British Columbia, Canada
Pacific Yellowfin Yacht
A stately and authentic charter vessel for exclusive use, Pacific Yellowfin takes its guests deep into the Inside Passage. This pristine environment combines the eagles, wolves and bears of the temperate rainforest with the whales, dolphins, seals and orcas of the calm coastal waters.
A stately and authentic charter vessel for exclusive use, Pacific Yellowfin takes its guests deep into the Inside Passage. This pristine environment combines the eagles, wolves and bears of the temperate rainforest with the whales, dolphins, seals and orcas of the calm coastal waters.
A stately and authentic charter vessel for exclusive use, Pacific Yellowfin takes its guests deep into the Inside Passage. This pristine environment combines the eagles, wolves and bears of the temperate rainforest with the whales, dolphins, seals and orcas of the calm coastal waters.
A stately and authentic charter vessel for exclusive use, Pacific Yellowfin takes its guests deep into the Inside Passage. This pristine environment combines the eagles, wolves and bears of the temperate rainforest with the whales, dolphins, seals and orcas of the calm coastal waters.
Location
Venturing forth from its home port of Vancouver on Canada’s west coast between June and October, Pacific Yellowfin’s territory is British Columbia portion of the Inside Passage. This is a network of waterways sheltered by offshore islands where the vast North American continent meets the Pacific Ocean.
Shaped by ancient glaciers and used for millennia by indigenous communities and migrating marine life, these waters are rich in history and teeming with life. This is a coastline where great temperate rainforests meet cool, nutrient-rich seas – a convergence that fuels extraordinary ecosystems, both on land and beneath the waves.
Shaped by ancient glaciers and used for millennia by indigenous communities and migrating marine life, these waters are rich in history and teeming with life. This is a coastline where great temperate rainforests meet cool, nutrient-rich seas – a convergence that fuels extraordinary ecosystems, both on land and beneath the waves.
The Yacht
With the graceful bearing that comes from being built in the 1940s, Pacific Yellowfin is a heritage vessel where stylish comforts are an integral part of an adventure into this coastal frontier.
This is no cruise ship: with a typical passenger list of eight, or up to 12 for a family, the scale is intimate and personal. That doesn’t mean cramped, for at almost 35 metres in length, there’s more than enough space for everyone.
The boat has a colourful history. Built as a coastal freighter for the US Navy during World War II, it has since been a spy ship, research vessel, and then a houseboat.
This is no cruise ship: with a typical passenger list of eight, or up to 12 for a family, the scale is intimate and personal. That doesn’t mean cramped, for at almost 35 metres in length, there’s more than enough space for everyone.
The boat has a colourful history. Built as a coastal freighter for the US Navy during World War II, it has since been a spy ship, research vessel, and then a houseboat.
Re-fitted completely in 2003 for its current incarnation – as a high-end charter yacht – its cabins all have ensuite bathrooms, and there’s a master suite with a sitting area and private exterior deck. We’re sure that the wartime sailors would have loved one of the modern-day perks: a six-person hot tub!
The convivial layout of the vessel – encouraging relaxed socialising on the main deck and the camaraderie of meals in a mahogany-rich nautical dining room – is ideal for families or friends enjoying time together and for those curious to learn from the experienced crew.
At the helm is Captain Colin Griffinson, a seasoned mariner with a lifetime of stories and a deep love for this coastline. Always keen to share his knowledge, he’ll enrich your journey with insights into the Inside Passage’s tricky tides, hidden coves and rich maritime lore.
The convivial layout of the vessel – encouraging relaxed socialising on the main deck and the camaraderie of meals in a mahogany-rich nautical dining room – is ideal for families or friends enjoying time together and for those curious to learn from the experienced crew.
At the helm is Captain Colin Griffinson, a seasoned mariner with a lifetime of stories and a deep love for this coastline. Always keen to share his knowledge, he’ll enrich your journey with insights into the Inside Passage’s tricky tides, hidden coves and rich maritime lore.
Wildlife Experiences
Timing its voyages to coincide with the mass return of salmon to the coastal waters and rivers, Pacific Yellowfin is a floating base for experiencing an ecosystem kick-started into frenzied activity for these summer months.
- Shore-based excursions take you into the Great Bear Rainforest, the world's largest coastal temperate rainforest; an environment of wolf packs, moose, elk, eagles, and wading grizzly bears feasting on salmon.
- Guided by a local Gitga’at expert, you’ll journey in search of the elusive kermode, or Spirit Bear - a rare, white-phase black bear sacred to the First Nations people of this region.
- From the deck of the boat, often closer than seems possible, you’ll see the waters broken by breaching whales, pods of hunting orca and playful dolphins.
- Venturing out along quiet fjords in small boats or kayaks, you’ll be at water level amid the kelp beds, the best place to get close to seals.
- On trails within the forest, you’ll learn about the vegetation and the ecology of the forest and how vital the annual influx of nutrients from the salmon is to the very existence of the towering trees.
- There are chances to visit remote first-nation communities to learn about their traditions and way of life, along with their sustainable relationships with the animals and plants of the coastline.
Fun & Games for All Ages
Pacific Yellowfin comes with a whole host of equipment and facilities to ensure that guests have the greatest array of ways to experience and have fun in this remote environment.
- Enjoy the quiet solitude of forays on paddleboards or kayaks, venturing to secluded coves surrounded by glacially smoothed granite boulders amid the plunging forest-clad slopes.
- Exploration of the land isn’t limited to feet. The boat has mountain bikes and ruckus scooters for added thrills.
- The calm water in the shelter of a picture-perfect island is just the right place for wakeboarding, waterskiing, tubing, or fooling around on an inflatable trampoline.
- Just diving from rocks is one of our favourite activities, but once you’ve got used to the water, we suggest some snorkelling too.
- Converting into a floating fun palace, Pacific Yellowfin has the habit of mooring up and revealing its 40-foot inflatable slide. It’s a great way to amuse everyone to a state of exhaustion.
- After the various forms of bracing exhilaration, the calm and warm appeal of the hot tub is universal.
Why Travel with Journeysmiths
We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 30 years we have been crafting the finest tailor-made holidays to the world’s wild places. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you every time.We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 30 years we have been crafting the finest tailor-made holidays to the world’s wild places. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you every time.