Vancouver Island Cruising Experience (VICE) 2018 Edition
by Bluewater Cruising Association 27 May 2018 05:15 BST
22 Jun 2018
Vancouver Island Cruising Experience © Bluewater Cruising Association
Ucluelet
22 Jun 2018
Members Free / Non-Members N/A
Les Brown and Cheryl Cooper
There is no preparation for going offshore quite like being offshore. You can do this by joining VICE (Vancouver Island Cruising Experience).
Each year, a number of BCA vessels from all three chapters get together online to plan a multi-day offshore trip, usually in late June/early July. They wait for a weather window off the west coast of Vancouver Island before sailing out to sea. The idea is to leave in reasonable weather that is similar to what you will be experiencing on your offshore voyage.
The boats head out into the Pacific (generally west) for two or three days sailing, towards a selected GPS destination, before turning back. This shakedown cruise will give you a chance to test your boat and yourselves – cooking, eating, sleeping, using offshore systems, communicating and keeping watch at sea – the skills you will need when you leave on your real voyage. VICE also gives you the opportunity to practice manoeuvres like heaving to and deploying a drogue or storm anchor – best practiced before Mother Nature puts you to the test!
Boats that participate in VICE may be looking for crew. This is a golden opportunity for boatless dreamers to experience life on board, prior to buying and equipping a boat.
VICE 2018 starts with boats gathering in Ucluelet on or prior to June 22, where we will enjoy a presentation from the Coastguard. We will depart on June 23 for an offshore point approximately 100nm from our starting point, and sail out and back in an effort to experience a proper taste of going offshore. Our destination (GPS coordinates) will be finalized a bit closer to the time, depending on forecasted weather.
If you are interesting in learning more about VICE, reading past reports from cruisers who have tried it out, or want to sign up (or put your name down as crew), please visit the VICE Group link, here. (You must be logged in to the BCA website to view.)
For more information and to register – Click here.
This article has been provided by the courtesy of Bluewater Cruising Association.