Trimaran Mothership

June-July 1999

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web

by Mike Smith and Jannet Klooster

Mike Smith and Jannet Klooster are offering Mothership services aboard their 40ft. trimaran Toroa, capable of supporting up to 8 kayakers and 6 kayaks. Their destinations are the islands and coastline of Georgia Strait from the Gulf Islands to Desolation Sound.

Mike has been a sailor for almost 20 years, and an adventurer for many years before that, graduating from mountains to sailing as his love of multihulls grew.

Jannet has completed the Canadian Outdoor Leadership Program at Strathcona Park and has become a keen rock-climber, mountain-climber, ocean and river kayaker.

Tristan, 4, is the team's expert "treasure" finer along the beaches in the Gulf.

A base in Comox allows access to some of the best kayaking waters in Georgia Strait. Weekend trips give time to explore either the Denman and Hornby islands area, with sandy beaches and spectacular coast walks; or to sail across the strait to Lund and nearby Savary island and the Copeland Marine Park. Lund is a good port to spend the night in with its protected mooring and old hotel serving excellent meals. For a quieter more natural camping spot, the Copeland Island group is hard to beat.

For long weekends, Lasqueti and Jedediah islands offer magnificent kayaking, with many small bays, islands and inlets to check out.

Desolation Sound is a half day sail to the north. Once there, the kayaking opportunities are endless, with sheltered anchorages, swimming in fresh water lakes only minutes from the sea and scenery that rightly make this one of the world's most famous cruising destinations. An alternative is the trip up Jervis Inlet on the Sunshine Coast. This leads, after passing through Prince of Wales, Princess Royal and Queens Reaches to Princess Louisa Inlet, one of those sights on the "not to be missed" list. With a comfortable trimaran as a base, the distances can be covered with less effort and the security of a floating home is a short distance away.

Usually, half the group kayaks while the other half enjoys sailing, watching wildlife, reading or just plain hanging out. Kayaks and other equipment can be arranged, or provided by the client. Instruction is available if necessary.

Trimaran Sailing and Kayaking can be reached at 250 334-9231

Email:mikejan@island.net or Web: http://www.island.net/~mikejan/

For more info on Mothership Kayaking go to our April/May 1998 issue of Wavelength Magazine