DeAnza III Charter Destinations
We will create the itinerary to match your desires. Contact us and we will work together to show you our great cruising grounds. View a list of possible destinations in the side-bar at left. These are just suggestions, we will customize your yacht charter for the adventure you desire.
Inn at Port Ludlow
Our base is the Port Ludlow Marina, just in front of the Inn. The Inn at Port Ludlow offers a warm start or finish to your charter.
San Juan Islands:
Friday Harbor: Dock or anchor (space available). Friday Harbor is the largest town on San Juan Island. It offers many fine restaurants, shops and bookstores. Interesting people, ferry and boat watching. It has a large super market and is a great place to provision. A good place to rendezvous with DeAnza if flying in via Kenmore Air.
Roche Harbor: Dock or anchor. Originally built by the McMillian family to support the lime kilns and quarries. Fine cuisine in the dining room. The Lime Kiln Café is pleasant for lighter meals. If moored at the dock benefits include the swimming pool and all the resort amenities. Great place for people watching. A few shops of local artists. Kenmore Air Service here
Rosario Resort: Dock only. Dine ashore at one of the three restaurants. A good place for hiking in the State Park with access to the tallest peak in the San Juans – Mount Constitution. Use of the resort facilities including the hot tub.
Westcott Bay: Anchor only. Crabbing. That’s the name of the game here. View a working oyster farm where you can buy oysters, clams and mussels.
Spencer Spit: Anchor only. A good place for a beach fire. Great walks on the beach to view the many wildlife that frequent here. Peaceful.
Other outstanding stops to consider include:
Mud Bay: Anchor only
East Sound: Anchor only
Deer Harbor: Dock or anchor
Fisherman’s Bay: Anchor only
Canadian Gulf Islands:
Sidney: Dock only. Customs. A great little town! Many book stores. A great tabacco store for your Cuban cigars (if you smoke) The best grocery store in North America (my opinion) for provisioning. Many great restaurants, shops, whatever you need or want in a great atmosphere.
Ganges, Salt Spring Island: Dock or anchor. A must on a Saturday morning is the Saturday market. Many local artists, crafts, and produce available. Many fine restaurants, shops, ice cream parlors, bakeries, and a large lavender farm and of course, people watching. Make sure you exchange a couple of bucks for the local currency for a souvenir. Salt Spring Island has its own currency – par with the Canadian dollar.
Montague Harbor: Dock or anchor. A wonderful place to hike and see nature’s bounty including (maybe) Bald Eagles, Dahle Porpoise, River Otters and Harbor Seals. Rent a moped at the local store and explore.
Pender Island: Dock or anchor. Poet’s Cove: Spa, Elegant dining, Swimming pool. Browning Harbor: Tennis courts, Swimming pool, Port Browning Pub, Dockside Bistro
The Gulf Islands offer a world apart. There are so many options -- we’ll talk about what is best for you and what you want.
Desolation Sound: A Marine Provincial Park
Desolation is our favorite location, bar none. Narrow fjord-like waterways among densely forested, 5000 to 7000 foot mountains. Best of all, the warmest water north of Mexico. The water temp is 70 degrees and can reach 80 degrees in July and August.
April Point: Dock only. A great place to get started. Come by Kenmore Air or spend three days aboard DeAnza getting here. April Point offers a great spa and fine dining. Crabbing in the bay next door. Across the channel from Campbell River, and enjoy the shuttle to Painter’s Lodge and the use of the pool. This is a good stepping stone to salmon fishing. Either hire a local guide or we'll take you to the same places to catch dinner (hopefully)
Mink Island: Anchor only. A private island with quiet anchorage. We know the only (secret) spot to get clams in Desolation near here. A quick hop in the dinghy to Refuge Cove. A fun community with a small café, ice cream, a small store but one place you don’t want to miss.
Dent Island: Dock only. The best dining in the neighborhood. Let’s take the dingy and experience the rapids and tidal flows in the area. It’s thrilling and exciting (and safe). Moorage includes use of hot tub, sauna and exercise facilities. Access to a great hiking trail.
Prideaux Haven: A major stomping ground for all the cruisers. A popular spot for cruisers, therefore a great place to view all types of boats. Want shrimp – no lie -- we actually pulled 300 shrimp in one pull after the trap was set for only six hours here. Again, lets take the dingy to some hiking trails that border fresh water lakes (maybe take a dip?). We can meet you here should you want to fly up on Kenmore Air.
There are too many spots to describe here, including, but are not limited to:
The Sunshine Coast
Pendrell Sound
Roscoe Bay
Melanie and Laura Coves
Tenedos Bay
We’ve tried to give you a taste of the cruising grounds in our area. What we have listed is just a sampling of the great scenery, wildlife expectations, etc. It is endless and no one will ever experience it all in one lifetime.