My how Weather can change ones plans. With our route planned, out we headed, out of the relative safety of Prince William Sound and into the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). The GOA had been under small craft warnings for several days previous. Our crossing was to the outside of Resurrection bay, Rugged Island, Mary's bay. The seas were 5 feet, sometimes constant rollers coming on our port beam, and sometimes, near the points, mixing with confused seas. We had variable winds from 0 to about 12 knots. We motor sailed with just the mainsail out fully. With a sail full of wind the boat steadied nicely and the ride was fairly comfortable. But when the wind could not fill the mainsail, the boat wallowed in the broadside rollers. One of the poodles got seasick and Donna was nauseous but held it together. Our first Anchorage, Mary's bay on Rugged island was a welcome break after 8 straight hours. We anchored next to WWII Army dock ruins. This high rock island was an US Army outpost for any Japanese marine activity. It is truly amazing to imagine how they built an outpost in such a steep, inhospitable terrain and environment. The ruins of old dock posts and a pile of rails from a steep tram system is all that remains at sea level. I'm sure it would be interesting to see what's on top, but it would take a younger man than me to go up the steep, seemed nearly vertical, switchback trail, to go check it out. We did go to shore in the dingy to let the poodles relieve themselves. But, without a patch of grass, or anything but boulders, they were to outside their comfort zone and didn't do a thing. So back to the boat.
At the boat we updated ourselves with the latest weather radio report and things were changing. The generous weather window was shrinking, from good weather into Saturday to Gale winds and high seas as early as Thursday night. So our plan A of a leisurely 4 nights at various bays changed to a new plan B of "let's get going, run all night and get to Homer".

More to come tomorrow...
Picture is Bear glacier, outside Resurrection bay taken as we approached Rugged island.