The coast of British Columbia in the Pacific Northwest has long held an allure for cruisers. Yet, it is hard to get to on your own boat unless you are based in the Seattle or Vancouver areas so the next obvious option is to charter a boat for an adventure cruise
Every year, the Bellingham, Washington-based charter company NW Explorations runs a Mother Goose flotilla charter from their base to Desolation Sound and back. It’s a distance of roughly 300 miles. They have a fleet of mostly Grand Banks trawlers that each can take six or more passengers.
The adventure is for cruisers who are prepared to skipper their own trawlers, to navigate in tricky waters and manage all mooring, anchoring and boat handling chores. This means you can be somewhat independent while also taking part in the flotilla experience.
Starting in Bellingham, the flotilla heads north through the Gulf Islands and then into BC’s most loved cruising grounds where the water is fairly warm, the scenery spectacular and the wildlife abundant.
The organizers want everyone to have a relaxing and immersive experience, so most daily runs are fairly short, and several lay days are built into the two-week schedule for hikes ashore, visits to the local villages and kayaking.
Highlights of the cruise are many with Desolation Sound and the famed Jarvis Inlet topping the list. There are many quiet anchorages and several nights the flotilla is invited to share dock or marina spaces and enjoy informal shindigs. The cruise is as much about camaraderie as it Is seeing orcas, eagles and bears in their natural habitats.
The trawlers charter for between $22,000 to $32,000 for the two weeks, which, if split between two or three couples brings the per person cost down. Yet, this is a bucket-list adventure so it may be time to splurge.
The 2026 flotilla runs from June 5 through June 19. As of this week, there were still six boats available. But, these will be booked by early next year. So, if a wild Northwest cruising adventure is in your future, this a great way to make it happen.
