMERA.  NO PETS PLEASE.

'NO TOW' POLICY   Desolation Sound Yacht Charters has a 'no tow' policy.  If you plan to bring your own dinghy, please let us know in advance what it is to avoid disappointment.  Our boats, particularly our power boats, are not set up for towing larger dinghies.

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Last Updated:   January 3, 2008
Authored by Desolation Sound Yacht Charters Ltd.