Coffman Cove, AK, 17-Aug-2018 — We’re back after abandoning an attempted crossing of Clarence Strait headed towards Meyer’s Chuck.
The NOAA weather forecast was for wind increasing to 20 knots by mid-day. At 7am, when the current switched to ebbing south, our direction, we motored out, keeping clear of a whale feeding in harbor, to be across before the wind had picked up.
Once out, we found the wind was already blowing.
We reefed once, then twice, but close hauled as we were, the 135% genoa was still too much sail. The waves were continuing to build and the weather station report from Lincoln Island, in viewing distance, reported 21 with gusts to 34. With a 25 nm beat to windward, we decided this was more fun than we wanted to enjoy.
With the 135 doused, we did better that 5.4 knots on a broad reach with a double reefed main only.
A half mile outside the harbor there was a loud crack behind the mainsail, a circle of foamed water two boat lengths ahead of us. A whale had breached behind the mainsail. Jennifer was thrilled, I was freaked.
We continued on — what choice was there? He continued to breach. The next time four boat lengths behind us… then further. Around us four other whales were also breaching.
Inside the harbor was complete calm and still water.
We’ll try this again tomorrow.
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Clarence Strait is known for its stiff, unforgiving waves on an ebbing tide. Waves are known break as they build. Jennifer saw a few breaking waves.
Caro Babbo did fine and we never felt in danger.
Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.
Glad you guys made it back safely and enjoyed the experience with the whales…
Keep em coming my friend.
We have turned back more times than I care to count. Sailings supposed to be fun not hard work. I can remember once being stuck in Coffs harbour and a bunch of heros in a race yacht left to head north in a bad forecast. About 10 hours later the yacht turned back up and they had one hell of a beating. Two of the crew jumped ship claiming they had enough of sailing. We left the next day and had a great sail north.
Cheers
Hi Drew,
We walk the line between wanting it to be always fun and stretching ourselves. We’ll be going offshore next year, so we want to get more and more rougher experience. As you saw, we got the experience we needed and then came back to contemplate what we learned.
In Alaska, it generally is full bore or not at all. Guessing correctly, since the weather reports are accurate about 50% of the time, is the trick.
BTW, how did you learn about our site?
–j
Hi John
Volkscruiser has a link to your website. I have been reading your blog for a while and finally made a comment. I love your yacht.
Cheers
I had no idea anyone outside of people who know me personally read the blog.
Thanks for reading, and commenting.