NEW for our 2026 expedition season! The ketch Ocean Wayfinder is a 70-foot (21-metre) sailing vessel and certified passenger vessel. Bringing this purpose-built vessel to Outer Shores Expeditions reflects our ongoing commitment to sharing the wonders of our coast in a way that is thoughtful, respectful, and deeply connected to place. With more space and comfort for guests, and the same low-impact, high-engagement approach, Ocean Wayfinder, along with Passing Cloud, will continue our tradition of sustainably exploring and supporting the conservation and communities of the BC coast.
We are excited to set sail on the next chapter of Outer Shores Expeditions as we welcome a second vessel to our offerings for the 2026 expedition season.
Joining Passing Cloud, our beloved 70’ classic wooden schooner, is a remarkable sailing vessel with its own long and storied history of exploration along the coast of British Columbia: Ocean Wayfinder.
Designed by renowned Canadian naval architect Stanley C. Huntingford, and built in Vancouver by Cooper Enterprises in 1984 as a private yacht designed to sail around the world, Ocean Wayfinder completed a major renovation in 2003 to update the cabin configurations and all safety systems.
She is a 70-foot ketch-rigged sailing vessel and Transport Canada certified passenger vessel, constructed of fibreglass. While similar in length to Passing Cloud, her hull shape, width, and greater freeboard (i.e., the distance between water level and deck height), make her a substantially larger vessel that supports a wide range of amenities and enhanced guest experiences. Renowned for her comfort and capability, and meticulously outfitted for extended coastal cruising, Ocean Wayfinder is perfectly suited to the exploring the windswept fiords, island archipelagoes, and remote marine environments of Canada’s Pacific Coast.
All cabins aboard Ocean Wayfinder are thoughtfully designed with comfort and practicality in mind. Each features at least one porthole, ample storage space for your gear and personal items. You’ll also find electrical outlets in each cabin, so you can recharge camera batteries, power personal devices, and enjoy the warm glow of a reading light as you settle in for the evening, whether you’re reviewing the day’s wildlife sightings or simply unwinding with a good book from the ship’s library.
On deck, guests will find ample space to relax and take in the views, whether scanning the shoreline for bears and coastal wolves, photographing whales, or when sailing or cruising. Ocean Wayfinder’s large warm wheelhouse and sheltered aft cockpit provide panoramic views and generous seating areas, making wildlife viewing comfortable in all weather conditions.
Ocean Wayfinder carries:
Access to the main salon and passengers cabins is via a gentle staircase and wooden handrail, and boarding and unboarding expedition skiffs is via a dedicated transom stairway and water-level swim grid with uprights for support.
Her galley includes an electric convection oven, pantry, and generous fridge/freezer space to support the same high standard of food and hospitality our guests have come to expect from Outer Shores Expeditions.
Now that the Ocean Wayfinder has officially joined Outer Shores Expeditions, we offer you a sneak-preview walkthrough in our webinar below. We’ll continue capturing new photos and videos to share, so stay tuned for an even closer look at the vessel we’re excited to call home.
Header image credit: Dean McCurdy British Columbia’s coastline holds an astonishing diversity of marine life, and we’re continually grateful for the chance to witness so
I’m often asked which of our expedition regions is my personal favourite. Or, if I had to choose just one of our expeditions, which would
Russell Markel hosts a virtual sneak peek of Ocean Wayfinder, the new expedition vessel in the Outer Shores Expeditions family. Join Russell as he walks
