We will be on Vancouver Island for four days in mid July and are considering a day sail. Is it possible to rent a sailboat for an afternoon or a day?

do you mean one that you would sail yourself, or charter one that someone else sails and you are a passenger?

I did mean that my husband and I would sail by ourselves. That being said, my husband and I and have different levels of confidence about his sailing abilities. We would have an afternnon on the east side of Vancouver island before heading over to Tofino.
The sailing around Tofino definitely seemed out of his reach, or my confidence level. After all, we do want to return from the vacation still married. It has also been perhaps 15 years since he last sailed.

Yes of course-where are you staying?

A simple search on bare boat charters brings up all kinds of matches and Yes ECVI is a lovely usually calm place for an afternoon under sail.

Off the top of my head Cooper's with their new operation @ Port Sidney Marina would suit but there are dozens of options for craft of all sizes in all kinds of places.

http://www.cooperboating.com

http://www.portsidney.com/

You could also rent in Nanaimo, which is about 1/2 way between Victoria and Tofino.
http://www.nanaimo-charters.bc.ca/fleet.html

lots of little islands off Nanaimo to sail around

Thank you very much for your ideas. We will see what comes about!