Vancouver Island Grapes

The Wine Islands Vintners Association has produced a wine passport that acts as an excellent guide to the vineyards of Vancouver Island and the surrounding Islands.  This is the second year in a row that the WIVA is hosting the Passport to the Wine Islands!

The 2011 WIVA Passport launches at the Spring Tasting event on April 19th at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria.  Pick up a passport at any participating winery, local tourist info centres or print off a PDF of the Passport at WIVA.

Once you have your Wine Passport, visit participating wineries (shown on the Passport) and receive a unique stamp from each.

As well as acting as a guide to the Wine Islands, the stamped passport can also be submitted to the WIVA via mail and you will be entered to win 1 of 3 fabulous prizes.  Please visit the WIVA website for further details.

We hope you enjoy your trip through the Wine Islands!

Van Isle Marina has Boathouses available for rent in the below sizes.

• 30′, 40′, 42′ & 50′ boathouses available for rent
• 30 amp 120V electricity
• Please contact 250-656-1138 for more information

Please visit our Marina Services page for more information on the services we provide.

Van Isle Marina has open slips available for rent in the below sizes.

• 28′, 40′, 45′ & 50′ open slips available for annual or monthly moorage
• 15 & 30 amp 120V electricity
• Please contact 250-656-1138 for further information.

Please visit our Marina Services page for more information on the services we provide.

Salt Spring Island’s Saturday Market in the Park starts April 2nd, 2011 and runs through to the last Saturday in October.  The Market is located Oceanside at Centennial Park in the heart of Ganges on Salt Spring Island.  It is open from 8 am to 4 pm whether rain or shine.

This year enjoy meeting more than 140 artisans and food producers at the Saturday Market.

For more details, please visit Salt Spring Market.

Treat your children to something new and exciting this Summer.  Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club‘s Summer Sailing School offers courses for all levels of sailors, age 8 to 18 years.  Your children will learn both theory and on-the-water skills by certified CYA instructors (Canadian Yachting Association).

The Youth courses SNSYC offers include:

Opti Junior: entry level, pre-white sail course introduces kids 8 to 11 years old to the basics of messing around in boats.

White Sail Levels I to III: beginner and Opti Junior graduates.  Teaches basic sailing and boating safety.

Bronze IV: Sailed in Lasers, Laser IIs, and 420s.  Teaches more advanced sailing techniques such as roll tacks, roll gybes and rudderless sailing.

Bronze V: The joys of the spinnaker and the trapeze get the most performance possible out of the Laser IIs and 420s.

Learn to Race: This course is all about racing.

Please visit SNSYC for more details on course descriptions and their course calendar and fees.

Spring is nearly upon us and it’s time to start preparing your boat for the season.  For your safety, there are a number of maintenance and cleaning items that should be checked before taking the boat out.  By going through this checklist, you will ensure that your boating season is safe and isn’t delayed or interrupted.

Discover Boating has come up with six key areas of maintenance:

1. Fuel System – inspect the fuel system for leaks or damages

2. Electrical System – inspect all electrical connections for cleanliness and tightness

3. Propellers and Hulls – inspect propellers for dings, pitting, cracks and distortion

4. Belts, Cables and Hoses – Belts, cables and hoses are important to check, as they can become brittle and may crack during winter storage

5. Fluid Levels – Check all fluid levels including engine oil, power steering, power trim reservoirs, and coolant

6. Safety Gear – Check life jackets to ensure they are in good condition and that there are enough on board for all potential passengers

For more in depth information on preparing your boat for the Spring, please visit Discoverboating.com

The boating season is quickly approaching and Van Isle Marina is here to assist you in making this season your most enjoyable one yet.  We offer annual, monthly and transient moorage (please see our moorage rates for details).  We also offer a moorage credit program that sublets your slip, saving you money, while you are away.

A Fuel Dock is located at the end of D dock for your convenience.  It offers diesel, mid-grade gasoline, premix outboard gas, oil tank pump-out, Petro-Canada and Chevron lubes and oils.

Our on shore services include showers, washrooms, laundry room, business center, storage units, launching ramp and the Dockside Grill.  For further details, please visit Marina Services Quick Facts.

We hope you enjoy the 2011 boating season!