Downeast in Southeast Alaska

Vessel Name: Cimarron
Vessel Make/Model: 1976 32' Downeast
Hailing Port: Auke Bay, AK
Crew: Diane and Harry
About: We've been cruising SE Alaska waters on the Cimarron since 2001. Our home port is near Juneau.
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08 August 2019 | Taku Harbor
07 August 2019 | Tracy Arm cove
06 August 2019 | West Brother Island
05 August 2019 | Farragut Bay
04 August 2019 | Petersburg
03 August 2019 | Petersburg
02 August 2019 | Deception Pt.
01 August 2019 | Thom's Place
31 July 2019 | Meyers Chuck
30 July 2019 | Ketchikan
29 July 2019 | Ketchikan
28 July 2019 | Foggy Bay
27 July 2019 | Brundige Inlet
26 July 2019 | Prince Rupert
25 July 2019 | Kelp Bay
24 July 2019 | Exposed Inlet
23 July 2019 | Exposed Inlet
22 July 2019 | Coghlan Anchorage
21 July 2019 | Bishop Bay
20 July 2019 | Khutze Inlet
Recent Blog Posts
08 August 2019 | Taku Harbor

Seas too big for the little boats

Leave Tracy Arm Cove 7:50a

07 August 2019 | Tracy Arm cove

Restless iceberg

Leave West Brother 7:25a

06 August 2019 | West Brother Island

Dog overboard

Leave Farragut Bay 7:55a

05 August 2019 | Farragut Bay

Don't lick an iceberg. Don't kiss a jellyfish.

Left Petersburg 9:30a

04 August 2019 | Petersburg

What is it with rocks?

Petersburg

03 August 2019 | Petersburg

Might go left. Or maybe right.

Leave Deception Pt. 2:40p

Horton hears a toucan

28 June 2019 | Horton Bay
Diane Meador
Leave Friday Harbor 10:30a
Arrive Customs dock, Bedwell Harbor, S. Pender Island 1:55p
48 44.88:-123 13.82

Leave Bedwell Harbor 2:55p
Arrive Horton Bay 5:05p
48 49.64:-123 14.625

Mostly sunny today, and hot, but overcast by afternoon. There was a steady stream of traffic entering and exiting from Bedwell Harbor. There was no agent on site, which was good on the one hand because we were inspected, but bad on the other, because it took a long time to clear through by phone. Harry waited 45 min. on hold for a 3 min. interview. I took the opportunity, being restricted to the boat until we cleared, to chart the next leg of our route to Horton Bay, and our course for tomorrow towards Nanaimo. We ate up all the rest of the raspberries for breakfast before going through customs - so that's how to make oatmeal palatable!

Horton Bay is nearby Winter Cove, where we had set on our way down, and where we got yelled at for not curbing our dog. Although there wad plenty of room in there, and we have learned our lesson for leading our dog in these high traffic areas, we decided to check out someplace new. There was a strong current coming out of the narrow passage into Horton. The bay was full of boats, and we thought we might turn around and make for Winter Cove after all. But most of the dozens of boats in Horton were hanging off private mooring buoys, some were rafted up to the small public dock, and a couple were anchored out. It was a rocky bottom, but we set right away, probably because we threw out a 3:1 length of rode. We set well away from the closest boat (also a sailboat), but we were swinging differently, and were a bit close for (an Alaskan's) comfort when we were stretched out to each other. Maybe it was swirly currents, or maybe they were a fin keel, but boats of the same type generally behave the same way. We decided to reef in a bit for peace of mind.

Except for a party on one of the boats on the other side of the bay, and a whole lot of birdsong, it was oddly quiet. It became apparent as evening closed in that very few people were at home in the houses that lined the bay - no lights. Where is everyone? And I swear, two birds sounded just like what I imagine toucans do.
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Cimarron's Photos - Main
61 Photos
Created 21 June 2016

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21 June 2016
61 Photos