Most everyone we meet is a current power boater and a small number are ex-sailors.  It seems that folks cross over from sailing to power but we went the opposite direction and whether a wise choice or not, we have yet to know.  For every thirty power boats, there is one sail boat. We also meet many power boaters who never tire of letting us know that Tim and I are, nevertheless, mostly motoring on this journey since the prevailing winds are either Northerlies or Southerlies.  That said, we have sailed every day but one since we left Poulsbo in mid May.  Every chance we get, we hoist the sails even if just for 15 minute increments.  We have had several stellar days with hours of perfect winds for excellent sailing.  We’re grateful.  

     Cruising the inside passage is challenging whether powering or sailing.  There are countless logs and wispy rafts of kelp to avoid, extreme currents and tides, shallow and/or crazy narrow passages, wildly dangerous rapids, fishing boats, crab and shrimp pots to avoid, cruise ships lunging at you through the fog and powerful, unexpected winds that can whip up even at anchor, called williwogs.  Once in Alaska, the charts are not reliable, depths are uncertain and rocks not charted. The boating guides that do exist are at least ten years old.  Suitable anchorages can be uncomfortably distant from each other.  Meeting up with other boaters and sharing local knowledge has been a vital help on this leg of the journey. The few sailors we do meet tell us that blue water (ocean and outside) is much better even with the gale force winds.  A sail boat can handle it, most trawlers and tugs can’t.  Has me wondering….

Henry's Arm in Pybus Bay, Admiralty Island
We were here in absolute solitude other than a few eagles.