Made it to Alaska.

Monday May 17th 10:00 P.M.
It’s been a week underway with the Alaskan Song. As I write the daylight is nearing its end here in Warm Springs Bay just 10 miles east, as the crow flies, from Sitka (the home of beautiful Kjersti Johnson) across the rugged mountains that jut from the sea to form Baranof Island. We’ve come nearly 700 nautical miles in 7 days.

We arrived in Alaskan waters on May 15th cleared Customs in Ketchikan, AK, spent the evening at the dock in ‘Ketch’ and were off to Petersburg the next morning after topping off the fuel. The four evenings after departing Vancouver, BC we hunkered down in remote anchorages along our route through the inside passage. Typically we’d get to our anchorage, drop anchor, shut the generators down and catch some zzzzzz’s before pulling anchor and heading north by 5:00 or 5:30 the next morning. The weather was good and the open water passages were not too daunting. All in all a smooth trip north with a couple glimpses of sea lions, sea otters, bald eagles and humpback whales in the distance. The days at the dock in Bellingham didn’t quite get the crew together like long days cruising do. We’ve definitely had a couple more days of practicing the ropes (ha), getting to know each other and spreading some confidence.

Docking in Ketchikan was a little more of an ordeal than the prior nights of dropping an anchor in a lonesome bay. We pulled up to the middle of the dock, got tied up and plugged in our long, heavy, yellow electrical cord just in time to be asked by the resident tour cruiser the Bering Ballard to move so they could have their claimed spot at the dock. No problem. The rain was coming down sideways. Among the many lessons I’ve learned, I’ll always wear raingear while tying up or anchoring from here forward. Carharts and deck shoes are not waterproof. Thankfully the raincoat kept my torso dry. Soaking wet, we began the swap with the BB. Just as we released the bow line the wind grabbed the Alaskan Song and pushed her rapidly from the dock. “Throw the line”, they yell. So I attempt to toss the line to the Song now about 10 ft off the dock. This seemingly simple maneuver of sliding down the dock is turning into something much different. I run back to the stern line and get that released. Then I hear “Oh %$&#! Unplug it, unplug it!” I repeated the command a couple more times in my head while I switched the breaker and unplugged the cord. Winds whipping, rain pelting and the electrical cord reminding us it really isn’t that long; I find myself playing tug-o-war.

If I were to have had the choice of playing tug-o-war with a 96 ft yacht I would have opted out and given the Alaskan Song the forfeit but I didn’t. Instead the Song and I battled it out for a couple of moments. My sweaty palms (surprise, I know) holding onto one end of the electrical cord, the other end secured to the Song, and the amount of 46 degree water growing between us meant something/someone has to give. My solid stance on the dock and decent but wet grip on the cord didn’t quite cut it and I was humbly defeated.

On Sunday May 16th we pushed off from the dock just a few feet away from where the tug-o-war took place and pushed on toward Petersburg. Beyond Ketchikan the scenery has become more and more breathtaking. Tight channels with steep cliffs on each side, huge snow capped peaks, more and more marine life. Petersburg and its surroundings are beautiful. So too is Admiralty Island and Baranof Island.

Today we left Petersburg in route to Warm Springs Bay. I saw my first breaching humpback! After a few peck slaps it peek-a-booed with a graceful breach. Tomorrow we plan to hang here, soak in the hot springs and try our hands at some fishing. Although Sitka is only 10 miles as the crow flies, our route will be the 70 NMs from here around the north to the west side of Baranof Island to Sitka.

After spending a couple days at Warms Springs Bay (May 17th and 18th) and a couple other anchorages along the way we’ve made it to Sitka (May 21st)!!!