Canadian Yachting October 2016 - 22

PLACES TO STAY IN NANAIMO Nanaimo Port Authority Marinas: 250-755-1216; VHF 67; www.npa.ca Nanaimo Yacht Club: 250-754-7011 (reciprocal) Waterfront Suites & Marina: 250-753-7111 (reservations encouraged) Stones Marina & Boatyard: 250-753-4232 (reservations required) To get to Nanaimo (our home town), this cruise1s northernmost port, head up Stuart Channel past De Courcy Island and proceed through Dodd Narrows. anchorage is a popular spot during summer cruising season. The attraction is Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park with its 32 kms of walking trails, beaches, wildlife, camping, native culture and 1930s pavilion. If you moor downtown, you can ride a small ferry or take the dinghy to Newcastle Island. If you overnight in Newcastle anchorage, try to catch a sunset on the deck of the Dinghy Dock Pub, Canada's first floating pub. Provisioning is easy from any of Nanaimo's downtown marinas. Across the road, Port Place Mall has Thrifty's groceries, a B.C. Liquor Store, London Drugs, and The Great Canadian Casino. If you head a short block past Nanaimo's iconic Bastion to downtown, you will find Commercial Street makes a nice stroll with its small shops, galleries, restaurants, Conference Centre and Nanaimo Museum. For a really great walk, follow the five km waterfront walkway north along the shore and enjoy the views. If you have a sweet tooth, combine that hike with The Nanaimo Bar Trail (pick up self-guided tour brochure at the Bastion) and you will see why we love it here. 22 Canadian Yachting SHORE LEAVE #6 GENOA BAY, VANCOUVER ISLAND For the last and longest (53 kms) leg of our cruise, head south through Dodd Narrows and stay on Stuart Channel to Sansum Narrows dividing Salt Spring and Vancouver Island. Continue south to Separation Point and then round westward into Cowichan Bay. You will find Genoa Bay to the north tucked under steep, tree-covered Mt. Tzuhalem. This is a long-time favourite stop of ours. Co-owners and brothers Will and Ben Kiedaisch continue to make Genoa Bay one of the coziest places in the northwest. Call 250-746-7621 or VHF 66A. First order of business upon landing is to make a dinner reservation at the rustic Genoa Bay Café (voted #1 on Trip Advisor for the Cowichan region) at the head of the marina. Try the seafood chowder and the daily pasta special. For breakfast the restaurant will get your day started at the popular breakfast cabana on the dock. This is mostly a put-your-feet-up-andrelax-kinda-place but if you would like to venture further afield catch the water taxi to busy Cowichan Bay Village to explore. From there, walk or take a taxi to Cherry Point Estate Wines for lunch at the Bistro. Drop by the wine tasting room to sample the winery's award-winning varieties - guaranteed to leave a tasty finish to this our Gulf Island Cruise...see you out there! * Your first order of business upon landing is to make a dinner reservation at the rustic Genoa Bay Café (voted #1 on Trip Advisor for the Cowichan region). OCTOBER 2016 http://www.npa.ca

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Yachting October 2016