Charles and Margo Wood - Charlie\'s Charts North to Alaska

26

VICTORIA AND SIDNEY

Victoria is the capitaI of the Province of British Columbia. It is located

on Vancouver Island and is a Port af Entry. It has many interesting and

attractive features which are ... elI y:orth exploring.

After entering Victoria Harbour proeeed to the Inner Harbour. There are
many choices for a stop-over. The traditional visitor's floats, enjoying the
best Iocation in the harbour, are 8e the head of the Inner Basin and lie
directly in front of the ivy-clad Empress Hotel. The Parliament Buildings are
on the right. The floats are owned and maintained by the City of Victoria and
visitors are granted a period of free moorage. There are no facilities at the
floats, but their unrivalled centraI Ioeation i5 their main attraction. At
night the waterfront and several buildings are illuminated and a visiting erew
has a front seat. Customs mav be ealled for clearance from the dock. Further
aiong from the visitor's dock~ are the terminals for ferries to Seattle.

A Iittie further up the harbour (to ... ards the Johnson Street bascule bridge)

is a marked Customs jetty at the Rither Basin facility. Here one may enter and

clear customs without charge, seven days a week from 8 a.m. to midnight. If

one arrives after hours tie to the jetty and ... ait till morning.

Nearer the harbour entrance, starboRrd side on entering, are several

fingers of the commerciaI fishermen's docks. Though fil1ed for part of the

year, there is usualIy some space in summer during the fishing season when the

fishboats are out.

Victoria has maoy tourist attractions and maintains a pleasant "Old

English" atmosphere. Shops of al! types and quaIity abound. SimilarIy, a

great variety of good restaurants are availabie -- many within easy reach of

the Inner Harbour. Afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel i9 considered a "must"

by many visitors to Victoria. A visit to the Provincia l Museum (next to the

Parliameot BuiIdings) will introduce one to much of the heritage and resources

of B. C. LastIy, a visit to CapitaI Iron (1200 Store Street) will give a

mariner a chance to rummage through an old-fashioned generaI store.

Sidney is also a Port of Entry. It i5 a small suburb of Victoria 10cated

near the northern end of the Saanich Peninsula. When approaching the harbour

keep the red buoy to starboard and the biack one to porto A breakwater

protects the northern fIoats, those on the southern side being temporary.

Customs may be called from a pay phone at the top of the rampe Shopping

facilities are convenient1y Iocated on the main street.

The Anacortes-Sidney ferry dock9 are about 1/2 mile south of the smal1

craft harbour. The terminaI for ferries to the mainland i5 at Swartz Bay which

i8 at the northern of the peninsula.

Severai marinas and yacht club outstations are in the inlets forming Tsehum

Harbour. The approach to these facilities is shown on the 5ketch. When enter-

iog, AlI Bay and Van Isie ~arinas are on the port side. The latter marina has

a visitor's float and is a Port of Entry. Fuel, haul-outs, boat launching,

re8taurants, and other amenities are availabIe, while bus service to Sidney and

Victoria is conveniently close. Further into the iniet are other marinas and

yacht club outstations.