Vancouver Maritime Experience

A guided experience that begins at the Vancouver Maritime Museum and continues onto the water aboard a sailing yacht. Learn how the city’s maritime history shaped its harbour and coastline, then experience those landscapes firsthand during a relaxed sail.

Why this expedition

  • Start with maritime history on land
    Begin at the Vancouver Maritime Museum, where key stories and artifacts provide context for the city’s relationship with the sea.

  • Connect history to the present-day coastline
    See how shipbuilding, navigation, trade, and exploration shaped the harbour you sail through today.

  • Transition from museum to water
    Move directly from historical insight to lived experience, stepping aboard a sailing yacht to explore the same waters discussed on land.

  • Relaxed, scenic sail
    The sailing portion is unhurried, allowing time to observe the harbour, shoreline, and landmarks with fresh perspective.

  • Guided by knowledgeable hosts
    Your guide helps connect historical themes to the places you pass, without overwhelming detail.

Book Experience

Starting at

$799 for up to 5 people

Dates

May 1 - September 30, 2026

Duration

3 hours

Style

Private museum visit + relaxed sailing experience

Perfect for

Curious travellers, locals, families, history enthusiasts, and guests looking for deeper context

What’s Included

  • Entry to the Vancouver Maritime Museum

  • Professional skipper and guide

  • Sailing yacht and fuel

  • Safety equipment

  • Light local narration during the sail

  • Sparkling and still water

The Experience

This experience is about understanding the city through its water.

The journey begins at the Vancouver Maritime Museum, where key moments in the city’s maritime story are introduced—exploration, coastal navigation, and the working harbour. The visit is focused and conversational, setting the stage rather than overwhelming with detail.

From there, you head onto the water. As the yacht moves through the harbour and along the coastline, the stories shift from abstract to tangible. Landmarks, shoreline features, and working waterfront spaces take on new meaning as you experience them from the water.

History & Landscape

Vancouver’s harbour is inseparable from its past.

Navigation routes shaped the city’s growth
Shipyards, trade, and industry influenced the waterfront
Coastal geography guided development and movement

Seeing these elements from the water brings historical context into focus.

How the Sail Unfolds

Each experience is shaped by conditions and timing. While no two trips are the same, most include:

Museum introduction
A focused visit highlighting key maritime themes.

Transition to the marina
Moving from land-based context to on-water experience.

Harbour sailing
Relaxed sailing through Vancouver’s inner harbour and nearby coastline.

Story-led exploration
Historical insights connected to visible landmarks.

Return sail
A calm finish with changing light and perspective.

Timing and route vary with weather, marine traffic, and museum access to ensure comfort and safety.

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Trust & Safety

This experience is operated by MacSailing, Canada’s largest sailing school, operating on Vancouver’s waterfront since 1999.

Our vessels and operations comply with Transport Canada regulations, and our skippers are professionally trained and highly experienced, operating under established safety procedures developed through decades of instruction, coaching, and on-water programming.

Safety equipment is carried onboard, and routes are selected each day to prioritize comfort, conditions, and guest experience.

 FAQs

 

  • No. This experience is designed for beginners and non-sailors.

  • Seals and seabirds are common, but wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

  • Yes, for older children comfortable on boats.

  • Conditions are usually calm. We choose routes that prioritize comfort.