09/05/2009, 57 26'N:156 12'W, Shelikolf Strait
September 5, 2009 We just dropped our hook by Coal Point, North of Wide Bay on the West side of Shelikof Strait. We were greeted by two sea otters as we approached and many sea birds. It feels like a summer's day here. The warm sun light casts shadows on the birds as we watched their reflections as they would swoop and glide on the water as they flew overhead.
I put a hook over the side to try my luck at catching a Halibut, well the next thing I knew the rod was almost bent in half and as I grabbed it I shouted for Steve to grab the gaff "cause I had a big one". Well I didn't appreciate just how big these fish get and luckily it snapped the line before we even got it close to being on board.
We were both quite relieved, however it was so exciting to see one up close and hook something that big.
Since then we spoke to another cruising couple that caught one and it created such a mess (fish slime all over) and thrashed around so much it almost knocked them off their Norhaven 45 aft deck. That made us twice as happy we didn't have a chance to land it.
They were told to either trail it behind to tire it out or shoot is before bringing it on deck. We are talking serious size here!
Steve is down getting weather for our passage across the strait into Kodiak.
After reading our Alaska bible, Coast Pilot #9 and speaking with several natives, we had anticipated a horrendous passage through the Shelikof strait and even though we are doing no sailing we feel quite blessed with the current weather thus far it has been great.
This life reminds me of my days on the farm when we lived mainly by mother natures rules, however here we also have currents, sea states and winds that drive our days. Well here's to a good nights sleep, after two beautiful nights of a full moon and calm seas passage-life is good!
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S/V Empress
09/04/2009, 54 45'N:161 14'W, South of the Alaska Peninsula
September 3, 2009 We tucked into a fine "hidey hole" last night on a little island called Sanak. The winds and seas were increasing; a small craft advisory had been issued for our area. It was a beat for about two hours into high seas and wind and as soon as we slipped behind the rock wall into our anchorage stillness and calm surrounded us, it was heaven. We put the anchor down by the light of the full moon after 10 pm, not long after the sun had sank behind the mountains. Night comes late to Alaska this time of year, the sunrise is 7am and sets around 10. So we are sailing tonight under the same beautiful full moon, after a 3pm departure this afternoon. The seas are down and we hope to travel on till we get closer to Kodiak. We haven't seen many whales a few spouts here and there, lots of birds, my favorites are the Puffins, they are like little fat hens that work so hard to get up out of the water to fly. We went through a flock of birds dive-bombing an entire area it was quite a site - I guess it was their way of fishing. Till next report we are happy and safe, love to you all.
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08/30/2009, 53 17'N:170 42'W, Aleutian Islands
We had a weather window, a high coming in and were recommended to head East as fast as possible. Some Aleuts said "that the last low that came through was the start of their winter weather and when it starts to blow it doesn't stop till spring, 30 to 50 + knots all winter". So this perhaps was our only chance to leave this windy port known "where the wind begins". We saw a pod of whales today - we think were Okras. Our current barometer reading is 1032 so we are definitely in a high. The winds are due to increase by tomorrow night to 25+ knots from the SW so our night landing into Dutch Harbor may be a bit on the windy side.
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