2024 Fluid Motion Desolation Sound Cruise

We’re currently finalizing our reservations with each of the marinas on our cruise. If you’d like to join us on the Desolation Sound Cruise this year, please read the information below and sign up on the waitlist. As soon as marina details are finalized, we’ll start releasing spots from the waitlist with priority given to customers who meet the prerequisites and first-time Desolation Sound cruisers.

We are excited to annouce the opening of registration for an amazing and rewarding trip to Desolation Sound this summer. Prepare to be blown away by the beauty and remoteness of one of British Columbia's scenic gems. Humpback whales, orca and sea otters greet your boat as if to welcome you to what is considered one of the most beautiful boating areas in the WORLD. A favorite destination of the John Wayne and Jacques Cousteau families, where they enjoyed the sheer beauty, grand seascapes and eclectic array of residents. Join the Fluid Motion Factory Team for unforgettable and stunningly beautiful cruise to the Salish Sea's crown jewel.

We will email all registrants a full schedule in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please take a look at the tentative cruise information below.

Please read the important messages (in bold) regarding this trip below before registering.

We will meet as a group at Telegraph Harbor on Friday, July 19th. https://www.telegraphharbour.com. That afternoon, we’ll have a potluck dinner and captains meeting up in the pavilion at Telegraph. The factory team will be grilling up the main course, bring a side dish to share.

Our second destination is Comox Harbour located on the East Side of Vancouver Island. We will be staying at the Fisherman’s Wharf. Comox has several restaurants within a short walk and is also a great place to provision. http://comoxharbour.com. Our Canadian Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats dealer, Port Boat House will be sponsoring a dinner on the dock for us in Comox.

After two nights in Comox we will depart for Gorge Harbour Marina on beautiful Cortes Island. Gorge Harbour is one of our favorite crusing destinations and we look forward to seeing the exciting updates with the completion of construction this spring! The pool and hot tub will be open and the grounds have been updated and improved!

Important messages regarding this trip (please read before registering).

1. The Desolation Sound Cruise is open-ended. The factory-led portion of the trip ends at Gorge Harbor. We encourage participants to stay up in Desolation Sound on their own or with buddy boats to explore and play beyond Gorge Harbor.
2. Cruise priority is given to those who meet the following criteria: You must have purchased a new Ranger Tug or Cutwater Boat from the factory or authorized dealer, you must not have been on the Desolation Sound cruise in your current boat before, and you must have experience traveling to Canada by boat and clearning customs at least once before.
3. Rafting will be required, with the larger boats on the dock and smaller boats rafted to them. We have a limited amount of moorage available to us at both Comox and Gorge Harbour.
4. Due to limited moorage availability and the necessity to secure moorage early, the registration fee for this trip is non-refundable. Please make sure you will be able to join us before registering.
5. You will be responsible for paying for your moorage and power at each marina.
6. You do not need to make moorage reservations at Telegraph Harbour, Comox Harbour or Gorge Harbour. We have reserved the dock space and will submit our registration list to them prior to our arrival.
7. You will want to make moorage reservations ASAP for any marinas you plan to stay at on the 24th or after (including Gorge Harbour).
8. All repairs including warranty work needs to be completed prior to the cruise. We will have our tools on the trip for emergency purposes only.

These four videos are required watching if you’ve never been to our Points North Seminar: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5y1fJ3-68JZMsfOLgTHhnW8cN5QxV3Qw They are long but the information is extremely useful and important. This cruise has a max capacity of 35 boats. We hope you can join us for this fun and rewarding adventure!

Tentative Schedule.

Friday – Meet at Telegraph Harbour Marina on Thetis Island

5:30 pm (tentative) – Captain's briefing. Identify cruising groups, departure procedure, weather update, Dodd Narrows, etc. BBQ Dinner sponsored by Ranger Tugs & Cutwater Boats.

Saturday- Arrive at Comox Harbor

6:00 am (tentative) – Depart Telegraph Harbour for Comox to catch slack tide at Dodd Narrows

4:00 pm - Happy Hour, appetizers, and drinks (location TBD). Bring your favorite appetizer, chair, and drink.

Sunday

4:00 pm - Captains briefing on shore. Departure procedure, weather update, route.

5:00 pm - Hosted dinner provided by our Canadian Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats Dealer, Port Boat House. Bring a chair and drink.

Monday- Arrive in Gorge

9:00 am - (tentative) Depart Comox for Gorge Harbour Marina.

5:30 pm - Appetizers and drinks on shore. Bring your favorite appetizer, chair, and drink.

Tuesday

5:00 pm - Captains Briefing. We will discuss local destinations, anchorages, and places to explore, provisioning, weather, etc. Bring your chart books and cruising guides for Desolation Sound and the Discovery Islands.

6:30 pm - BBQ courtesy of Pacific Power Group . Hamburgers, chicken burgers, hot dogs, side dishes, and cutlery provided. Bring your chair and favorite drink.

Wednesday and beyond - Depart Gorge Harbour Marina

This is the part of the cruise where everyone departs on their own or in smaller groups to explore the beauty and magic of Desolation Sound. The factory boats will depart from the group at this time. We encourage buddy-boating! posting on www.tugnuts.com prior to the cruise is a great way to discuss cruising plans and destinations with other cruisers. For those that wish to stay at Gorge Harbour Marina beyond Wednesday morning, please give them a call as early as possible to make the appropriate arrangements. They fill up with reservations early in the summer.

We look forward to cruising with you!