Airship | From Pelican to Pinta Bay, Kimshan Cove, and Klag Bay

Monday: We opted to leave Pelican on the earlier side (not waiting for the cafe or the store to open)…dropped our lines around 7am and headed for the outside of Chichagof (Pinta Cove, 29nm from Pelican). Once outside Lisianski Strait we had a bit of swell from the southwest mixed with some wind wave and current — just a little rolly but not bad. We entered Imperial Passage and continued … Read more

Airship | Mosquito Pass to Pelican

After dinner last night (and after I posted yesterday’s post), Kevin went up for some aerial shots of the anchorage at Mosquito Cove. So these are technically from yesterday, but no one cares, right? Surprisingly, when we pulled (all three) of our boats’ anchors this morning, none of us had anything like the giant kelp ball we had on ours a few years back. Here’s a photo of it, for … Read more

Airship | Swanson Harbor, Hoonah, Flynn Cove

We left Juneau on Tuesday morning and are headed out to spend some time in Icy Strait, and hopefully south down the outside of Chichagoff Island if weather permits. We’ll be buddy boating for a bit with friends Missie and Russ on their Selene 53, Melissa Lynn. (Always nice to have another boat nearby when you’re boating in the boonies!) 🙂 Things got a bit busy as we transited Saginaw … Read more

Day 42 | 2024 Flotilla to Alaska | Ford’s Terror, Dawes Glacier, Wood Spit

A lazy morning at anchor in one of the most gorgeous places we know of. After breakfast, Kevin took the drone up for some aerials: We pulled anchors around 2 and motored to the exit of Ford’s Terror, and then some of us (opting for a long day that will end later this evening by anchoring at Wood Spit), turned left and headed further into Endicott Arm to see if … Read more

Day 39 | 2024 Flotilla to Alaska | Tracy Arm

Yesterday we took a day trip up Tracy Arm to see some glaciers. The weather was perfect, and there was very little ice in the water. It’s about 25 miles up Tracy Arm to South Sawyer  Glacier, and we were able to go our full cruise speed all the way to South Sawyer Glacier, which mostly never happens! This post is mostly photos, for reasons that will become obvious. Seals … Read more

Day 35 | 2024 Flotilla to Alaska | Appleton Cove to Pavlof Harbor

Today was a good day for wildlife! As we rounded the tip of Chichagof Island at Morris Reef, there were a couple of humpbacks hanging out near the point. And on Buoy 35, almost as many sea lions as would fit. I’m sure there’s room for a few more. A little ways up Chatham Strait (which was just about flat the entire cruise), we had some Dall’s porpoises surfing Airship’s … Read more

Day 34 | 2024 Flotilla to Alaska | Sitka to Appleton Cove

Another morning waking up to bright sun! We departed Sitka with with blue skies, flat water, and a nice view of Mt. Edgecumbe. As we headed north in Neva Strait, we spotted a bear on the west shore. At first we thought she had cubs with her, but then we thought nope, those are rocks…too low and not moving. But then, they moved!! Turns out they were tiny cubs…three of … Read more

Day 30 | 2024 Flotilla to Alaska | Takatz Bay to Baby Bear Bay

Chatham Strait this morning was a little rolly but not bad at all — some swells from the south opposing a little current from the north caused a bit of surfing, but it was gentle and manageable. We saw a couple of chill humpbacks and managed to snap a few pics before they dove and disappeared.     As we entered Peril Strait, conditions were downright glassy, and our long … Read more