For now it is on the very cold side -2025 Feb 12- for sailing! April might be OK!
I now have sailing experience - it is not extensive.
Various sails on The Salish Sea AKA Georgia Straight: Lasquiti, Pender Harbour, Lund.
On my other boats: Gulf Islands, Howe Sound, Vancouver Harbour, Powell River, Campbell River, Bowen, Gambier, Cortes, Saltspring, Maple, Cowichan, Brentwood, Jerico, False Creek, Deep Cove, Indian Arm, Desolation, Sonora, Quadra, Saturna, Active Pass, Porlier Pass, Dent & Yaculta Rapids, Seymour Narrows, Skookumchuck, Dodd Narrows, Gabriola Passage, Sansum Narrows . . .
I have a fair bit of boating experience with power boats in protected waters. I have lived many years on boats (about 20) including 4 years at anchor. I was a self taught mobile marine mechanic for more than a decade. I have the desire to prepare for world cruising - if and when I am prepared I will decide if I am going to continue.
I would welcome any interest and I may contribute to your travel expenses. I can not guarantee any particular duration of sailing but am open to discussions. I do not expect any serious problems from here on in.
The shakedown has been done, the haul out has been done, heating and autopilot installed.
In terms of sailing around here:
I have spent a lot of time in Deep Cove, North Vancouver, I have friends there and many are on the water with private docks, other acquaintances on boats, and others that are pure land lubbers. I will visit them.
The Gulf Islands are a popular pleasure boating destination for canadians and americans, it gets crowded in boating season.
Desolation Sound sounds like an interesting pleasure boating destination! But it is crowded and sometimes noisy. Someone posted on facebook there was going to be a band on the swimgrid of a yacht on the long weekend. I posted thanks for the warning!
Georgia Straight/ now known as the Salish Sea is more than 10 hours long and about 5 hours wide will be appropriate to practice sailing. There's a torpedo test range just out of Nanoose Bay that is not always active.
There are a few waterfront pubs I intend to visit over the length of Georgia straight.
Some of the Northern Gulf Islands are worth a visit. Specifically Tribune Bay on Hornby Island, Cortes Island various places, Quadra Island for the Pub if nothing else, There are others.
If the idea of heading north has merit it likely involves motoring about 250 Km to Queen Charlotte Straight and possibly further if the wind is inappropriate or the inside passage is taken.
At the north end of the island open ocean sailing becomes possible - north, south or I suppose westerly!