Home -> Location Sunset image by William Morrison
	Schooner Cove Yacht Club Location

Cruising WG (Whiskey Golf) in the Georgia Strait
by Greger McLean

Easy access to Schooner Cove from the South is to pass seaward of Winchelsea Island in the safe transit lane then head directly into the Schooner Cove Marina. Call the helpful duty officer at Winchelsea Control on VHF channel 10, or Schooner Cove Marina on VHF channel 73 if you have any questions.

Situated just east of Fairwinds Schooner Cove Resort on the east side of mid-Vancouver Island, British Columbia is an area in the Strait of Georgia known to mariners as WG or Whiskey Golf. This area is used 12 months of the year by the Canadian and United States navy to conduct experiments on non-explosive torpedoes. It is also used for training their ships and aircrews in locating and attacking submarines. The 400m soft flat bottom of the Georgia Strait make this an ideal location for testing and retrieving the torpedoes.

North Winchelsea Island houses the control centre for the area. From this vantage point, the safety officer can monitor the movements of all vessels in or near the WG area. It is easy for mariners to access Schooner Cove or Nanoose Bay by using the safe transit lane established 1,000 yds Northeast of the Winchelsea Island group and 1,000 yds east of the Ballenas Island group.

When approaching Schooner Cove resort from the southeast, the easiest access is to pass seaward of Winchelsea Island in the safe transit lane then head directly into the Schooner Cove Marina. When operations are being conducted in the area, the area is "active". Vessels may sometimes transit the area when it is active by obtaining permission from the control centre on Winchelsea Island. Radio or phone communications are the key. "Winchelsea Island Control" may be contacted on marine VHF radio channel 10 or 16 or by calling toll free 1-888-221-1011. Active times may be obtained through the toll free number or by listening to the marine VHF channels 21B or weather 3. The location of the WG area can be found on charts numbered 3512 and 3459. The Canadian Coast Guard also describes it in the publication "Notices to Mariners - Annual edition".

North Winchelsea Island may be approached from all directions however landing on the shore or at the dock on the West side is not permitted. Pay attention to the Rock hazard marked on your chart when approaching from the west.

South Winchelsea Island is owned by the Land Conservancy of BC (TLC). The society rents a house on the ecologically diverse island to groups and individuals. TLC enjoys a good relationship with their Navy neighbors on north Winchelsea Island. Their combined effort helps monitor the islands visitors and traffic. Pay attention to the rudder rock hazard marked on your chart east of south Winchelsea Island. For information on south Winchelsea Island call the TLC in Victoria at (250) 361-7693 or visit their website.

With the destaffing of the light house at Ballenas Island and the closest Coast Guard stations being located at French Creek and Nanaimo it is comforting to know that the navy is close by. With their modern equipment, vessels and helicopter at Nanoose Bay and Winchelsea Island they can respond to an emergency near Schooner Cove in minutes. The Navy responds to approximately 12 marine rescues per year in the Georgia Strait.

For Information about the Fairwinds Schooner Cove Marina and Resort call toll free 1-800-663-7060,  VHF radio channel 73,  e-mail Fairwinds or visit their website.

Top of Page