Today was an exciting day on Airship as we left to meet the group for the beginning of the 2026 Flotilla! We got an early start out of La Conner to get ahead of the weather. The forecast called for some strong winds in the afternoon, and we wanted to get across Rosario Straight before conditions got dicey.
We had a send-off committee waving goodbye from the dock as we departed.
Heading out Swinomish Channel.
Each flotilla participant gets a bag with expedition-critical supplies such as maps, guidebooks, an Inside Passage puzzle, and Tlingit playing cards from Trickster, an indiginous-owned design shop we first visited in Juneau years back (no longer in Juneau, but still online).
We also brought back the popular Flotilla Bingo for this year:
Airship had a smooth trip winding through the San Juans in spite of gusts into the upper 20s and an uncooperative current crossing Rosario Strait.
Kevin’s brother, Craig, is joining us to help lead this trip up the Inside Passage. He has cruised with us in Alaska many times before, but he is excited for this trip as it is his first time to travel up the Inside Passage.
We joined up with all but one of our flotilla boats in Prevost Harbor on Stuart Island.
Kevin and Craig dinghied to shore for a quick hike from Prevost Harbor over to Reid Harbor. There are many great hiking options on the island, making it a great stop for stretching your legs a bit and enjoying beautiful island views.
The group got together on Airship for an afternoon meet and greet, and to go over the plans for Day 1 tomorrow into Canada.
Adrianne (from Fleming 55 Evenstar) took these gorgeous shots late in the evening when the light was amazing:
Northward!