On Sunday, August 12th, 2007, a group of photographers from the Nanaimo, Cowichan Valley, and Port Alberni Photography Clubs boarded the 39' catamaran Alfresco at the Genoa Bay Marina for a day-trip to the Princess Margaret Marine Reserve on Portland Island.
Our hosts Tom and Francis (both are artists as well) live on a wonderful houseboat in Genoa Bay where they are surrounded by their art. They were very friendly guides for our day on the water. Their catamaran Alfresco is moored on the outside of their home. Now thats convenient!
Our first stop after leaving Genoa Bay was to photograph the seal rookeries at Burial Island and then we headed south to Portland island. Here is a little bit of the history of Portland Island and how it became the Princess Margaret Marine Reserve.
Portland Island, located just north of Sidney, was named after the H.M.S Portland, the flagship of Rear-Admiral Moresby, commander-in-chief of the Pacific Station from 1850 to 1853. The island was named in 1859 by Captain G.H Richards of the H.M.S Plumper. Portland Island was originally presented to Princess Margaret in 1958 to commemorate her visit to British Columbia. In 1967 the princess graciously returned it back to the province for it to be created as a marine park! There are several middens on the island that indicate that the first nation people's used the land going back over 3,000 years. Middens are refuse heaps of castaway shells left by centuries of harvesting the island's waters. Like all of the Gulf Islands, Portland Island lies in the rain shadow of the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula and Vancouver Island. Little rain falls on the island during the summer months and many of the plants growing on shallow soils must contend with long dry periods. Arbutus, Garry Oak and Brittle Cactus are found on the island. Portland Island is 575 hectares in size and has over 10km's of walking trails.
We spent 3 hours on Portland Island walking the shorelines and trails and photographing the scenery. We then reboarded the Alfresco, put up the sails and relaxed on the spacious decks while we sailed back to Genoa Bay.
A wonderful day on the water and a trip we will hopefully make again next year!
Our hosts Tom and Francis (both are artists as well) live on a wonderful houseboat in Genoa Bay where they are surrounded by their art. They were very friendly guides for our day on the water. Their catamaran Alfresco is moored on the outside of their home. Now thats convenient!
Our first stop after leaving Genoa Bay was to photograph the seal rookeries at Burial Island and then we headed south to Portland island. Here is a little bit of the history of Portland Island and how it became the Princess Margaret Marine Reserve.
Portland Island, located just north of Sidney, was named after the H.M.S Portland, the flagship of Rear-Admiral Moresby, commander-in-chief of the Pacific Station from 1850 to 1853. The island was named in 1859 by Captain G.H Richards of the H.M.S Plumper. Portland Island was originally presented to Princess Margaret in 1958 to commemorate her visit to British Columbia. In 1967 the princess graciously returned it back to the province for it to be created as a marine park! There are several middens on the island that indicate that the first nation people's used the land going back over 3,000 years. Middens are refuse heaps of castaway shells left by centuries of harvesting the island's waters. Like all of the Gulf Islands, Portland Island lies in the rain shadow of the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula and Vancouver Island. Little rain falls on the island during the summer months and many of the plants growing on shallow soils must contend with long dry periods. Arbutus, Garry Oak and Brittle Cactus are found on the island. Portland Island is 575 hectares in size and has over 10km's of walking trails.
We spent 3 hours on Portland Island walking the shorelines and trails and photographing the scenery. We then reboarded the Alfresco, put up the sails and relaxed on the spacious decks while we sailed back to Genoa Bay.
A wonderful day on the water and a trip we will hopefully make again next year!
Keywords: catamaran cruise
