Crew Profile Menu Testimonials Features & AmenitiesLayout Photo Slide Show

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PACIFIC YELLOWFIN: A yacht of distinction for an unforgettable voyage in spectacular British Columbia, Canada.

Cruise the BC coast aboard this classic luxury yacht in some of the world's best cruising grounds. Take a luxury culinary cruise through BC's beautiful Gulf Islands, sampling some of the region's finest organic fare. Discover the warm and sunny marine playground of Desolation Sound. For the ultimate wildlife adventure, see humpback and killer whales, bears, sea lions, seals and porpoises on an eco-tour cruising through the Great Bear Rainforest.

Built as a coastal freighter for the US Army during World War II, this classic wooden boat has led an exciting life with stints ranging from spy ship to research vessel to houseboat. She was painstakingly refit in 2003 and now boasts all the amenities of a luxury expedition yacht while retaining her unique character.

Discover the cozy warmth of gleaming teak, mahogany, and oak in traditional design. Indigenous Pacific Northwest Douglas Fir forms the table in the main salon where guests can recount their daily adventures with friends and family over a glass of wine. Pacific Yellowfin blends seamlessly with its natural environs as she incorporates all elements of West Coast culture in her presentation and services.

One of Vancouver's leading interior design firms, Robert Ledinghan, created a superb decor. Combining gourmet cuisine and selected fine wines, the Pacific Yellowfin offers the finest in hospitality. A full array of tenders, water toys, kayaks, motorized scooters and mountain bikes allow a full experience of the area, both afloat and ashore.

PACIFIC YELLOWFIN Specifications

LENGTH	114ft (34.7m)	BEAM	30ft (9.1m)	ENGINES	Original Atlas Imperial	FLAG	Canada
DRAFT	12ft 0in (3.7m)	TYPE	Power yacht
YEAR BUILT	1943	REFIT	2003	SPEED CRUISE/MAX	10kts / 10kts
DESIGNER	H. C. Hansen	BUILDER	Billings Shipyard of Maine
STABILISERS	None			CREW	Captain Colin Griffinson + 4

PACIFIC YELLOWFIN Accommodations

Sleeps 12 In 4 Cabins

PACIFIC YELLOWFIN can accommodate 12 guests in 4 cabins.
The Master cabin has a queen size bed, a single bed, shower and toilet.
A Guest cabin has a queen size bed, bath/tub, shower and toilet.
A Guest cabin has a double bed, 2 single beds, shower and toilet.
A Guest cabin has a double bed, a pullman, shower and toilet.
PACIFIC YELLOWFIN  has no air conditioning.  Smoking is allowed on deck.  PACIFIC YELLOWFIN´s crew has a separate companionway, heads and shower. Guests are not allowed to bring pets onboard.

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PACIFIC YELLOWFIN Crew Profile

Impeccable service and generosity are what best describes our crew, who endeavor to go above & beyond our guests’ wishes. Their knowledge of the coast, experience on the water and incredible personalities are great assets of the journey aboard Pacific Yellowfin. However, though always keen on sharing travel anecdotes or out of the ordinary happenings, they know when to vanish and let our guests relax, enjoy themselves and make the most of these magnificent landscapes. CAPTAIN Colin Griffinson Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland As the Captain and co-owner of the Pacific Yellowfin with his wife, Colin delivers unique luxurious private yacht cruises along the BC coast. As a long-time sufferer of “wooden boat disease”, his love of the water started in childhood in Dublin’s busy DunLaoighre Harbour. From his early experience on fishing trawlers in the North and Irish seas to his first boat, a 72-foot seiner, his passion for boats has spanned more than five decades. Colin has cruised the BC coast for more than twenty years and his love of the sea and interest in people make him incredibly knowledgeable of all fishing hot spots, beautiful hikes and secret waterfalls. Numerous guests have commented on Colin’s sense of humor and storytelling abilities, with “kids” of all ages enjoying his tales. His mastery over Pacific Yellowfin makes our guests feel utterly safe. When he’s not working in his Vancouver-based painting and decorating company, Colin can often be found tinkering aboard the Pacific Yellowfin, having a Guinness or our own Pacific Yellowfin Ale. CHEF Milan Kocourek Birthplace: Brno, Czech Republic. As an adventurous 18-year-old, Milan began his professional cooking career in Ottawa, Canada. After 16 years of life in Eastern Canada, he migrated west in search of inspiring culinary education and to indulge his love of extreme sports. He has worked at some of the West Coast’s foremost restaurants including two Relais Gourmand properties: Bacchus in the Wedgewood Hotel, Lumiere, where he worked with well-known chef Rob Feenie After several years in Vancouver, the siren call of Whistler lured him away where he honed his culinary skills as executive sous-chef of Araxi, voted best restaurant in Whistler several years running. As Pacific Yellowfin’s creative Executive Chef, he pushes the boundaries with new creations using fresh seafood, most often caught by our guests themselves. Milan’s generosity exudes in the flavor of his menus. STEWARD Sebastien Lagors Birthplace: Murret, France. Sebastien was born nearby Toulouse, South of France. He studied Hospitality in Perpignan and prestigious École Hôtelière de Tarbes. His first working experience was a 6 months internship in Ireland which turned into 7 years. After working for the renowned K Club, a 5 star-hotel, Michelin-star award winner and host to the 2006 Ryder Cup. He managed to erase his French accent into a typical Irish one but still close to his roots, Sebastien opened a European cuisine restaurant with a partner. This led him to open four other restaurants under the name of LemonGrass, an up and coming fast fusion Asian cuisine. Despite all this success, Sebastien’s energy and fondness for meeting new people took him on a three-year trip around the world. He worked here and there “to survive” but mostly enjoyed every second as he usually does. He landed in Canada in 2006 and never left since then. He has worked as a GM for the acclaimed Chambar restaurant in Vancouver and at Araxi in Whistler, where he met Executive Chef Milan. Sebastien is our wine expert and steward. His friendship with Executive Chef Milan is ideal for the culinary aspect of the cruises as they work very well together e.g. pairing wine and food. Though he is from France, Sebastien loves BC wines and is really keen on having our guests discover them. Sebastien is a true people person and he is never cheap when it comes to sharing a good laugh. MATE Dominic Giossan Birthplace : Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Dominic was born in Spain but grew up in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Brazil before moving to Canada. He graduated from a combined BA in philosophy and political sciences and a Master’s degree in Law with a major in International Relations. His love for the outdoors and other cultures led him to guiding hundreds of trips for Butterfield & Robinson as well as being a regional director and trip designer. Dominic has travelled all over the world, including the most unique destinations but if you ask him his favourite country, he will answer Switzerland “because everything is set and works like a charm!!”. A few years back, Dominic came on board the Pacific Yellowfin for the first time as the guide for a Butterfield & Robinson Bespoke group. When the position of deck-hand was open this season, the Captain called Dominic and got him on board. As a deck-hand, Dominic is in charge of all the toys we have on board and takes care of our guests’ safety while operating them. His favorite activity is going kayaking, whether at a leisure pace or at a more sporting level, for a “real workout!”. Dominic is a guide book encyclopedia on his own and listening to him describing a region with the respective accent is a pure delight! Ask him about Big Bend National Park in West Texas! ENGINEER Jack Dixon Birthplace: Victoria, BC, Canada. With 50+ years of experience on the water, Jack has seen and heard it all. And if you can persuade him to, he’s got dozens of fascinating stories about life aboard coastal freighters and tankers along the BC coast. Jack’s dry sense of humor and his resourcefulness are highly prized assets aboard the Pacific Yellowfin. His care and attention to the twin Atlas Imperial engines – and their exposed, hand-oiled push rods – is key to keeping these classic engines ticking away. He takes great pride in his spotless, but highly functional, engine room. As he likes to remind our guests, you will always recognize him as he is the only one that washes his hands not only after but also before going to the washroom!

PACIFIC YELLOWFIN Menu

Executive Chef Milan Kocourek delivers astonishing quality with fresh, locally grown, organic products from local mainland and island markets. With ample sunshine, we grow our own fresh herbs on board!

Below is a sample menu, but the cuisine aboard tends to vary with seasonal availability, subject to your preferences:

BREAKFAST
• Cinnamon raisin french toast, caramelized bananas and bourbon maple syrup
• Traditional breakfast, eggs, sausage, bacon, ham, sliced heirloom tomato toast
• Poached eggs, crisp english muffin, ham and mornay sauce
• Baked goods, cereals and homemade granola, fresh fruit and yoghurt
• Pancakes, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, whipped cream and maple syrup
• Mushroom, onion, peppers and cheddar cheese omelet, home fries
• All breakfasts are served with juice, coffee, tea and mil


LUNCH
• Salmon sashimi, barbecue eel, spot prawns served on seasoned rice, cured daikon, sesame seeds,green onions, braised lotus root and water lily bulb, shredded nori
• Confit of duck, mixed greens, sliced pear, cranberries, walnuts, apple and rosemary vinaigrette
• Manilla clams, handmade linguine, white wine cream sauce, soft herbs, garlic baguette
• Barbecue pulled pork sandwich, cabbage and carrot slaw, french fries
vSaffron bouillabaisse, salmon, prawns, clams, mussels, german butter potato, tomatoes and green beans, warm focaccia bread
• Veal scallopini, sauteed wild and cultivated mushrooms, marsala sauce, potato roesti
• Seared salmon, warm fingerling potato salad, mixed greens shallot vinaigrette


DINNER
• Warm goats cheese and potato terrine, assorted heirloom tomatoes, arugula, bacon vinaigrette
• Seared scallops, chick pea puree, curried zucchini, thai vinaigrette
• Salmon tartar, garlic crostini, soft quail eggs, fried capers, red onion creme fraiche
• Sauteed prawns, mixed greens, mango, tomato chips, jalapeno and asian style vinaigrette
• Albacore tuna, cucumber carpaccio, micro greens, sesame soy vinaigrette
• Pan seared Halibut cheeks, pea tortellini, morel mushrooms, brown butter and chive sauce
• Fried panko breaded local oysters, lemon beurre blanc, soft herbs and tomato concasse
• Alaskan Black Cod, potato gnocchi, assorted seasonal vegetables glazed in truffle butter
• Beef duo, Tenderloin and short ribs, bok choy, dashi braised zucchini, ginger and lime infused beef jus
• Red wine and thyme marinated Cornish game hen,seared breast, roasted bacon wrapped leg, potato puree, glazed carrots and beans
• Rare seared Ahi tuna, grilled asparagus, peppers and eggplant, braised fennel in a spiced tomato sauce
• Fresh caught dungeness crab, lemon and mascarpone risotto, drawn butter, seasonal vegetables
• Vancouver Island Ling Cod, mussels and clams, leek and yukon gold potato chowder
• Venison loin, sauteed chantrelles, peaches and cream corn, fondant potato, red wine jus


DESSERTS
• Tahitian Vanilla creme brulee
• Chocolate lava cake, vanilla ice cream and brandied cherries
• Parfait of berries dressed with cassis, layers of crushed meringue, whipped cream
• Ice cream filled crepes, roasted donut peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, honey sabayon
• New York style cheesecake, amaretto poached peaches and slivered almonds

PACIFIC YELLOWFIN Testimonials

The trip ranked up near or at the top of the trips we have taken with our family.  The crew was incredible displaying a genuine interest in making sure every detail was address and that everyone had a ball.  Colin has assembled a very eclectic group of amenities on Pacific Yellowfin which I don’t think could be easily replicated elsewhere.  I believe that the itinerary covered some of the most beautiful places on earth.  Our family was exposed to activities that we had not previously experienced.  From motor biking on the islands to the 40 foot waterslide to gathering our own oysters the verdict by my family and friends was unanimous!  Guilty of having too much fun!  Thanks so much for referring us to Colin!  We highly recommend this trip to anyone! - 2 US families, August 2011

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The trip was a total success. Things could not have been much better with the Yellowfin. Her accommodations and her crew were just as I had hoped if not a bit better. The food was very good and the chef was flexible enough to satisfy everyone. Colin and the crew ensured that we never wanted for any activity. Their intimate knowledge of the area is priceless as is their unending patience with the kids. We have chartered several times in the past and can say without doubt that Colin and his crew are the best ever.

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A tremendous experience. Beautiful scenery, excellent accommodations, superior captain and crew, and delicious food. This trip was a wonderful adventure for us.

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Thanks, thanks, thanks. I am so happy I had the chance to discover this beautiful area. I think words are not enough to describe the breathtaking scenery. The trip was fabulous and so perfect. Life on board is peaceful. The Pacific Yellowfin is an interesting yacht, extremely comfortable and stable. She is maintained in an amazing condition by her wonderful crew! Captain Colin is a very nice and attentive man, and lover of his beautiful area.

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Hello Colin and the rest of the FABULOUS crew! We hope your next charters have been fun. Our week with all of you was definitely the best trip of ALL of our lives! You, the crew, were so wonderful and ready to try all of our ideas! We loved you all! You were accommodating, fun, and always happy! Thank you all for that! And the boat was the perfect one for our family; comfortable and with all the right 'toys". And the food: well, what can I say!? It was ALL delicious/perfect size portions and beautifully presented! We miss the meals! So you will definitely see us again!! Have a wonderful end of your summer and we will be in touch! Thank you again from all of us for a truly memorable vacation! – Family from

PACIFIC YELLOWFIN Specifications

PACIFIC YELLOWFIN Features & Amenities

SPECIFICATIONS

LENGTH	114ft (34.7m)	BEAM	30ft (9.1m)	ENGINES	Original Atlas Imperial	FLAG	Canada
DRAFT	12ft 0in (3.7m)	TYPE	Power yacht
YEAR BUILT	1943	REFIT	2003	SPEED CRUISE/MAX	10kts / 10kts
DESIGNER	H. C. Hansen	BUILDER	Billings Shipyard of Maine
STABILISERS	None			CREW	Captain Colin Griffinson + 4

FEATURES

Cinema DVD library Stereo system Kneeboard

CD library DVD player Fishing equipment Wakeboard

Adult waterskis Towing ring Dinghy: Power / 22ft 0in (6.7m) / 115HP Floating Trampoline

Child waterskis Dinghy: Power / 24ft 0in (7.0m) / 150HP Tubing

DECK & SYSTEMS

Barbeque Cell phone

Jacuzzi on deck

WiFi and Internet

DIVING

Diving by arrangement / rendezvous

Snorkeling gear