Your Skippers—John and Lyza Clarke
Winters find us living, as we have for over forty years of marriage, in White Rock, British Columbia, Canada—a seaside town just over the border from Blaine, Washington, in the US. We are at home on the water and in the wilderness, with safety and first aid training on both land and sea. Captain John is an CRYA (Canadian Recreational Yachting Association) instructor and both John and Lyza are certified coastal skippers. Our boating experience includes sailing in Porpoise offshore to the Hawaiian Islands and back, and cruising the Inside Passage from as far north as Alaska to as far south as Seattle. These Pacific Northwest cruising grounds are so familiar to us that our whole family (four grown children, their spouses, and our six grandchildren) feel as if the coastal waters are ‘our backyard’. We want to share our experiences with you through Pacific Encounters.
The Crew
Several experienced family and friends occasionally assist if needed as an additional crewmate to provide our guests with the best of service.
Matt, our son, has a lifetime of boating experience and was a crewmate on our offshore adventure. He is also the future captain of Porpoise.
Chris, our son-in-law, is a coastal skipper and he also crewed with us to Hawaii and back. He is an avid sailor on his own sailboat as well.
Nate (aka First Nate) has been a part of Pacific Encounters for years and is an indispensable crewmate and facilitator of many men’s sailing trips.
Gigi, our daughter, is an excellent addition to the crew with her warm and engaging personality. She is also a creative and talented cook.
SV Porpoise
Porpoise, constructed in 1975 with a craftsman’s attention to detail, is outfitted with comfort and convenience for up to 8 people.
Whether cruising the coast or anchored in some isolated lagoon, Porpoise is a beautiful vessel. The ship’s interior includes an airy pilothouse, spacious lounge area, well-appointed galley, two heads, and comfortable private quarters. On deck, there is a large seating area and ample space to take in the views and participate in a true adventure.
Porpoise carries an inflatable tender for shore exploration and 2 single kayaks. Updated navigational, safety and sailing equipment have been installed to assure the best of cruising.
Our Book — Cast Off Your Bow Lines
For more about our adventures on the Porpoise, enjoy behind the scenes anecdotes and learn about how we got started in the world of sailing in our book Cast Off Your Bow Lines, written by Cap’n John, and featuring stories from all around our charter routes and beyond.