The 2009Montague Harbour

Small Boat Rendezvous

This year we will foregather from May 29 to 31

(Friday to Sunday)

The website hasn't had a lot of attention, it's been a busy time for the webmaster (and having to relearn how to do it every year doesn't help!) But the rendezvous will be happening again at the same location, beautiful Montague Harbour Marine Park with its sheltered waters, good camping right beside the docks, a shuttle bus to the local pub, and, if we're lucky, the bakery boat will be open for business, as it has the last two years.

And for US boaters, passports are not required for cross border travel this summer.

Also see Crossing the Border if you're coming from the US.

Information

Last year (2008)

Montague Harbour Marine Provincial Park is located on Galiano Island in the Canadian Gulf Islands. Galiano can be reached via BC Ferries from either Tsawassen on the mainland, or Schwartz Bay on Vancouver Island.

Drive-in and walk-in campsites are available in the park. There is an excellent launch ramp on the north side, with a shell beach that's perfect for beaching small boats. On the south side, the harbour itself is a large, protected bay, with a smaller gravel beach beside the lagoon, moorings for larger boats and some dock space. The bay offers good holding for anchors.

It's a short row around the Gray Peninsula, from the boat launch to the bay. Inside the harbour there's room to play, despite the rows of moorings, and if the wind is favourable, there are other islands and destinations for the adventurous. Montague Harbour Marina at the south end of the harbour.

For those who prefer not to camp, there are a number of fine bed and breakfasts on the island, not to mention some fine dining. And some less expensive eateries for the rest of us -- you can even have pizza delivered to your campsite! Check the Galiano Island website for details.

Finally, as if all this isn't enough, there is a regular shuttle bus from the park entrance to the island's only pub. This is an important safety feature in case of dehydration, snake bite etc. (I mean, just because no one's ever been bitten by a garter snake doesn't mean it can't happen, does it?)

So mark your calendars now for the May 27th weekend (Memorial Day weekend in the US) and come and enjoy some of the finest sailing in the world, in BC's Gulf Islands.

Here's the part of the shell beach, and the boat launch, poured concrete in good condition. It was near high tide when we inspected it, but we could see that it goes out a good long way. We would have had no trouble launching a 20 foot Chebacco, deep skeg and all. This picture was taken in November, it looks a lot warmer when the sun is shining!

Here's some more shell beach, on the same (north) side of the peninsula.

And here's the gravel beach on the south side. The docks are behind the camera. The lagoon on the right dries out at low tide -- there is good anchoring for small boats on the left side.

Fro more information, contact small_boat_rendezvous@yahoo.com