OUR TOURS

Hours of Operation::

Year round on a weather permitting basis from 8:00AM-10:00 PM  

Location: Tall Ship THANE is conveniently located on the north side of "A" dock in front of the Empress Hotel. She is easy to find as she has 3-HOUR SAIL emblazoned on her main sail cover.  

Services Offered:  

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.

A 3-HOUR SAIL:

We offer a 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.

Departures: 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.

The Tour: 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-Hour .

Special Events: Every year there are special events happening in Victoria and we believe in getting in on the excitement. Clipper Around the World Yacht Race, Swiftsure Annual Race, Tall Ships Challenge and the Classic Boat festival are among some of the fun filled times in the harbour. There are the fireworks on Canada Day July 1 st and the Symphony Splash! We also offer tours to visit the US Navy's largest air craft carriers: US Abraham Lincoln and US John C. Stennis. We go out to witness the Canadian Air Force Snowbirds incredible air show. We are proud to fire our cannon in salute at all of these events which we have participated in continuously over the years . Check out the Calendar of Events and see what is happening when you're in town!

PRIVATE/GROUP CHARTERS:

We offer a variety of private parties for groups of up to eighteen i.e.: birthdays, anniversaries, office parties, weddings, memorials, stags, family reunions, pirate parties, costume parties, ESL packages, Physically Challenged Packages, Summer Camp Packages, School Packages, Non-profit packages, Adventure Clubs, Singles Tours, Honeymoon Packages, and private parties. Groups can bring their own food, we can provision the vessel at cost or you can have your party catered.

Private/CharterGroup Rates: Charter/group rates are available. Prices vary according to the time and the season. Please call for a quote!  

Catering: Catering is available with various options to suit all budgets. Please call for details!

CORPORATE TEAM BUILDING:

To successfully sail an 18th century gaff-rigged ketch requires an understanding of the chain of command from the Captain through to watch leader. Orders need to be timely, precise and clear - otherwise disaster could strike. This is no different from running a successful team in business today except effective decision making saves money not lives. Sailing a tall ship is not just about handling a boat on the water. It is the ability to expect the unexpected from the sea, about handling stress when conditions are unfavourable and solving problems when things don't go according to plan. To succeed, the crew needs to operate as a team, working together to sail the ship. There's no room for egos on board a tall ship - instead encouragement, co-operation and teamwork are required to set a true course.

On the Tall Ship THANE Teambuilding Programme, we can work with your own conference organisers or motivational trainers who can form part of the crew.  Alternatively we offer an environment to simply have a getaway with your team, providing an environment for people to get to know each other away from the office. Our trips can be a day sail customised to suit your needs as part of your conference programme, or run from 2 days over a weekend up to a full week, depending on your requirements