The May Long Weekend Cruise is a Viking tradition. It’s 3 days of sailing, good food & drink, and getting to know your fellow club members. If you’re new to the club it’s absolutely the best way to get to know other sailors. You don’t need to know anything about sailing – there are plenty of others who do and will be happy to teach you as we go!
Friday Night
On Friday night everyone will make their way to Sidney. If you’re walking on the ferry you should try to share a taxi from the terminal to the Port Sidney Marina. Once you’ve stowed your gear we’ll meet at the Rumrunner Pub for a bite to eat and a drink or two. That night we sleep on our boats at the marina.
Saturday
Saturday morning we’re off first thing on our way to Wallace Island. Wallace is a Viking favourite as it gives us a chance to anchor and raft the flotilla, which means you can walk from one boat to another. Wallace is also host to some great walks to stretch your sea legs.
Sunday
On Sunday we’ll make our way back towards Vancouver Island to dock in the village of Cowichan Bay. There are hot showers, restaurants, and shops. Each crew will be able to decide if they want to eat on the boat or head to one of the local establishments for dinner. We’ll be moored in a fishing village in the middle of the spot prawn season … there are possibilities!
Monday
On Monday we’ll make our way back to the Sidney Marina. We usually aim to get back mid-to-late afternoon, so plan your trip accordingly. You should speak with your skipper if you want to make a ferry reservation.
Boats
This year we have three boats chartered: Freya, our lovely club boat, Margaridaville, a Bavaria 40, and Halo, a DuFour 425.
Costs
Cost is a very reasonable $350 for Members (Non-Members $365) which includes all boat charter fees. If you bring two guests we’ll reduce the guest fee $350 each.
The cost of groceries and moorage is shared with each crew. These costs are relatively modest (basically 3 days of groceries plus ~$20-30 for docking and extras). Beverages (especially alcohol) are left to the individual, as everyone has their own taste.
Food & Cooking
All charter sailboats are equipped with a full, but small, kitchen (most have a barbecue). The logistics of grocery shopping, assigning responsibility for meal preparation and cost sharing are managed by your skipper and will be discussed at the cruise planning meeting scheduled on May 10 in the Jericho NW Room at 7:00pm.
What to Bring
You should bring enough comfortable clothes to last you three days. Remember that it is colder on the water than it is on land, and it’s much easier to get a sunburn. Check out our list of gear for overnight cruises.
How to Sign Up
Download this form and send it in to Ron Thiessen. If you have questions you can contact me directly.