Trip Itineraries
Kayak Mothership Cruise - 8 Days & 9 Days
Group size is eight guests plus the skipper, cook and two kayak guides.
The mothership cruises are suitable for both novice and experienced paddlers.
Previous kayaking experience is recommended, yet not required.
Each person is equipped with a single kayak.
Personal Preparation
- Two mothership itineraries are offered:
- Gwaii Haanas - Southern Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands).
- Great Bear Rainforest - British Columbia's northern mainland coast.
The 71' ketch Ocean Light II provides a spacious and convenient roving base, enabling us to enjoy incredible flexibility during kayak day-trips. Appreciate the comforts of warm, sheltered accommodation onboard each night.
During a mothership cruise, no two days are alike. We generally launch the kayaks in the morning and return to the Ocean Light II at midday to relax and enjoy a leisurely lunch, while considering the options for an afternoon paddle.
Alternately, we pack our lunch and venture out on more extended paddling excursions, to rendezvous with the Ocean Light II later in the day.
For added safety and flexibility during kayak outings, guides carry VHF radios to enable communication with the mothership.
During the mothership cruises, guests are provided with the use of Current Designs Breeze kayaks.
For photos, please see the Mothership album.
Gwaii Haanas Mothership - Nine Days
Traverse the magnificent east coast of Moresby Island onboard one of the most spacious motherships operating in Gwaii Haanas; the splendid 71' ketch, Ocean Light II.
This trip begins in Sandspit; guests are picked up in the morning at Seaport Bed & Breakfast for the one-hour drive to Moresby Camp. Here, you board the Ocean Light II, to begin exploring Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve.
The Gwaii Haanas Mothership cruise is a comfortable adventure with an emphasis on wildlife viewing, kayaking and the rich cultural history of Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands).
Silently kayak through remote, pristine coves. Discover ancient Haida villages. Explore the awe-inspiring outer coast.
Ocean Light II provides comfortable and seaworthy transport along the exposed stretches of coast. We anchor in several different isolated and sheltered locations. From the anchorages, we launch kayaks to quietly explore this World-class wilderness destination.
The nine-day sailing itinerary takes us down the east coast of Moresby Island. Visit the Haida village sites of Tanu or Skedans. Explore the magnificent old-growth forests of Windy Bay. Enjoy a soak at Hotsprings Island, then paddle through the intertidal channels of Burnaby Narrows.
Spend a day at the ancient Haida village of Ninstints on Anthony Island. This extraordinary historic settlement is a United Nations World Heritage Site, also known as SGang Gwaay. Numerous totem poles overlook the village and longhouse ruins are still visibly prominent.
Haida Watchmen on the island can explain the carvings on the poles and provide insightful interpretations of the village and their ancestors who once lived there. Explore this unforgettable site and experience the sense of mystery that lingers in the ancient village.
The paddling opportunities are endless along this diverse coastline. There are hidden, sheltered waters where you can enjoy tranquil kayaking, even on relatively windy days. For the more adventurous, Hecate Strait and the open Pacific provide a sense of the vast ocean, bordered by magnificent rock formations and cliff faces.
Nature-viewing and photographic opportunities abound. Large populations of whales and dolphins are regularly sighted in the area. A wide variety of seabirds are abundant throughout the region.
If conditions permit, we round Cape Saint James, at the southern tip of the archipelago. Hundreds of sea lions live at the cape; it's a truly wild, vibrant and spectacular marine environment.
Near the end of the cruise, we stop at the tiny, isolated community of Rose Harbour to view the remains of the old whaling station and meet the local homesteaders.
After breakfast on day nine, you board a floatplane for the short, scenic flight back to Sandspit where you are returned to Seaport B&B.
Reservations for the mothership are managed by Jenn; owner, first mate and cook onboard the Ocean Light II.
Routes and itineraries remain very flexible to accommodate changeable west coast conditions. In order to confirm the Kayak Mothership Cruise and secure the Ocean Light II charter, eight people must register well in advance. Please consider registering early to ensure the trip becomes confirmed.
Great Bear Rainforest Mothership - Eight Days
Explore the Northern Great Bear Rainforest; a remote and spectacular region of British Columbia's mainland coast. Experience the enormous diversity of wildlife and stunning variety of landscapes this wilderness area offers.
This unique journey departs from the town of Prince Rupert, on the north coast of British Columbia. The mothership will travel a large circuitous route from Prince Rupert and back, reaching north and east to the inner coast along the border with southeast Alaska, then west and south to the outer coast islands of Dundas, Stephens and Porcher. The itinerary for the trip remains flexible so we can maximize each day’s opportunities and activities.
The eight-day cruise takes us first to Khutzeymateen Inlet for an opportunity to view Grizzly bears in their natural habitat.
The Ocean Light II skipper is a certified and highly experienced bear guide. Our skipper leads bear viewing excursions in the small Zodiac-style speedboat, enabling the group to safely observe Grizzly bears from reasonably close proximity.
Enjoy two days in the vicinity of the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Sanctuary. Between bear-watching excursions, we launch on kayak day-trips along the shorelines of the inlet. Snow-capped peaks, waterfalls and tidal esutaries are the backdrop of this rugged wilderness setting.
After a few days of bear-viewing, we cruise to the outer coast. Here the mountainous fjords give way to open coastlines and island clusters.
The outer coast contains a multitude of sheltered coves and intricate marine passageways. Every turn brings a new vista as you paddle through this rarely visited marine wilderness. Wildlife viewing opportunities remain abundant on these outer islands; wolves, whales and dolphins inhabit the domain.
Weather conditions and tides help determine our exact itinerary. Each day, the group has opportunities to explore this diverse region by kayak. Every evening, we relax onboard enjoying hot drinks and a delicious dinner, while reflecting on the day's events.
After breakfast on day eight, you disembark at the Prince Rupert yacht club. The nearby airport provides daily scheduled flights to Vancouver and other destinations. Via Rail and BC Ferries also provide service to Prince Rupert.
Reservations for the mothership are managed by Jenn; owner, first mate and cook onboard the Ocean Light II.
Routes and itineraries remain very flexible to accommodate changeable west coast conditions. In order to confirm the Kayak Mothership Cruise and secure the Ocean Light II charter, eight people must register well in advance. Please consider registering early to ensure the trip becomes confirmed.
