Sun Nov 27 19:49:38 EST 2011, Sitka, AK
Sometimes even the best sailor needs wheels, and Richard used a cart to haul a just-purchased battery back to the boat.
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Comments [1]
Sat Nov 26 19:55:02 EST 2011, Sitka, AK5
Sitka received 10 inches of snow over a few days soon after our arrival. The community usually sees rain instead of snow because of a warm coastal current (that originates in Japan as the Kuroshiro Current), so this storm was a major disruption. But nothing could keep intrepid mariners away from the two day sale at the local chandlery!
This boating supply store has a huge inventory of rope, rigging, chain, safety gear, engine maintenance parts, plumbing parts, electronics, hydraulics, navigation equipment, galley accessories, tools, knives, paint, adhesives, and repair and cleaning supplies, and they sell bait and fishing licenses. They sell gear for all kinds of fisheries - troll, longline, seine, gillnet, and crab/shrimp - I was amazed to see all the different kinds of bait cups to select from for your pot. They also offer an extensive selection of boots, gloves, hats, and foul weather gear, the most Grundens in one place outside of Sweden, I believe!
Richard and I let ourselves get lost inside; not a bad way to spend a snowy afternoon.
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Sun Nov 20 12:56:00 EST 2011, Sitka, AK
As we passed Old Sitka Rocks, we began to see suburban homes lining the waterfront boulevard--the largest structures I'd seen in two months.
In this same area in 1799, the first Russian settlement on these shores, Redoubt St. Archangel Michael, was built by Alexander Baranov to support the fur trade. It was destroyed by the native Tlingit in 1802, who had a vibrant established society and were unwilling to submit to Russian control. So the Russians came back in 1804 and destroyed the Tlingit village of Sheet'ka several miles away at what is now the city center, and took over the port that is present-day Sitka. Under Russian colonization, such opulent European developments were imported that Sitka was known as the Paris of the Pacific.
After a long and frosty transit, we were happy to arrive.
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Sun Nov 20 12:55:00 EST 2011, Southeast Alaska
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Clearly I should finish drinking my coffee before posting :).
Sun Nov 20 12:54:00 EST 2011, Southeast Alaska
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Sun Nov 20 12:53:00 EST 2011, Southeast Alaska
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Sun Nov 20 12:52:00 EST 2011, Chukchi Sea
Just to break up the snow pictures, here is a relatively warm-weather picture. This was taken a few months back, in the Chukchi Sea. We were pushing to get south quickly while we had a favorable wind.
I was attempting to pole out the yankee jib (the corner of which is just visible to the right of the mast). If you look closely at the pole on the foremast, you can see that it has just broken away from the mast. The end fitting on the spinnaker pole sheared off and the pole fell into the water. We brought the pole back aboard for later repairs, and continued sailing, without poling out the jib.
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The mainsheets now have lower-friction blocks and big cleats which are easier to make it down to.
Sun Nov 20 12:51:00 EST 2011, Southeast Alaska
Though it's called the Inside Passage, some of the waters we've sailed recently have been pretty open. Chatham Strait, where we began this leg, is 138 miles long and between 18 and 5 miles wide. Then, after Richard took us through the treacherous narrows of Peril Straight, we crossed the corner of Salisbury Sound, which is open to the sea and to prevailing conditions in the Gulf of Alaska. For us, this meant more strong gusts and wind-driven snow.
I took a turn at the tiller as we next entered Neva Strait, where the trees closed in around us, the island sheltered us from the gusts, and the snow wafted gently across the air. Together, Neva and Olga Straits would bring us to the outer waters of Sitka, with an average width of 0.2 miles along the way. The calm was amazing, with lofty walls of evergreen, lacy with snow, so close. Rocks and shallows dot the straits, so you can't daydream too much, but I imagine I saw reindeer flying ahead of me pulling a sleigh full of treats!
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Richard; I just had to put a link to your blog on ours - hope you don't mind.
Maybe it is not your intention nor the purpose of your journey, and I don't know if you are doing it or not, maybe it would be intrusive to the enjoyment of it all, but a video documentary of this voyage would be sooo coool....... At least a pictures filled hardcover!
Maggie
Shooting and editing video is really a lot of work, so I don't think I'm really going anywhere with that, but thanks for the suggestion.
Joe's blog is www.cruisingdog.com
Richard
So did you see Santa and his rain gear?
Maggie
Sun Nov 20 12:50:00 EST 2011, Southeast Alaska
Maggie steering.
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How far would you agree with that, Maggie?
When you get back to NYC drop a line, I am sure that a bunch of us fair weather sailors would be happy to treat you to a hot toddy and hear tales of the Gulf of Alaska and the Inside Passage.
- George
George, thanks very much for the invitation. I'll e-mail when I'm back and look forward to meeting you and sharing stories.
Sun Nov 20 12:40:00 EST 2011, Southeast Alaska
Much easier to pass thru than Sergius Narrows are the nearby Kakul Narrows, which have less current, deep water, no standing waves or sharp turns.
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Victor, yes, this is the last of the perils of Peril Strait.
