Water and whales and bears, oh my!

Light House

We got a late-ish start today. Scott had to go to the fuel station to load on diesel. The fuel station opened at 9 am. We left earlier than him, at about 845 am, and motored at a sedate pace. The marine layer was low and soon obsured the islands behind us as we met the rollers from the Pacific. As we emerged from behind the protection of the islands. At first the waves were a quartering sea from the port side bow, then they were broad side on the port side, eventually they were quartering from the port stern and finally from directly astern as we snuck back in behind the Islands.

We were treated to some of the beauties and wonders of the Inland Water Way. We saw a large Humpback Whale breaching, lots of floating debris to dodge including a tree, large vessels and small vessel wakes to ride out and waterfalls.

Our trip today started out in Shear Water, out into the Milbank Sound, into Finlayson Channel, to Graham Channel and into Khutze Inlet. The Chart was annotated by our friend Carol Nelson, who generously gave us a ream of nautical charts, with an anchorage at the foot of a waterfall in Khutze Inlet, but it was occupied so we backtracked and rafted up to Bluespan.

Ed and Stever took the dogs into shore and then took a trip to look at a nearby meadow for possible use tomorrow. They saw a mama bear and cub. There is nothing more dangerous up here than a bear with a cub.

I don't recall if I had mentioned that we removed all the anchor from the anchor locker and measured it. It turns out we have 225 feet of anchor and an uncalibrated anchor chain counter. Not that it makes much difference as the depths of the water in the inlets (fjords) is over 100 feet deep in near the edges of the water and the few good anchorages are occupied. So tomorrow, we may have a 10-11 hour leg and do leg 5 of the Predicted Log Race.

Oh, I almost forgot, the difference between 3rd place and 4th place is 0.0331 %. Not bad for novices. LOL, the difference between first and last place is 0.774 %

As I reviewed, I realized that I was using sailor talk and so I want to clarify.

Port, the left side of the boat when sitting at the helm or the place you wish you hadn't left in a storm or the after dinner wine

Starboard, the right side when sitting at the helm or a real slippery slick plastic that when not properly tied to the roof of your van suddenly blocks your view when you stop suddenlly.

Astern, stern is back of the boat, or a no nonsense attitude, astern is from behind the back of the boat.

Bow, what you do to the queen or the pointy end of the boat. or what you tie on your neck or a present

Quartering means coming from a 45 degree angle from the midling of the boat, or in some cultures used to help you heal... don't ask!

Broad side, means coming from side of the boat at about 90 degress to mid line....it can also be what battleships fire when all cannons are pointing to the same side of the ship toward a target or what you get when your get run into by another car who ran a light or stop sign.

Chuss.