Trial Islands (British Columbia)

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 and entry outside designated zones is prohibited.

Trial Islands

The Trial Islands as seen from Beach Drive in Oak Bay.
Trial Islands Trial Islands (British Columbia)
Geography
Location	Oak Bay & Victoria
Coordinates	48°23.9′N 123°18.3′W[1]
Archipelago	Trial Islands
Total islands	2+
Administration
Canada
Province	British Columbia

The island is home to the Trial Islands Lighthouse, and four large radio antennas operated under licence by CFAX 1070 AM radio.

Name origin

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.^[2]: 272

Seals frequent the shoreline of the Trial Islands.