The Big Mother Cat: Mothership Kayaking

April-May 1998

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

by Tom and Ann Hennessy

Tom Hennessy has owned his 46-foot Wharram catamaran Great White Cloud since 1980. It is Coast Guard approved and has been chartering in the waters surrounding the Trincomali Channel since 1984. Each year, many school groups make the trip to Galiano to experience sailing and to view the migratory waterfowl, spring wildflowers and sea mammals which congregate in the islands to give birth to their young. These trips are also popular with English as a Second Language groups and university continuing education programs. The catamaran is involved in providing trips for naturalists through the Gulf Islands Institue for Environmental Studies. Every year, tour companies including Backroads Bicycling of California, Butterfield & Robinson of Toronto and Sea to Sky Cycling of Whistler transport their guests between islands aboard the Great White Cloud.

Another lovely day in the Gulf Islands

In 1994, while still a student at the University of BC, Tom's daughter, Kate Hennessy started a kayak tour and rental business and the concept of kayak and catamaran trips was developed. New, fully equipped Necky single and double ocean kayaks are provided with all essential gear. Before departure clients are given a paddle talk on land and an on-water lesson by trained instructor/guides familiar with the natural history of the Gulf Islands.

Mothership kayaking trips present a whole new dimension in kayak adventure and offer an unsurpassed level of comfort and safety. Whether you kayak a little or a lot each day, the group always stays rested and together. All gear and food is carried on the mothership and you can come aboard anytime you feel like a rest or some refreshment. For economy, kayaks are shared. Half the group is kayaking while the other half is sailing and relaxing. Guides are in radio contact and a fast Zodiac tender is available. We paddle when conditions are good but if the going gets tough we can cross stretches of open water against the wind and tide effortlessly with you and your kayak safely aboard the 1000 square foot sailing catamaran. We drop ancor in sheltered coves of isolated island parks and launch you and your kayak from the catamaran, relaxed and ready to enjoy the islands' most beautiful places. This ability to travel farther, faster and with less effort allows us to reach the remote areas for a more complete island experience.

This is a completely different kind of low impact kayaking-camping trip. All your gear is carried aboard the catamaran which makes your kayak easier to paddle. Each guest shares in the preparation of one meal and everyone sleeps aboard the catamaran. When we arrive at our destination one big tent covers the deck of the catamaran, supper has been cooking for hours in the galley and when it's time, the sleeping bags and foam pads are arranged on a level deck under the big tent. In the morning, if someone wants to sleep late, we just pull up the anchor and sail away. If they wake up ten miles down the channel, they won't even miss breakfast!

Tom and Ann Hennessy

Canadian Gulf Islands Kayak & Catamaran

Gulf Islands Reservation Service

637 Southwind Road,

Galiano Island, BC V0N 1P0

Ph: 250/539-2930 Fax: 250/539-5390

Toll free: 1-888-539-2930

reservations@gulfislands.com