Alaska 2024 Post 2

Alaska 2024 Blog Post 2 June 1, 2024 After a quiet evening in Green Island Anchorage, we were underway at 0706, in rain, which has been the norm so far this trip. We motored up Fitz Hugh Sound in low visibility and heavy rain, turning the corner into Lama Channel, where the rain increased, and visibility decreased to near zero. The weather predictions were pretty grim, with gale force winds predicted in Hecate Strait. We made the decision to stop in Shearwater for the night, replenishing some supplies and having a meal ashore. Shortly after 1200 we were moored at Shearwater Marina where we made some repairs to the sea water anchor washdown system, getting parts from the marine supply store at Shearwater. The repairs were accomplished, and we all went to the restaurant for dinner. The food was good, and the servings were generous, with leftovers going back to Spirit.

June 2, 2024 After looking at the weather forecast, which called for gale force winds to 45 knots in Hecate Strait, just a few miles away, but which also showed moderate winds on the inside waters, we decided to leave and depart for Bottleneck Inlet. The lines were cast free at 0735 and we headed out Seaforth Channel to see what the conditions were in Milbanke Sound. As we headed out Seaforth Channel, the swell and winds coming into the channel continued to increase, so just short of Ivory Island we took a hard right turn in 6-7 foot swells, but only 15 knot winds into Reid Passage, the calmer route. After a few minutes of beam-to-following seas at the entrance to Reid Passage we then entered Percival Narrows into the calm waters of Mathieson Channel. Continuing north, we passed Rescue Bay and entered Jackson Passage at high slack water. Jackson Passage was calm and the fish farm formerly there was now gone. Continuing out to Finlayson Channel, we headed on to Bottleneck Inlet. The swells were still significant in Finlayson Channel for about 10 miles. We entered the shallow entrance into protected Bottleneck Inlet and set the anchor in 35 feet of water with a soft mud bottom at 1400. The wind in Bottleneck Inlet was less than 10 knots, mostly calm, but the rain was heavy. The weather report is still calling for gale force winds in Hecate Strait. By evening there were four pleasure craft and one commercial fishing boat anchored in Bottleneck. The rain continued all evening as we grilled some chicken on the BBQ for dinner. The total distance covered since Anacortes is now 448 NM. June 3, 2024 We spent the day doing minor maintenance as the weather alternated between heavy rain and sunshine. Looking out the entrance to Bottleneck Inlet we could see the whitecaps from the wind. There are still four boats in the inlet, with two powerboats being replaced by two sailboats.