Day 8 | 2025 Flotilla to Alaska | Mound Island to Allison Harbour

We headed out early again this morning to get through Queen Charlotte Strait before the forecast wind increase in the afternoon. Everyone pulled out of the Mound Island anchorage at six, for what turned out to be a very pleasant cruise. One boat detoured to Port McNeill to get some fuel, but made great time and actually beat the rest of the fleet to Allison Harbour. Soon, we were jointed … Read more

Day 6 | 2025 Flotilla to Alaska | Staying Put in Small Inlet

Making the decision to stay put in a location that’s not bursting with rainbows and unicorns (aka calm water, multiple bears with cubs foraging on shore, whales and dolphins frolicking around our boats) is always a tough call. Small Inlet is beautiful, and sure, there are some birds (seagulls, mergansers, an eagle in the distance), but the 20-30 knot wind (gusting to 38 knots!) has kept us all sailing on … Read more

Day 4 | 2025 Flotilla to Alaska | Comox to Campbell River

Another early morning! We left the dock at Comox at 5am and headed out into the the calm, blue gray morning. The Comox Bar looks a little tricky, but it’s really not. The depth is at least 15 feet, marked by red buoys, and there’s even a lighted range if you like. The conditions in the Strait were very pleasant for the cruise up to Campbell River, and by the … Read more

Day 3 | 2025 Flotilla to Alaska | Clam Bay to Comox

Our alarm went off just before 4:30am this morning…enough time to check the weather, get a few sips of coffee, and figure out if we were going to need to change the plan. Again. A gorgeous, calm morning so far! The forecast, however, showed an increase in wind, plus a strong wind warning (SE 15-20kts and 15-25kts) south and north of Nanaimo, but also said it should diminish in the … Read more

Day 2 | 2025 Flotilla to Alaska | Ganges to Clam Bay

Day 2 and we’ve already resorted to a Plan B. Originally our plan this morning was to leave Ganges around 7:30am to make Dodd Narrows by noon, just prior to slack, and then continue on up to Tribune Bay on Hornby Island — a long day (67nm). However, the forecast looked like we might very likely get beat up a bit from Nanaimo north. We’ve learned from experience that if … Read more

Day 1 | 2025 Flotilla to Alaska | Prevost Harbor to Ganges

We’re back!! The 2025 Flotilla to Alaska officially began last night at Prevost Harbor on Stuart Island, but most everyone was in Anacortes the night before, so we had some extra time to get acquainted before our first official meeting. We left Cap Sante around noon yesterday, and Carrie (on Ranger Tug 29 named IF) got some great photos of a pod of transient orcas off of Shaw Island, including … Read more