FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When do you operate?

Year round on a weather permitting basis from 8AM-10PM .  

Where are you located?

We are located on 'A' dock across the street from the Fairmont Empress Hotel.  

Where does the name THANE come from?

THANE is the Viking term for Captain.  Eventually the Thanes came ashore in Scotland, chased the Scots up the hill and became landowners.  They had Thanedoms and Thanesses.  Then William the Conqueror stuck it to King Harry  at the battle of Hastings and the title was lost to Earls and Dukes. Shakespeare's MacBeth was referred to as the  the THANE of Cawdor and the THANE of Glamis.

What services do you offer?

We are proud to offer an historic marine adventure aboard our classic Tall Ship THANE of VICTORIA . She is Transport Canada approved Home Trade IV for up to 18 day passengers along the Coast of British Columbia . Our Captain, Lenard Pearson, has his 60 tonne certificate and has been offering tours without incident since 1978. We offer a minimum of one 3-hour sail daily. There is no minimum number of passengers required. Guests are welcome to bring along a picnic. All ages and abilities are welcome. Alcohol is permitted however this is not a booze cruise. We provide all warm and wet weather gear, coolers, ice, glasses, openers and sunscreen.

What are your departure times?

We offer a minimum of one sailing daily up to a maximum of 3 departures. Typical sailing times are 1PM with additional sailings at 10:00AM and 4PM added on a demand basis. Departure times may vary due to weather or special events to provide the best possible service.

Do we get to participate?

Guests are encouraged to become involved in sailing the vessel; hauling the sails, taking the helm, riding the bowsprit etc.  Some people prefer to relax and enjoy which is fine, nothing is compulsory!  We do fun stuff like firing our cannon

on unsuspecting passerby's. When the season is right, we drag a fishing line, do some crabbing and always incorporate special events that are taking place on the water.  We impart local marine history, geological facts, info on marine wildlife, and throw in a sailing lesson in a fun filled 3-Hours.  

Do you offer trips that include any of the special events taking place?

Every year there are special events happening in Victoria and we believe in getting in on the excitement.        

Do we actually sail or are we motoring?

We are under full sail with the engine off for the majority of the trip. By law, we have to motor out of the inner harbour because it is a marine airport. During this time we cover the safety features and history of the vessel. It takes about 10 minutes to motor out of the marine airport at which point we get the guests to remove the sail covers and haul up the sails.  

Where do we go?

We have no set course; every adventure is dependent on the wind and tide. We sail the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the vicinity of Classic Cove, between Whitty's Lagoon and Esquimalt Lagoon, towards Port Angeles as far as the Alpha buoy, and down as far as Trial Island.

Do you have lifejackets?

THANE is Tranport Canada certified so she has a full compliment of life jackets. In addition , we carry a full compliment of personal floatation devices (PFD). We insist that kids wear a PFD and have some available for customers who feel more comfortable wearing one.

What about seasickness?

Seasickness is very uncommon on the THANE. There are several reasons for this:

•  where we are sailing is a protected area so there is no ocean swell 
•  we are surrounded by land at all times which enables passengers to       easily 'keep an eye on  the horizon'
•  we are a model of the SPRAY which is considered one of the most      stable of sailboat designs 
•  we weigh 21 tonnes, are made of solid wood and don't 'bob' around
 

Should I take an anti-seasickness pill before sailing?

You are welcome to do so if you feel more comfortable. The only drawback is that they tend to make you drowsy. As an alternative we suggest you bring ginger ale, ginger cookies, ginger tea or ginger candies as these are effective at settling the queasy feeling people may experience when on the water.  

Is it safe, fun and comfortable for infants? Pregnant women? Seniors?

Yes it is safe, fun and comfortable for all of the above. There is a cushioned bench seat at the stern of the vessel that is reserved for these guests. It is best to mention your special circumstances when booking so we can provide appropriate accomodation 

Is it wheelchair accessible?

This depends on the size of the wheelchair,  We can accomodate most chairs and often transfer the passenger toa seating aboard.

Do you have safe storage for walkers, wheelchairs, baby carriages etc?

Yes.    

Do you offer sailing instructions?

Yes. Sailing instructions are incorporated in the trip in an informal manner. Anyone wanting to learn more just has to mention it and we'll show you the ropes.  

Is there a bathroom aboard?

Yes. There is a large washroom aboard with running hot and cold water.  

Where do you sit?

It's up to you! We urge guests to explore the vessel.There is outdoor and indoor seating. The boat is very large and has a variety of seating arrangements. There are no designated seats and people tend to move around between the various areas. Guests usually divide there time between sitting on the foredeck, laying in the hammock, riding the bowsprit, and down below warming up by the fireplace. There is also a comfy cushioned bench seat at the stern of the boat which is popular.  

What should we bring?

Although we provide all the gear you may be more comfortable in your own. There is plenty of stowage down below so feel fee to pack along whatever. It is a good idea to bring extra warm weather gear, camera, binoculars, sun hat and sunglasses. It is recommended that you bring along a picnic as we don't sell any food or drinks aboard.  

What should we wear?

It is a good idea to dress in layers. It can be cool on the water even in July or August. We strongly recommend shoes over sandals as they keep the feet warm and enable you to climb the rigging more effectively. We ask that your footwear have no metal buckles or clips because they damage the woodwork.  

Can we bring wine or beer?

Alcohol is permitted in moderation. We provide the cooler, glasses and opener.  

What kind of wildlife do you see?

Every trip is different! We can't guarantee anything. We have seen dolphins, whales, seals, eagles, jellyfish etc.