Strait to Gate| Victoria – San Fran

Day 1: Afternoon Arrival on Sea Dragon

You’ll meet Sea Dragon on the dock in Vancouver at Coal Harbor Marina anytime between 1500 and 1700 and come on board to settle in. Everyone will come together for our first dinner on board and have the opportunity to get to know your fellow crew members. After dinner, your professional crew will go through life on board and safety procedures in prep for departure the following morning. You’ll be fitted with your own lifejacket and assigned foul weather gear if you haven’t brought your own. After prep, you’ll have free time to explore the city, read a book or simply hang on board the rest of the night. We’ll stay the night alongside the dock.   

Day 2: Sail to Prevost Island

We’ll wake up and have a hearty breakfast before casting off the lines and heading out under the Lion’s Gate Bridge out of Vancouver to our first destination, Prevost Island. Against the gorgeous backdrop of mountains, we’ll set sail for our first sail. After finding our way through some of the Gulf Islands, we’ll arrive in the afternoon, and we’ll spend the night on anchor. There’s nothing like a wonderful meal on deck at anchor at sunset!  

Day 3: Island Exploration

After a delicious breakfast, we’ll explore ashore, from the orchards to the point. We’ll land in the dinghy and hike from the beach out to the lighthouse overlooking Trincomali Channel. After a delicious lunch, we’ll pop around the corner to Bedwell Harbour, keeping an eye out for whales as we go. We’ll spend the night on anchor. 

Day 4: Sail to Port Angeles

In the morning, we’ll pick anchor and head through the islands making our way to Port Angeles. It will be a bit of a longer sail than our first, but everything will start to feel quite familiar as we make our way. Hopefully we’ll spot some good wildlife and if we are lucky, see the resident pods of Orcas! We’ll arrive in time to clear customs and immigration into the US and spend the night alongside on the dock.

Day 5: Olympic Peninsula Adventure

We’re much too close to the Olympic National Park to miss the opportunity of going for a rainforest hike before heading offshore for a few days. The possibilities are endless and there are options of hikes for all levels of difficulty. If this isn’t up your alley, take the opportunity to explore Port Angeles! We’ll spend the night alongside again.

Day 6: Departure for Sea

After breakfast, we’ll prep for going offshore and get off the dock before lunch. Settling into the watch and sailing routine, we’ll head out the Strait of Juan de Fuca to big blue. Fingers crossed once again for good wildlife viewing, as this region is full of it!

Day 8-11: Underway Offshore

We will all find our rhythm to life at sea, and the days will fade in and out upon big blue. No two days, sunrises, sunsets or watches will be the same. Good food, great company, and hopefully many stars will carry us south toward San Francisco. 

Day 12: Arrival in San Francisco and Departure

After coming under the Golden Gate Bridge and coming alongside, it will be time to disembark Sea Dragon by 1600. We’ll all say so long, but not goodbye, and you’ll find yourself free to explore beautiful San Francisco. 

Contribution Includes:
– 11 nights accommodation on Sea Dragon
– All meals (vegetarian), snacks, and drinks on board
– Sailing Instruction
– Safety equipment and foul weather gear
– Use of inflatable paddle boards

Contribution does not include:
– Transportation to and from Vancouver and San Francisco
– Transportation to and from the boat
– Additional nights spent ashore
– Personal expenses while in port

Temperate

You will join the boat in in Vancouver  between 1500-1700 on the first day.    You will depart the boat in San Francisco  at 1600 on the last day.  Due to the vagaries of weather in the North Pacific, we may adjust our offshore passage timing – we could arrive as early as the 13th if weather demands us depart from the Pacific Northwest early.  If we arrive early, you are welcome to stay aboard until the 16th to explore San Francisco!

Vancouver International (YVR) is about 20 minutes away by car and also easily accessible by rail.  San Francisco International (SFO) is about 45 minutes by car or 1 hour by bus and train from Sausalito. Oakland International (OAK) is about 1 hour by either car or transit.  In addition, Amtrak has connecting service from downtown SF to it’s Emeryville depot, with trains to the rest of the country.

All crew members will require a passport and visas from their home country that will allow them to travel to/ from the USA and Canada. Please note that many nationalities which can enter the US by air on the ESTA visa waiver program need a B1/B2 visa to enter by sea.  If you are NOT from the USA, Canada, or Bermuda, you will likely need to get a B1/B2.  An ESTA may be acceptable for entry into Washington – please contact us for details. Please note that if you are not a US or Canadian citizen, you will likely need to complete a Canadian ETA prior to traveling.  Please ensure you have the appropriate paperwork completed before joining the vessel.  Please look into the specific type of visa you need for arriving at these destinations by sea, or contact us directly to discuss.

ALESSANDRA PEPARINI – Captain

My passion for the ocean started very early… when I was a kid I spent all summers in the water! My activities were from fishing to swimming, from snorkeling to the first freediving, from kayaking to simply playing with the waves.  My confidence with the water and my sensitivity towards the ocean and all kinds of creatures in and outside the water started growing during these early years and is what has drove me to my working choices and lifestyle.

I start sailing late, when I was 18yo and I have immediately felt in love with it. At 20yo, together with a friend, I owned a 7m boat which we totally rebuild inside. After some time working at a sail loft specializing in canvas work, I started doing charters and deliveries in the Med as a deckhand, cook, and mate while during the winter I continued working full time as swimming instructor, specializing in working with people affected by disabilities (physical and mental). After several years of doing this and working on custom composites with Carboway I decided something was missing in my life.

So, when my second and last dog had died for old age I have decided to leave for an Atlantic crossing in 2016. Even though I had a ticket back to Europe, I never used it and I kept on sailing until I arrived in the Pacific, where I worked freelance on superyachts and doing deliveries.

I really enjoy long passages and being in remote places, I feel 100% part of the nature around me. And when I am not on a boat I love going up the mountains hiking or climbing, otherwise freediving. I am excited to be working on board Sea Dragon because I enjoy heaps teaching how to swim and be in the water to people, transmitting my passion, I would like to give back to the ocean,  which is in need, using Sea Dragon as a way for teaching people how to be respectful and minimize their impact on nature around them.

Alessandra holds her Yachtmaster Offshore with Commercial Endorsement, a CMAS Advanced Diver, an AIDA Advanced Freediver, and holds her STCW endorsed Proficiency in Medical Care at Sea.