Salt Spring Luxury Yacht Retreat — MYSTICA 80 & Lightwater Cove

Three days aboard an 80-foot yacht, a Gulf Islands vineyard, and a choice of sleeping ashore or afloat.

Sep 6 – Sep 8, 2026 · False Creek

How long: 3 days · 2 nights
Group: 12 guests
Where: Salt Spring Island
Boats: MYSTICA · Axopar 28
Stay: Lightwater Cove & MYSTICA

The day

The group left Vancouver aboard MYSTICA and cruised south through the Strait of Georgia to Sage Hayward Vineyards for a tender-in wine tasting and lunch. From there it was on to Salt Spring Island, where half the group settled into Lightwater Cove and the rest stayed aboard the yacht. Day two split the group between a four-hour fishing trip on a nimble Axopar 28 and a drive around Ganges, Salt Spring Island Cheese and Wild Cider, before everyone reunited that evening. The final morning was spent wandering the farmland and coastline at Ruckle Heritage Farm before the long cruise back to the city.

Highlights

Cruising south aboard the 80-foot MYSTICA
Wine tasting at a Gulf Islands vineyard
Fishing trip aboard the Axopar 28
Browsing Salt Spring Island Cheese
Exploring Ruckle Heritage Farm's coastline
Tender transfers to Lightwater Cove's dock

Day by day

Day 1 · Sun, Sep 6, 2026

8:00 AM PTDowntown Vancouver — Board MYSTICA in Downtown Vancouver and settle in for a relaxed journey into the Southern Gulf Islands.
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM PTStrait of Georgia → Southern Gulf Islands — After leaving Vancouver, MYSTICA cruises across the Strait of Georgia toward the Southern Gulf Islands. This is a relaxed part of the journey, with plenty of time to enjoy the yacht, watch the coastline change, and take in the surrounding island scenery.
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM PTSage Hayward Vineyards, Saturna Island — MYSTICA arrives in the Sage Hayward area in the late morning. Because of the yacht's size, MYSTICA remains offshore at the appropriate mooring arrangement while guests transfer ashore by tender.
5:00 PM PTLightwater Cove, Salt Spring Island — MYSTICA reaches the Lightwater Cove area in the late afternoon. Guests transfer between the yacht and shore by tender. For the overnight stay, the group divides between Lightwater Cove and MYSTICA. Approximately half of the guests stay in three rooms at Lightwater Cove, while the remaining guests spend the night aboard the yacht.

Day 2 · Mon, Sep 7, 2026

10:00 AM – 2:00 PM PTWaters around Salt Spring Island — On the second day, the group splits into two different experiences. Up to five guests board Captain Wang's Axopar 28 for approximately four hours of fishing and coastal sightseeing. The boat is repositioned to the Lightwater Cove area specifically for this experience.
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM PTSalt Spring Island — While the fishing group is on the water, the remaining guests explore Salt Spring Island with private vehicles and drivers. The route combines the island's main village with local artisan food and countryside experiences.
Afternoon & EveningLightwater Cove — The fishing group and island sightseeing group reunite at Lightwater Cove in the afternoon. Everyone can spend the evening together before the group once again divides between Lightwater Cove and MYSTICA for the night.

Day 3 · Tue, Sep 8, 2026

9:00 AM – 1:00 PM PTRuckle Provincial Park, Salt Spring Island — After breakfast, the group heads out together for a relaxed final morning around Ruckle Provincial Park and the heritage farm area.
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM PTSalt Spring Island → Southern Gulf Islands → Downtown Vancouver — After checking out, everyone transfers back aboard MYSTICA and begins the return journey toward Vancouver. The final afternoon is intentionally relaxed, allowing guests to enjoy the yacht and the coastal scenery one last time.

What we arranged

MYSTICA 80
The private yacht for the full three days, from Vancouver and back.
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Lightwater Cove
Three oceanfront rooms for two nights on Salt Spring Island.
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Axopar 28 fishing trip
A four-hour fishing outing for up to five guests with Captain Wang.
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Private vehicles & drivers
Three vehicles with drivers each day for island sightseeing.
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