Vancouver

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WorldCanadaVancouver
Vancouver
Port of Entry
49°18.809'N, 123°15.667'W Chart icon.png
Burrard Bridge View.jpg
Magnify-clip.png
A view from Burrard Bridge to English Bay

Vancouver is located on the Strait of Georgia along the British Columbia lower mainland. It is situated just north on the US border and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. While the first European to scout the area had been José María Narváez in 1791 commanding the Santa Saturnina, the area had been settled by several native bands long before his arrival.

The Greater Vancouver Area is Canada's third largest metro area with a population of over 2 million. Vancouver is Canada's busiest port being Canada's trade hub with the Pacific Rim.

Submit details about the sailing/cruising in the area, etc.

Charts

BA
3481
3493
3494
3495

or Strip Chart kit 3311

Weather

Give local weather conditions or refer to another page (a region or island group) that covers these conditions.

Sources for Weather forecasts:

Passages

Islands

Communication

Add here VHF channel for coastguard, harbor masters. etc.

Also see World Cruiser's Nets

Navigation

Also see: Strait of Georgia

Please note that before, during and shortly after the 2010 Olympics that are likely to be major restrictions on the water ways around Vancouver.

The important bodies of water around Vancouver besides the Strait of Georgia are English Bay, Burrard Inlet, the Fraser River and Boundary Bay. Of these the two most important to cruisers are English Bay and Burrard Inlet.

English Bay is the entrance to False Creek which is home to several of Vancouver's docks and yacht clubs.

Burrard Inlet is the entrance to Vancouver Harbour. Within Vancouver Harbour is Coal Harbour which borders on Stanley Park and the north end of Downtown Vancouver. The entrance to Vancouver Harbour is the First Narrows which is spanned by Vancouver's famous Lions Gate Bridge. The waters around the bridge are narrow and are used regularly by container ships, cruise ships and barges entering and leaving. There is very little manoeuvring room at that point. Pleasure craft entering and leaving should keep to starboard and stay out side of the main shipping lane. Do the smart thing and give the container ships the right of way. Tides at this squeeze point can be rather aggressive, at times just over 6 knots, so an examination of the tide charts is advised. The clearance of the Lions Gate Bridge is 61m. To aid navigation through the narrows there are navigation lights at Prospect Point, Brockton Point and Burnaby Shoal on the south shore and Amble Side Beach and Calamity Point on the north shore.

Once clear of the First Narrows you enter Vancouver Harbour with Coal Harbour and Dead Mans Island on the south side, and North Vancouver on the North Side. Further along on the south shore is the Vancouver Harbour Water Airport. After that is the iconic Canada Place which is also a cruise ship terminal. Next is the Sea Bus ferry terminal which transports foot passengers between the north and south shores. Further along is the Port of Vancouver which is the main container vessel loading area. Traffic control and the Harbour Patrol are on VHF channel 12.

After the Port of Vancouver is the second narrows with 2 bridges. The first bridge is the Iron Workers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing and the second is the Second Narrows bridge. When in the down position the clearance of the Second Narrows bridge is only 10.7m. Passage in the area under the bridge is traffic controlled. If you need the bridge lifted in order to clear you will have to contact the bridge operator on VHF channel 12. Like the first narrows the currents here can get rather aggressive.

Beyond these two bridges lies Port Moody to the south and Indian arm to the north.


Entrance

The False Creek Harbour Authority has a courtesy Customs Dock. There is a map here.

The Delta Marina is an official Canada Customs clearance location.

For entrance details see Canada.

Berthing

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

Vancouver is home to many marinas and Yacht Clubs. Some of these are

Yacht Clubs

Marinas

Anchorages

  • False Creek is an excellent place for yachting visitors to anchor as it is calm and home to Granville Island and Fisherman's Warf as well as bordering on the south end of downtown Vancouver. Anchoring over night requires a permit which you can either get in advance or at the Welcome Center. There is more information here and here
  • There is 3 hours of free day time mooring available at The Harbour Green Dock in Coal Harbour.
  • Wreck Beach, off Point Grey at 49 15' N 123 17' W, is a popular day anchorage with a large clothing-optional beach. It is not sheltered enough for long-term anchoring.

Things to do ashore

List places of interest, tours, eateries, etc.

Marine stores

Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.


Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forums

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

Links

References & Publications

See Canada.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Vancouver and this page's details validated:


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Names: Lighthouse


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