Wednesday July 10th, 2024
We left this beautiful anchorage this morning at 5:00 a.m. anticipating relatively calm seas across Cape Caution. Our meteorologist Chris delivered a detailed report on the sea conditions we could expect across Cape Caution and through Queen Charlotte Strait. His forecast was spot on. We experienced 2 to 3 foot ocean waves, with a slight chop across most of Cape Caution. Very tolerable. Our first challenge of the day was when we encountered dense fog entering the North end of Queen Charlotte Strait. For about an hour we had 20 feet of visibility. Yea Radar. We were concerned that the fog would last the entire trip, however, in just over an hour it burned off and we had blue skies, no wind, and fair seas.
Our only challenge—until we docked, wait for this later—was bucking 2 knots of an outgoing tide that slowed our progress and turned our cruise into a 9 hour slog. Our concern was that Chris had indicated that a major blow was coming in the early afternoon and we wanted to get to port before it hit. Even with our slow progress we pulled into the marina in Sointula on Malcolm Island about 1:30. Below is the picture of the calm seas we experienced in Queen Charlotte Strait.
Compare that with this picture inside our harbor about an hour later. The picture doesn’t do it justice. It was 26 knot gusting winds, and this was INSIDE our harbor. Out in the Strait it would have been wicked.
But the excitement doesn’t end there. Once we were happily docked in Sointula, Marlene and I went out for lunch in town. Upon our return I saw this fishing boat coming into the marina from the bay and attempting to dock in front of our boat.
“Oh My God”, I thought. “He is going to hit our boat”. I ran for the dock to help him, and thankfully there were a number of Coast Guard Auxiliary people getting ready to go out on the adjacent dock and they came to my rescue. It took five people to pull this fishing boat in and away from our boat to dock. Were it not for them there would have been substantial damage to our boat. As it sits, he did HIT our boat. There was minor damage to the bow pulpit, but it doesn’t take much damage to create $1000 repair. I will file the claim with his insurance in the morning. Word to the wise, there is a time in life to stop fishing and running for President.
We were planning on leaving tomorrow morning for Blind Channel, but due to the “boat incident” and potential bad weather in Johnstone Strait, we are holding back another day. We will reassess in the morning and go from there.
This is a beautiful island with an interesting history. We were first here eight years ago and it is still unique and wonderful. It reminds us a lot of Guemes Island, except here they have a CO-OP grocery store! Most of the early settlers here were Finnish immigrants who attempted to establish a Socialist Utopian Community. That didn’t last or work out so well, but the island still has a very warm and accepting feeling to it, and except for the boat incident we are very pleased to be here again.
Remember readers, Boating is fun.
Glad your crossing was good and sorry to read about the boat incident. You’ve had your share of close calls this season!
Debbie. Thanks for your comments. As to boating “close calls.” It comes with the territory. Working fishing boat harbors are notoriously challenging. Wishing you safe travels as you continue to explore Alaska.