Sailing Tours

You will immerse yourself into an experience like never before, calming the mind while heightening the senses, disengaging from the busy man-made world to instead feel the natural one. These trips will leave an enduring impression of awe and respect for our natural world and a feeling of gratitude for the experience.
1 day

Sailing Experience

read more
3 day

Sailing Adventure

read more
5/7 day

Sailing Expedition

read more

5/7 day

Sailing Expedition

available dates
contact us
duration &
start/end point

5/7-days & 4/6-nights. Cortes Island, + *Quadra Island or Lund if private group.

includes

Sailing excursion with instructions on a Beneteau Oceanis 400. All high-quality meals with desserts, full bedding & towels. More time to relax vs. a course.

5-day or 7-day non-private
$1800 or $2450 CAD/person (double occupancy) for the aft-cabin.

$1950 or $2750 CAD/person (double occupancy) for forward-cabin with private washroom. Max. 4 guests.

private trip

$1440 CAD/day. Maximum of 4 guests. Private cabin with private washroom & private cabin with shared washroom.

Available dates - 2024:
  • June 3-7 (Available 4/4)
  • 7-Days June 16-22 (Available 4/4)
  • July 22-26 (Available 4/4)
  • August 5-9 (Available 4/4)
  • August 19-23 (Available 4/4)
  • 7-Days September 1-7 (Available 4/4)
calma-sailing-5t-explore-British-Columbia-on-a-sailboat
calma-sailing-5t-discover-BC-sailing
calma-sailing-5t-sailing-holidays-British-columbia
calma-sailing-5t-british-columbia-coast
calma-sailing-5t-2-sailing-trips-cortes-island
overview
This sailing trip takes you deep into the unique natural surroundings of Desolation Sound either over five or seven days. Truly experience sailing and how it is to explore these wilder parts of British Columbia. With the private option you can have the sailboat all to yourself.
You will feel like a true explorer as we sail, explore and anchor our way through Desolation Sound, stopping at Prideaux Haven, sail up through scenic Homfray Channel to the mouth of spectacular Toba Inlet, a deep fjord complete with snow-capped mountains which we’ll explore, and then travel back through naturally beautiful East Redonda, West Redonda and Cortes Islands.
This skippered instructional charter is designed especially for one to two couples, or a family. You will be provided with customized instructions on basic sailing techniques as desired and tailored to the guests, with ample hands-on time participating in the handling and sailing of our 40-foot sailboat, Mariah. The trip is also a great “mile builder” for sailors with experience who prefer the peace of mind and a more relaxing time sailing by having an experienced skipper aboard. This multi day and night trip will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of the ocean and to deeply enjoy the unique natural surroundings of this area, while relaxing your senses as you allow yourself to live on the sea.
Throughout the trip, while sailing, learning, relaxing, and exploring the shores, beaches and forest trails, you will be amazed by breathtaking views, where mountains rise right out of the ocean, forest trails reveal pristine waterfalls, and small islands delight with their unique landscape. Encounters with ocean wildlife, the experience of picking your own shellfish for the evening’s dinner, magical phosphorescence at night, and spectacular sunsets, will create unforgettable memories and leave a feeling of gratitude for our oceans.
calma-sailing-5t-sailing-school-in-desolation-sound

Private cabins, meals & amenities

Our sailboat is a comfortable, modern, 40-foot sailing vessel (Beneteau Oceanis 400), with all the required amenities and safety equipment.

You have a choice of a forward double-bed private cabin with a private washroom (head), or a double-bed private aft cabin with a shared head. Rates are shown for double occupancy of a cabin. If double occupancy is paid by a single individual, we offer a 10% discount. The price includes all meals, which will also be a highlight of the trip. These are prepared with care from mostly organic and local, high-quality products, centred on a vegan, vegetarian, and seafood cuisine.

*If you book as a private trip, we can optionally start/end the tour at Quadra Island or from Lund for a fee of $150 CAD/person.

Sample itinerary

day 1
Our trip will begin at 10 am from Cortes Island. Complementary pickup is available from the Whaletown ferry terminal. For private trips, guests can optionally choose to start their trip at Quadra Island or from Lund.
We will sail around 25 nautical miles, with a break for lunch, before anchoring at our destination for the evening at picturesque Prideaux Haven. Although the winds are always different, we will sail as much as possible for beauty and sustainability, and everyone will have a chance at the helm and experience in practice the principles of sailing. At anchor, after dinner, you will be able to relax, swim or explore the pristine natural shoreline by a zodiac inflatable.
Relaxing on deck, in your private cabin, or outside in the hammock, while the boat is gently rocking is a fantastic feeling and for sleeping provides the best night’s sleep.
day 2
The next day, after breakfast and a great coffee, we will sail up north through scenic Homfray Channel to the mouth of spectacular Toba Inlet while enjoying the picturesque views of the snow-capped Coast Mountain range. As we sail, we will learn the finer points of sail trim and practice our sailing maneuvers as a team.
We spend the afternoon and night in Toba Wilderness Marina, a very special small size marina accessible only by water, nestled at the foot of steep mountains in a picturesque bay at the mouth of Toba Inlet with unparalleled mountain views in every direction.

Here you’ll be able to explore pristine forest trails where you can still find ancient Cedar and Douglas Fir and get some exercise doing a short hike up to a cascading waterfall.
day 3/3-4
On this day we sail into and explore Toba Inlet, a deep fjord on the B.C. mainland, surrounded by majestic snow-capped mountains which serve as an imposing backdrop.
Here you will see classic unspoiled west coast scenery, complete with waterfalls cascading down steep mountain slopes into the sea tainted a fabulous shade of jade green by glacial waters feeding the inlet.
We will look for orcas, sea lions, seals, and dolphins in the waters and for foraging black bears and grizzly bears along the rugged shoreline. In the evening we anchor in Walsh Cove marine park on the east side of West Redonda Island and hop into our zodiac-inflatable to pick our own mussels for the evening’s well-deserved dinner and to admire First Nations petroglyphs on the towering granite cliffs surrounding our anchorage.

On the 7-day trip we may choose to relax and stay another day in this pristine marine park to slowly absorb what Desolation Sound has to offer or further explore scenic Toba Inlet and perfect our tacking and gybing sailing maneuvers. 
day 4/5
On day four, or on day five of the 7-day trip, we sail around West Redonda Island and south to Teakerne Arm located off Lewis Channel on the west side of this island where Captain George Vancouver famously quoted the name Desolation Sound for this area. Despite its name, this area is renowned for its natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and many opportunities for recreation.
At our anchorage, you will be able to enjoy an arbutus tree-lined hike to 30-meter-high Cassel Waterfall with a swim in Cassel Lake and enjoy views of wildlife, lush green forests or row, swim or just relax in the bay.
We may optionally sail north and then south to Von Donop (Háthayim) Inlet, a long, narrow sheltered anchorage on the northwestern tip of Cortes Island and a beautiful marine park. At this peaceful destination we relish the evening with sights of wildlife, possibly wolves, and sounds of birds, or explore the inlet by dinghy, or swim in the warm waters and just relax.
day 5/6-7
On the last day of the 5-day trip we head back south through Lewis Channel, with a must stop at whimsical Refuge Cove, a historic coastal village, where we can meet local artisans, see an art gallery, or have a break for a pint or espresso.
We then sail into open waters towards our final destination while we search for humpback whales, orcas, and dolphins known to frequent these nutrient rich waters as they gather here to feed annually.
If your trip concludes on Cortes Island, you will view First Nations petroglyphs as we sail beneath towering granite cliffs at the entrance to Gorge Harbour. We conclude our trip in the evening at 5 pm at the destination as required by our guests.

On the 7-day trip, we sail to Teakern Arm as described above or instead visit Cortes Island. We search for humpback whales heading south through Sutil Channel and in the evening anchor in Mansons Bay marine park known for the most beautiful sunsets. On Cortes we enjoy freshwater swimming in Hague Lake, marine wildlife viewing in Mansons Lagoon or relax on the white-shell beach next to our sailboat. If the winds are right, we may sail instead in the open waters of the Salish Sea towards Mitlenatch Island.

Highlights

  • Explore the wildest parts of Desolation Sound.
  • Can choose as a private sailing excursion only for your group.
  • Visit Toba Inlet, Prideaux Haven, Teakerne Arm, Homfray Channel, Walsh Cove, Cortes Island, and Refuge Cove or Von Donop Inlet.
  • Explore the unique natural surroundings of Desolation Sound on sea and land.
  • Tailored introductory sailing instructions on a 40-foot sailboat.
  • Includes all meals composed of organic, local, high-quality products.
  • Sail on a Beneteau Oceanis 400, a comfortable, modern vessel, complete with all amenities and safety equipment.
  • Relax your senses, be amazed by breathtaking views, and create unforgettable memories with sights of ocean wildlife.

Things to know

Click to read the details.

Tailored basic-sailing skipper or crew level instructions with plenty of hands-on experience. All meals including breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks are included. We can accommodate to some guest allergies. Full bedding and towels are provided. Marina costs are included. Safety equipment such as PFDs will be provided.

Guests ages 16 and up can attend, up to a maximum of 4 guests. Guests under 19 years of age must be accompanied by a guardian. The activity level is light to moderate and is appropriate for beginners. Guests may experience sun, wind, spray, rain and temperatures consistent with the season in southern, coastal British Columbia. Underway the vessel may exhibit irregular motion due to wind and waves. We ask guests to refrain from smoking when aboard the vessel.

A spare warm sweater or fleece. A wind-proof and water-proof jacket. Hat or toque. Sunscreen. Sporty comfortable shoes with non-marking white/light soles. Water-shoes and hiking shoes. Long and short pants depending on the weather. Long hiking pants, preferably waterproof. Spare clothes for 5 or 7 days. Thermal underwear. Toiletries and personal items. Camera.

Fully refundable for the first 7 days after your booking so you can calmly plan your trip, if the booking is made more than 30 days before the trip departure time. Cancel more than 45 days before departure for a full refund minus a 5% booking fee. If you cancel 45 days or less before departure, you will receive a 50% refund. A 30% deposit is required at booking. Full payment is due 60 days before departure. A 100% refund will be given if we can not sail due to extreme weather conditions or safety issues. See our Terms of Service for details.

Price rates shown as price/person are based on double occupancy of a double-bed private cabin in the non-private trip option. Single individuals occupying a double-bed private cabin are charged as per double occupancy minus 10%. For the private-trip option, shown rates are per day, for a maximum of four guests. Prices are in Canadian dollars and are subject to a 5% Federal Goods and Services Tax (GST). All prices are subject to change without notice.

Join us and begin your sailing adventure

Did not find what you were looking for?
We would be happy to discuss other options.
book now
contact us
book now
book now
Scroll to Top