Polar Mist had a great sail around Cape Scott, the Northwest Corner of Vancouver Island last Thursday. We left Bull Harbor at 0445 to catch slack tide at Nahwitti Bar. And we’re glad we did because even at slack, it was rougher than a cob with a 25-knot Northwesterly blowing across it. We hung on and motored over the bar, then set sail for Cape Scott. The double reefed main and staysail was a good combination with the wind (gusting to 30 knots) we had and we close reached to the Cape with 7 to 9 kts of boatspeed! (The photo is of John rounding Cape Scott.)

After the rounding the cape, we turned downwind, rolled the staysail up and the jib out and broadreached down to Sea Otter Cove. This is a great place—completely protected from the ocean waves and swell, but a little shallow for our 9-foot draft. We crept in carefully, anchored, and then raised the keel to give us a little breathing room.

We spent two nights in Sea Otter, watching carefully for bears and wolves. Although the animals didn’t show, we saw lots of birds and seals and even an occasional sea otter.

Yesterday’s sail to Quatsino Sound was much different that the rounding of Cape Scott. Forecast winds of 15 to 25 didn’t materialize and we had a pleasant light air sail in 5 to 10 knots instead.

We’re now in Coal Harbor in Quatsino Sound. In the unlikely event you’ve never heard of it, Coal Harbor is the site of the world’s largest whale jaw (unless a bigger one is still swimming around in the ocean)!

All is well aboard Polar Mist!

Humbly submitted,

Capt. Rick