As I have mentioned before, in Alaska, after fine weather, one often has to pay a penance. September weather patterns have arrived early, deep weather depressions tracking across the Pacific like ducks in a row; every 3-4 days another one comes into the Gulf of Alaska and brings with it all that a seaman loathes, wind, rain and rough seas.
😯
After our lovely beginning to the week, the weather became changeable in Sitka. The clouds were scudding across the sky, the rain began and, the end of our stay was spent in permanent drizzle.
While we were passing some of the small islands, I took some photos of some of the houses and Sports-fishing lodges.
I also mentioned some of the fishing methods here in Alaska and, while at anchor, the most common came past us.
As soon as we departed the relative shelter of the anchorage, we experienced the first of the forecast gale, south-westerly winds up to 40 kts, increasing seas and swell and driving rain; in a word ‘miserable’. The wind caused us to ‘list’, so heeling water tanks are adjusted to compensate. Out into the Pacific, paralleling the west side of Baranof island and making for Cape Decision, a ‘hole in the wall’ which takes us into the Sumner Strait and thence through Snow Passage, a narrow Pass leading into the Clarence Straits. Whilst the seas subsided in these ‘inland’ waters, the wind still howled, 40-50 kts, a September gale in August, not a portent of weather to come I hope.
Down the Tongass Narrows, still 40 kts and by now I am in discussion with the pilot about our ‘abort’ point, where I decide to try docking and if uneasy, what actions I will take. Basically, in the Tongass Narrows there is little one can do, except continue past the dock and sail down the southern section of the Narrows to more ‘open water.
As it was, the wind subsided sufficiently to dock and with a knitting pattern of mooring lines we are hard alongside. The gales are forecast to continue all the way south, we are in for a ‘bumpy’ ride.
While we are alongside, the “Regatta” came up the southern narrows, heading for the anchorage, (I’m not envious), she had 2 tugs tied to her, such were the conditions.
Considering the weather we will be going into, I won’t have time to sit here and post to you, so expect a hiatus for a couple of days; perhaps, once we’ve reached Victoria, I might have time to write, bear with me.
Looking forward to joining you tomorrow on the Alaska cruise. Bringing family. We were with you on the 2012 WC and will enjoy showing our family the lovely Amsterdam.
Sounds like the weather we had one year in early May. ?.
Safe journey back to Victoria.
Hope the weather improves. How many more trips do you have to Alaska before you head further south?
Hope you have a safe trip. We had rain overnight in Victoria for the first time in weeks. Expecting 100% rain for Saturday. Ugh – but very much needed due to such dry conditions.
Hope the seas and weather improve for you. We are having quite a drought with hot and humid conditions here in southern California.
Best regards,
Peter
Safe journey, I don’t envy you.
Really all quite exciting Capt. Jonathan! All that’s happened to me was being hit in the leg by a golf ball from the back on another tee…I mention it because the pro playing along side the amateur who hit the line drive off an adjoining tee was Lee Westwood, your fellow countryman I believe! We were here at the Barclays where I was volunteering as marshal….from what you are writing I think I will stick with the spring in Alaska because I surely will go again on HAL…so beautiful dog sledding on the top of the glacier in Juneau
Best regards, Charlotte