UPDATE | November 3, 2020

The operating season for Port Renfrew Marina and RV Park came to an end on October 12, 2020. As you all know, the Covid 19 situation has created challenging and changing times for everyone and most businesses.

For our facility, in 2020 it began with our opening being postponed from our usual May 1st until June 1st. I would like to express my sincere thanks to all our Seasonal Guests for the amount of respect they displayed to both their fellow campers and our staff relating to Social Distancing and other guidelines established by the Chief Medical Officer of British Columbia.

From a fishing perspective, the 2020 season was pretty good despite the continuation of the DFO mandated Chinook salmon retention and slot size restrictions that we had in 2019. There were many reported Tyee sized Chinooks hooked and released in the early part of the season by both the trollers and cut plug herring fishers. It seemed that the bulk of these large Chinooks had gone through our waters by the time the 80 cm slot size restrictions were lifted on July 31, but smaller Chinooks in the 15 to 20 lb range were plentiful in August. Our annual Labour Day Weekend Chinook derby did not take place this year due to Covid 19.

The late-season offshore Coho fishery was also pretty good this season as waves of migrating fish passed through our waters. Hatchery marked Coho were at times plentiful allowing for retention outside of San Juan Harbour. There was also a short time period where our local San Juan and Gordon River Coho were staging at the river mouths with some angling successes there, however, the huge rainfall event we had in early September ended most of that in the tidal waters with most fish heading up those rivers. Our annual "winner takes all" Coho Derby was also canceled this year due to Covid 19.

Most of our regular guests will have noticed some staffing changes this year at the Marina. I would like to thank and congratulate both Linda Holman and Ken Sutton for doing a great job this year. There were many positive comments on the helpfulness and professionalism I received from both of you. Also a big thank you to Reid Warren, John Holman, Wayne Winters and Clayton Wright for their help onsite this year.

With our facility now closed, we want to remind everyone that our telephone will not be answered or messages returned until we reopen next Spring which hopefully will be on May 1, 2021. For those of you wishing to make contact during the off season, please direct your inquiries through our website and responses will come back to you through email.

Thank you to everyone for another great season at the Marina. Please stay safe and we look forward to seeing you all again next year.

Port Renfrew Marina

Rex Coburn

2020 SEASON UPDATE and 2020 DERBY UPDATES

2020 SEASON UPDATE

The year of Covid 19 continues at Port Renfrew Marina with a lot of respect and compliance being demonstrated by our guests. I would like offer a big thank you to all our guests for both  their understanding and cooperation in dealing with this very serious matter. I would also like to extend the same thank you to the general public and in particular to those of you who have in the past been able to come in and visit our facility for either a short term camping stay or using our boat launching ramp.

Our campsite and moorage docks remain essentially full and have been that way most of the season. There has been a very "low key" atmosphere around the Marina this year with guests keeping gatherings to a minimum, respecting both common sense and the wishes of B.C.'s Chief Medical Health Officer. The result of this been an atmosphere of calm and serenity around the campsite this season. Campfires are still permitted due to rainfall happening on a timely basis.

From a fishing perspective, I would say it has been an average season in general but there have been many more Tyee's present this year than in the past few years. Fisheries regulations once again this year prevented Chinook retention in Area 20-1 until July 15, which was followed by a slot size retention regulation of up to 80 cm. in length until August 1. The bulk of those larger Chinooks were caught during that time. Marina long term guest Eric Eckdahl successfully caught, weighed in the net and released a 41 pounder which is the largest I have heard of to date. Chinook fishing as of late has reverted to a more common size level with most fish being in the 15 to 20 pound range.

2020 MARINA DERBIES

We at the Marina along with most British Columbians have been closely monitoring the Covid 19 situation. As a result of the recent spike in cases of Covid 19 cases in the Province, the uncertainty of where these numbers are going, and the wishes of the Chief Medical Health Officer regarding large gatherings, the following decisions have been made.

Port Renfrew Marina Annual Labour Day Weekend Chinook Derby for 2020 will be CANCELLED

The Annual Port Renfrew Marina Winner Takes All Coho Derby for 2020 will be CANCELLED

We regret that this may result in peoples' plans changing but feel it is necessary to minimize the chances of transmission of this Virus to both our guests and staff at the Marina.

Hopefully, 2021 will be a more normal year and both of these events can take place.

Thank you for your understanding. We hope you all stay safe while enjoying the remainder of your Summer.

Rex Coburn

CAMPSITE NOW FULLY OCCUPIED

As many of you know, our normal operating season was delayed from May 1 until June 1 this year.  At that time a decision was made open exclusively for our Seasonal Guests which included many new first time Seasonal Guests. This was done as a measure of reducing the risk of anyone here contracting the Covid-19 virus.

The interest of guests in securing a campsite and moorage slip for our entire operating season has been very surprising. Twenty-four new campsites were created onsite this Spring all of which are now occupied along with all the other campsites in our facility.

With the campsite now essentially full, this will mean unfortunately for those of you who were planning on visiting us this Summer for short term stays, we will not be able to accommodate you this season, and our sincere apologies for that.

In an effort to further reduce the risk of the spread of the Covid-19 virus at the Marina, a decision has been made to close our boat launching facility to the public for the remainder of the 2020 operating season. This decision was made only after taking into consideration the age of a lot of our guests, consulting with a number of our guests, and also monitoring the recent Covid-19 outbreaks particularly from South of the border.

Again we offer our apologies to those of you who are affected by this. It is hoped that these measures are only needed this year and a return to a more normal operating year will take place in 2021.

Thank you for your understanding

Rex Coburn

Marina Opening Update

As we watch the numbers of COVID-19 cases continue to decrease in BC and in particular on Vancouver Island, barring any sudden upward changes to those numbers we will open the Marina and Campground on June 1, 2020.

There will be however some notable changes to our operations for the immediate future which will be re-evaluated prior to July 1, 2020.

• Effective June 1, 2020, we will be open to Seasonal Guests only. Regretfully there will be no short term stays available until we are confident it is safe to do so.
  Social Distancing policies established by the Provincial Health Officer will be in force.

• In the interest of the safety of the Pacheedaht First Nation and residents of Port Renfrew, at this time we must insist that our guests come fully equipped with all their provisions and Do Not go anywhere near the Pacheedaht First Nation lands and beaches, or the Village of Port Renfrew.

• No visitors other than direct family members shall stay with or visit our Seasonal Guests.

• Seasonal Guests will be asked to take their garbage and food waste with them when leaving and dispose it at their homes.

• Seasonal Moorage Guests from previous years will be offered their moorage slip as per usual.

• The Boat Launch will not be open to the general public.

• The current Social Distancing requirements in recreational boats are in effect and boaters should make themselves aware of these regulations before heading out on the water.

• The Marina Office will be open on an as-required basis. Bait, gas, tackle, and ice will be available. Gasoline for cars can be purchased at the PFN gas station adjacent to the Fire Hall.
  Our Office telephone has now been activated and inquiries can be made at 250 483 1878 or on our website.

As you can see we are attempting to limit the number of  "one on one" interactions between our guests, staff, and the general public at this time. It is our position that some or all of the new policies described above will be revisited prior to the Canada Day Long Weekend. We sincerely hope you all understand that these changes are being made in the interest of everyone's safety.

Our apologies go out to those of you who were planning on camping with us on a daily basis and also to those you who were planning on using our boat launching facility.

Thank you for understanding and we hope to see many of you soon.

Rex Coburn

Update May 7, 2020

It appears the new cases of Covid 19 are dropping in BC which is good news for everyone.

Premier Horgan along with Dr. Bonnie Henry today released the Provinces' strategy for getting businesses in the Province back to work. Although I heard nothing specific relating to private campgrounds, it appears there are plans to reopen Provincial Parks soon albeit it for day use only.

We will remain closed for the time being keeping an eye on the caseload Covid 19 numbers for BC, and revisit the situation likely after the May long weekend.

My apologies for any inconvenience this may cause you but again, I don't want to make the wrong call on this.

Rex Coburn