SYC Members Sail North to Alaska
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July 26, 2009 Bella Bella/Shearwater July 22nd- Leaving Ketchikan with clear skies and a full tank of diesel on the first leg of our homeward passage. Although Foggy Bay was a familiar anchorage we were concerned that dense fog would somehow play a role in our planned progress. Entering Foggy was easy with accurate electronic charts, even at high tide when the critical rocks were not exposed. In the morning no fog was a pleasant surprise. We weighed anchor and headed out into Dixon Entrance, a long open water passage. We made the slack tide at Venn Passage shortcut at the perfect timing and with a little luck found dock space at Prince Rupert Rowing Yacht Club. Some groceries and Canadian check-in was the agenda.
 
July 23rd -An early morning departure hoping to catch a flood tide passage did not work out as planned, the electronic charts prediction of currents were totally inaccurate. A long passage down Grenville Channel to Lowe Inlet was simple. The anchorage was quiet with a beautiful waterfall and salmon jumping waiting for high tide to make their journey upstream. 
July 24th – FOG, DENSE FOG, the channel was totally invisible. We entered cautiously only to be greeted by a fishing boat heading in the opposite direction. Radar is a must when traveling north. Making progress slowing we entered Wright Sound with some of the fog lifting. Traveling down Fraser Reach past Butedale into Graham Reach into Khute Inlet. Rather than traveling the extra distance to the waterfalls and mud flats we anchored off Green Spit. Although it looked like we were in open waters exposed to the elements it turned out to be a perfect calm anchorage.
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At Anchor,
July 25th – More FOG greeted us as we entered the channel. Following Tolmie Channel past Klemtu into Finlayson Channel with the fog now gone and we had a simple passage to Oliver Cove off of Mathieson Sound. A small beautiful cove with good weather protection. The exit in the morning thru Reid Passage would keep us out of main open waters. 
Can you see the boat ahead?? 
July 26th – The 18 mile trip to Bella Bella was quick. We called ahead for reservations and luckily got the last spot to tie up. No power and the two boats needed to raft but we welcomed the opportunity to do laundry and provision. Horseflies that will bite thru heavy socks greeted us throughout the day. The temperature is 38C ……..Warm and sultry. I guess the flies multiply in great numbers with warm weather. The battery fly swatters do little to stop them, they continue with a vengeance, only a manual squash will keep them from attacking again. The boat is littered with dead flies, we will need to do a quick wash down before we leave. The marina is filled with boats heading south, although we have seen boats still heading north the vast majority of boats are heading home. Tomorrow we will anchor in Pruth and hike over to the white sandy beach on the other side of the island. The following day Fury Cove and maybe some fishing. Wednesday the winds are predicted to be light so we will cross into Cape Caution then on to familiar waters. More to follow as we make our way back to Silva Bay. Bob & Tracie |