Sailing Log

Last week Great Bear Charters took their guests to the San Juan Islands.  There was plenty of sunshine, laughter, old growth trees, sandy beaches, mountain views and wildlife to explore for these curious little ones.

Sailing up to the San Juan Islands aboard Singawing with Great Bear Charters.

Climbing trees on Sucia Island.

Skipping rocks in the San Juan Islands.

Felled old growth tree on Stuart Island.

Holding hands on a hike along the shore.

Observing and discovering in the San Juan Islands with Great Bear Charters.

The Great Bear Charters‘ crew members are preparing for a busy season.  Here is Nicole cleaning the spreaders on Singawing.  In three weeks Great Bear Charters will be kicking off the season with a private charter to the Gulf Islands for two wonderful families on a sailing vacation.

Great Bear Charters Crew prepares for private yacht sailing charters this season.

Great Bear Charters brings you to unique harbors and inlets that allow you the experience of beauty and natural wonder in pristine Pacific Northwest locations.  Here is the schooner, Singawing, shore tied in Desolation Sound.

Singawing shore tied in Desolation Sound during a private yacht vacation with Great Bear Charters.

A family chartered vacation aboard Singawing is a child’s paradise.  Great Bear Charters provides a unique adventure within a comfortable cozy sailing schooner.  Magical moments such as discovering a purple starfish, smelling Andrea Knutson‘s homemade cookies, reaching out to a seal, or curling up under a blanket to watch the sunset brings joy to children of all ages.  Catching a fish for the first time, waking to the sights and sounds of nature in the Pacific Northwest, and exploring untouched islands are parts of the journey that a child remembers.  Parents onboard appreciate the living and moving classroom that this unrivaled vacation offers for families.  These rich experiences sailing with Great Bear Charters will be cherished for a lifetime.

Relaxing in Desolation Sound

Provincial Park, Desolation Sound

Hiking in Desolation Sound

Bed Time in the Gulf Islands

Swimming and Kayaking in Desolation Sound

This little boy caught a Ling Cod that was later grilled for a delicious dinner in the Broughton Archipelago.

It's time for a movie, after a rigorous day in the San Juan Islands.

Dixon entrance leaving Ketchikan, Alaska

Mud bath in Princess Louisa Inlet

A little girl feeds Popeye the Seal in Friday Harbor. This animal is famous in the San Juan Islands for eating fish out of people's hands.

In 2008, all of Singawing‘s sails were replaced by Northwest Sails, except for the fisherman sail.  A friend of Great Bear Charters, Scott Norrie, painted the now oldest sail with a viking skull and crossed winch handles.  The sail has since been nicknamed the Berserker, after the Norse warriers of Old Norse literature.  Here is the sail in the Presidents Channel during a private yacht charter in the northern San Juan Islands.

Great Bear Charters oldest sail, the fisherman sail, during a yacht charter in the San Juan Islands.

Singawing displays the fisherman sail during a yacht charter in the San Juan Islands.

I was amazed the first time I crossed into Canada with Great Bear Charters.  My only prior experience with customs included long lines and irritable people.  Traveling aboard Singawing into Canadian waters was a relaxing experience and a great way to kickstart a sailing adventure.

We stopped in Sydney to check with customs in route to the Gulf Islands.  We slowly motored in and tied up to the open dock with a sign that read “CUSTOMS”.  I noticed hanging flower baskets and one small telephone booth.  There was not a person in sight.  The phone is what Great Bear Charters and other boaters use to register their vessels with Canadian customs.  Great Bear Charters called to declare the necessary items onboard and the number of passengers before we were on our way to Saltspring Island.  Simple and smooth, the best way to travel.

A most relaxing border crossing with Great Bear Charters.

Here is a stunning photograph of Desolation Sound by Bettina Christine Antle.  The sound is known for having the longest drop from mountain top to sea bed in all of North America.  Well protected from development, it remains untouched with sculptural mountainscapes and wildlife abound.  A vacation aboard Great Bear Charters is a phenominal way to witness such beauty.

Desolation Sound

Ruby, Great Bear Charter’s beloved golden retriever, is healthy and strong after having surgery this fall.  She was very brave and is back to her frisky self, begging for treats in the Port of Port Townsend.  Ruby is almost 15 years old, no longer joins us on charters but still loves to sail and hike.  Here she is sailing aboard Singawing in Admiralty Inlet, enjoying a beautiful sunny fall day.

Paul Nicklen’s photograph of a Kermode Bear in the Great Bear Rainforest made the cover of National Geographic in August.  The opening sentence for the article reads; “In a moss-draped rain forest in British Columbia, towering red cedars live a thousand years, and black bears are born with white fur.”. The cover is a stunning photograph of a black bear with white fur, called a Spirit Bear by native tribes.  Paul’s intention by photographing these mysterious and unique spirit bears is to raise awareness and further protection of these extremely rare animals.  The photographs also demonstrate the majestic beauty of what is often referred to as the “last frontier”, the Great Bear Rainforest.

View Paul Nicklen’s photographs of the Spirit Bear: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/08/kermode-bear/nicklen-photography

Read the complete article: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/08/kermode-bear/barcott-text

Pacific Wild is an organization committed to protecting the Great Bear Rainforest.  If you would like to learn more about the fantastic wildlife and scenery existing there, refer to their website for photographs and videos:

http://www.pacificwild.org/

Their “Great Bear Blog” has regular updates as well.  They posted this month about working with a local elementary school, providing students with motion-centered infra-red cameras and education for further research.  What an amazing opportunity for these children, made possible by World Wildlife Fund.

Learn first hand why so many people are working to educate about and protect the Great Bear Rainforest aboard a Pacific Northwest Charter!