Ahoy BC
Ahoy BC
Boaters are a special kind of traveller. The fact that we travel on water sets us apart from the majority of travellers who use cars, motor homes, and buses. Our destinations are limited to coastlines and islands. On the other hand, we can go places rubber tire travellers cannot. Our travel is so highly influenced by weather, we often cannot be certain we will cover our route as planned. We rely on weather reports, good judgement, charts and guidebooks and we know that a sheltered anchorage is all we need.
We share a need with all travellers for helpful travel information. However, when we visit the websites or read the travel guides for destinations, they are not as helpful as they could be. They are oriented to the land traveller. Often, it appears that the boating traveller is invisible.
A few years ago, Destination BC, the Provincial tourism organization, recognized the special needs of boaters and for travel information tailored for them. In 2015, ahoybc.com was launched. Novel, because there is only one other place in the world with a destination travel website designed for boaters. Take three guesses where. (answer at bottom)
Ahoy BC
AHOY BC is designed as a first level travel planning tool. It presents BC’s coast in three regions and 11 sub-regions, luring you with vivid photography and videos designed to help you visualize and plan your voyage. Boaters can virtually explore the regions of the coast and let them cast their allure.
Boaters need to plan where they will moor and where they can re-fuel and re-supply, especially when visiting remote regions. A searchable map allows skippers to search for what they need. Select fuel, groceries, pump out station and liquor, for example, and only marinas with those items appear on the map. Travel planning made easy.
Information on things to do in every BC coastal community is provided from a boater’s perspective. Major marine centres, like Nanaimo and Powell River, have maps of the waterfront showing everything of interest to boaters. Suggestions for circle tours and connections to BC Marine Parks and Aboriginal cultural experiences help create an unforgettable voyage.
The “For the Skipper” section provides information on safe boating, fishing regulations, border crossing, environmental stewardship and respectful travel in traditional First Nations territories. Aspiring boaters will find information on learning to sail and boat charters.
AHOY BC is continuing to add content. Soon, the Vancouver Island West, Discovery Islands and Broughton Archipelago sub-regions will have expanded services directories, 20 best anchorages, and cultural and culinary tours.
The AHOY BC goal is to be a one-stop information source for discovering the BC coast and planning a route and destinations. The website is not intended to replace guidebooks and charts and both are recommended once a route is planned.
If you said “Scotland,” you were right. Now there are two places on Earth with travel planning tools designed for boaters.