29 July 2019 | Prince William Sound: Snug Harbor
16 July 2019 | Aialik Bay, Kenai Peninsular
14 July 2019 | Northwestern Glacier
13 July 2019 | Kenai Penninsular
12 July 2019 | Pilot Harbor, Kenai Peninsular
11 July 2019 | Kenai Peninsular
10 July 2019 | Kenai Peninsular
09 July 2019 | Afognak Island
08 July 2019 | Afognak Island
06 July 2019 | Afognak Island
05 July 2019 | Kodiak Island
Day 12
02 June 2019 | North pacific
412nms to go to King Cove. Quite a different 24hrs to yesterday. Late in the day the winds built to 25-30kts from the W-WSW, seas built back up to 2.5m from the NW / W / SW, and we've been experiencing swarming squalls. All up a rough wet ride! That said we're making good progress averaging 7.6kts to our destination and the winds and seas are forecast to begin abating in a few hours. All is well aboard.
Finally ready to leave Hawaii for Alaska
20 May 2019 | Nawiliwili Bay
After constantly looking at the weather forecasts and being disappointed, a window emerged. All of a sudden the north Pacific seemed to ease and a transiting low with a very long tail presented the possibility of riding it to the north and heading to King Cove on the Alaskan Peninsula. The only potential snag in our plan was if a part we ordered arrived late or didn't fit. We had an unfortunate case of butter fingers when up the mast a few days ago which resulted in our tri-colour assembly falling and smashing on the deck; that was a USD500 mistake! Our replacement part came this morning and it fits perfectly so are leaving tomorrow. We started final preparations. Paul and Mike took off to fill diesel jerries and gas bottles and I worked my way through the boat stowing objects we wouldn't use on passage and bringing out charts, safety equipment, and bedding. Having a 3rd person on passage meant some adjustments to how we normally stow objects and our sleeping arrangements. The fwd cabin is usually our default junk room on passage and holds all our cockpit cushions as well as the cushions from the salon sofas. Now it was Mike's cabin so we stowed some cushions there to provide a buffer for him at sea and others were tucked in around furniture and the bed in the aft cabin. In the salon we had both berths made up and a lee cloth.
Next, we hit the supermarkets. I had a list and busied myself getting those items. Paul and Mike wandered the shelves charged with finding a few items which turned into a trolley full of unlisted items - mainly due to Paul as usual but clearly they relished the task. Our fridge was now chock a block. Literally, I could not fit another thing in it. That night we steadily consumed all the remaining beer in the fridge while playing a couple of games of Upwords.
From the High Seas
07 July 2018 | Pacific Ocean between NZ and French Polynesia
Kate
It has been over a year since our last blog. So much for intentions. I have previously started a couple of posts and odds and ends but they are waiting to be completed. Right now I am sitting in our cockpit and we have been at sea for almost two weeks. Its hard to believe. Passaging is the ultimate groundhog day. Its 2am. The engine is on as we struggle to get east before the southeasterly starts. In the distance are two lumens - indistinct but glowing like the lights of a small town. My first thoughts are of fishing fleets but there is no signature on the radar. Perhaps they are distant storms. Above the engine noise comes another sound. A hissing. I take my headphones off and listen more closely. Its just light rain. Nothing to worry about. Still no wind for sailing. The windometer? flops back and forth to confirm it
When it occurred to me that the distant lights might be storms, I started the Satphone and brought down a satellite image for this region. And while I was at it I also brought down updated weather graphics. It made me think how different this experience is to our Pacific crossing in 2013. While it was possible to get satellite images and basic weather data and maps, we relied upon HF radio and reasonable propogation for access. We just diidnt have it at hand as we do now. The access is great and when it comes down to it being able to monitor the weather more closely does make me feel safer. But, I also feel a loss of intrepidation which I regret (of course we are not compelled to use it).
Tanna
01 July 2016
Paul and Kate Duncan