The Trial Islands are a group of islands located off the south-eastern tip of
Vancouver Island off
Victoria, part of the municipality of
Oak Bay. The islands form the
Trial Islands Ecological Reserve
The Trial Islands Ecological Reserve is a nature reserve on the Trial Islands in the British Columbia province of Canada just off the southern tip of Oak Bay in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The twenty-three-hectare ecological reserve was establis ...
and entry outside designated zones is prohibited.
It is likely that these islands were so named after the practise of sailing refitted British naval ships from the
Esquimalt Royal Navy Dockyard to these islands and back as a trial run before heading into open seas. It has also been suggested that they were named because they constituted a trial of one's skill in navigation and
seamanship. The trick was to round them in a small sailing ship and enter the
Strait of Juan de Fuca, despite the frequent
rip tides and the prevailing
westerlies.
The island is home to the
Trial Islands Lighthouse
The major Trial Island is home to the Trial Islands Lighthouse which is operated by the Canadian Coast Guard, and continues to be staffed by two full-time lightkeepers. The current lighthouse was erected in 1970 to replace the original lighthous ...
and four large radio antennas operated under licence by
CFAX 1070 AM radio.
References
External links
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{{GulfIslands
Archipelagoes of British Columbia
Coast of British Columbia
Neighbourhoods in Oak Bay, British Columbia