sail boat tours victoria

VICTORIA HARBOUR TOUR

Quick Details

• Hour Glass Duration: 45 Minutes
• Calendar Bookings: Online bookings cannot be made the same day of your desired tour. Same day "walk-up" bookings are available on a first come first serve basis.

Victoria Harbour Tour

Victoria’s Harbour is a strategic asset, the life-blood of the city and the homeland of the Lekwungen People, known today as the Esquimalt Nation and Songhees Nation who continue to be the keepers of this beautiful land and the stories connected to it.

Get a first-hand look at how the harbour functions today as a seaport and seaplane airplane terminal as well as a cruise ship and ferry destination. Uncover the secrets of historic landmarks like the Parliament Buildings, bridges, wildlife habitats, and float home communities. Immerse yourself in the natural splendor and see why Victoria was established as the main port in Western Canada, and the capital of British Columbia.

This intimate tour gets you up close and personal with some of our favorite things – ocean views, marine life and history.

What to Bring

Camera to capture the memories!

Same-Day Bookings

Online bookings cannot be made on the same day of your desired tour. We accept walk-up bookings on a first-come first-serve basis!

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Each of our tours is created around our Five Cornerstones. This guarantees you the quintessential Victoria experience while giving our captains the freedom to share local secrets and personal memories of their home.

History: Victoria harbour represents the homeland and waters of the Lekwungen speaking peoples, who are today the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation and who have been here since time immemorial before the arrival of European navigators. Learn about our city’s Indigenous culture and the Victorian settlers who contributed to the early development of the city, and how Victoria has grown over the years.

Architecture: Get a unique view of the many original buildings that line the Inner Harbour, compare the modern skyline to historic photographs, and hear the tragic tale of the famous architect Francis Rattenbury.

Harbour Life:  Glimpse into Victoria’s rich naval history, experience the hustle and bustle of everyday life in the port, and you might even see one of the many sailing and boating events.

Aircraft: Look to the skies and learn about the role Victoria played in the World Wars, or watch seaplanes land and take off right beside you on the water.

Wildlife: Victoria is home to an abundance of wildlife, including sea otters, seals and sea lions, blue herons, bald eagles and, of course, magnificent orca whales.

TICKETS + DEPARTURE

Purchase your tickets and depart at the Empress Dock in the marina in front of The Empress Hotel. On the way back, your captain will give you the option of ending your tour at Fisherman’s Wharf or returning to the starting point at the Empress Dock.

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Step back in time hundreds of years. Ride in an all-electric beautifully appointed custom vessel with zero emissions. This is a unique guided tour featuring historic neighborhoods, working shipyards and more! Given the length of time and absence of washroom on board, this tour is best suited for Adults. 

Phone: 250.885.2311 | Toll Free: 1.888.922.8822 | Email: [email protected]

Join us as we embark on a tall ship adventure.

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Affiliations & Reviews

"World Coolest Yacht" Yachting World Magazine April 2020

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• Skippered Charters
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• Day Courses
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• Cruise and Learns

Sailing. Have you ever wondered what the fascination is all about? Here is your chance! Our vessel is a Beneteau 351 moored in Oak Bay (a 10 minute scenic drive along the ocean from downtown Victoria). You can choose a half-day or full-day sail in and around these protected waters. Previous sailing experience is not a requirement.

You can participate fully in all aspects of sailing and even take command at the helm if you desire. You will be introduced to basic sailing skills and safety at sea. Your skipper, is a Certified Cruising Instructor with Sail Canada.

Before each departure we spend a half hour or so familiarizing everyone with the safety features and basic operation of the boat, including emergency procedures. We also introduce you to area charts which allows us to plan our trip and discuss sailing options. Our “hands-on” approach will have you sailing this beautiful yacht sooner than you think.

You can choose between an Individual Sign Up (booking per person) and an Exclusive Charter . If you sign up as individuals, we will try to find others to go with you. If you sign up as an Exclusive Charter then you and your group will have the whole boat and the instructor to yourself.

*The above prices are in Canadian dollars and include skipper. They do not include a 5% tax. Just a single or double? Don’t worry, we can find a compatible group for you.

HALF-DAY AND FULL-DAY SAILS

Sailing Adventures: if you have a half day to spend, we could sail around the Discovery and Chatham Islands. These are amazing islands: solitary, wild, natural, and set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Half-Day Sails (3 hours) typically run between 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM or from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM.

Having a full day allows extra time for lunch and refreshments while anchored in a secluded cove among the islands. If you desire, we can go ashore to hike and explore. Full-Day Sails will typically go from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The advantage of departing from Oak Bay Marina is that this area features the most reliable winds for sailing to be found around southern Vancouver Island. Oak Bay is especially popular with boaters because of the many islands which offer protection from the prevailing winds and waves, and provide sheltered anchorages and fun places to explore. For wildlife enthusiasts, the marine ecological reserves are home to many seals, eagles, and marine birds as well as the occasional sea lion and whale. If more challenging sailing conditions are desired there is the choice of sailing the open waters of Juan de Fuca Strait or Haro Strait.

OAK BAY DEPARTURE POINT

For day sails and cruises, Ibis, our main yacht leaves from the end of “C” dock at Oak Bay Marina. This is the first dock you will encounter, just to the right of the bottom of the ramp leading down to the water. Food and drinks are available at the coffee shop on the bottom level of the marina building and there is a fine dining restaurant overlooking the harbour on the second level. Good bus and taxi service from downtown is available. If you have your own vehicle, free and ample parking is available at the Marina. Directions to the boat (PDF)

VIEW GOOGLE MAP

WHAT TO BRING

The clothing you choose will be dependent on the weather for that day. Remember that it can be cooler on the water than it is on land. Bring an extra layer that should include a windbreaker of some kind. Be sure to have deck shoes or runners, preferably with a non-marking sole. The Ibis has a warm, comfortable cabin and there is protection in the cockpit under a dodger and bimini. Sunglasses, sunhat and sunscreen are a must on bright days. If you are coming for the full day, bring a lunch. We supply life jackets, non-alcoholic refreshments and a friendly skipper.

“The Ibis” is a graceful 35 foot Beneteau Oceanis 351 and is classified as a performance cruiser. She is spacious, comfortable and very stable. All sails are self-furling with all the controls leading back to the cockpit which make her fun and easy to sail.

The cockpit is protected by a dodger over the companionway and the “Bimini” offers overhead protection for the person at the helm.

The “Ibis” Beneteau 35 sloop

WHO IS IT FOR?

No matter who you “arrr”, you’ll enjoy sailing with Blackfish Sailing Adventures! Note: we cannot carry this many at one time and firearms are not allowed on board. (This was a particularly troublesome bunch)

Today’s winds

• Weather Forecast Oak Bay
• Weather Forecast Sidney

Exclusive Adventures

Mileage and Skill Builder

How to Book

About Blackfish

• Cruising Areas

Directions to Oak Bay

Directions to Sidney

Local Recommendations

FAQ’s

VHF Radio Course

CONTACT and LOCATION:

VIEW LARGE MAP

FIND THE BOAT

Weather Report

Tides and Currents (Link to DFO)

Oak Bay Marina Live Webcam

2024 Tide and Current Tables (PDF)

If you have taken a trip with us, we would appreciate your feedback:

Our Location:

DOCK LOCATION:

(click image for more detail)

Established in 1931, Sail Canada (formerly known as the Canadian Yachting Association) is the national governing body for the sport of sailing. The Association promotes sailing in all its forms including yachting through collaboration with their partners, the Provincial Sailing Associations, member clubs, schools, and many individual stakeholders.

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Moscow Metro 2019

Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow – fast, reliable and safe – having some skills in using it will help make your visit more successful and smooth. On top of this, it is the most beautiful metro in the world !

. There are over 220 stations and 15 lines in the Moscow Metro. It is open from 6 am to 1 am. Trains come very frequently: during the rush hour you won't wait for more than 90 seconds! Distances between stations are quite long – 1,5 to 2 or even 3 kilometers. Metro runs inside the city borders only. To get to the airport you will need to take an onground train - Aeroexpress.

RATES AND TICKETS

Paper ticket A fee is fixed and does not depend on how far you go. There are tickets for a number of trips: 1, 2 or 60 trips; or for a number of days: 1, 3 days or a month. Your trips are recorded on a paper ticket. Ifyou buy a ticket for several trips you can share it with your traveling partner passing it from one to the other at the turnstile.

On every station there is cashier and machines (you can switch it to English). Cards and cash are accepted. 1 trip - 55 RUB 2 trips - 110 RUB

Tickets for 60 trips and day passes are available only at the cashier's.

60 rides - 1900 RUB

1 day - 230 RUB 3 days - 438 RUB 30 days - 2170 RUB.

The cheapest way to travel is buying Troyka card . It is a plastic card you can top up for any amount at the machine or at the ticket office. With it every trip costs 38 RUB in the metro and 21 RUB in a bus. You can get the card in any ticket office. Be prepared to leave a deposit of 50 RUB. You can get it back returning the card to the cashier.

SamsungPay, ApplePay and PayPass cards.

One turnstile at every station accept PayPass and payments with phones. It has a sticker with the logos and located next to the security's cabin.

GETTING ORIENTED

At the platfrom you will see one of these signs.

It indicates the line you are at now (line 6), shows the direction train run and the final stations. Numbers below there are of those lines you can change from this line.

In trains, stations are announced in Russian and English. In newer trains there are also visual indication of there you are on the line.

To change lines look for these signs. This one shows the way to line 2.

There are also signs on the platfrom. They will help you to havigate yourself. (To the lines 3 and 5 in this case).