North to Alaska: Day 9-12 Cape Caution to Hartley Bay

Day 9 (2022-05-): Port Hardy to Namu – Approximately 90 miles and 13 hours. Woke up at 0600 to by che

ck Environment Canada, the Windy App, and Windfinder App. Bottom line, it was a debatable forecast to cross the open ocean and round Cape Caution to get too central and norther BC coast. What we did know is if we delay today, we would not be able to cross for another 4 – 5 days based on the weather forecast. Some refer to Cape Caution as the fearsome barrier – for us, I think we are just too naive to understand, and it got real. The open water distance is only about 40 miles, but the seas were high, the tide was ebbing, and there was some wind. After hours and getting through we felt like we had been churning in a washing machine for hours. For my fans, please send two new wine glasses and a small flat screen tv.

Day 10 (2022-05-11): Namu to Shearwater – Approximately 30 miles and 3.5 hours. Woke up at 0600 to by check Environment Canada, the Windy App, and Windfinder App. Bottom line, it was windy but a go. We wanted to get to a place to dock, rest, and shower, and eat so we charted a course for Shearwater. We made it around 12

Day 11 (2022-05-12): Shearwater to – Hartley Bay – Approximately 115 miles, 13.5 hrs – long day. This is a First Nations community of the Gitga'ata "People of the Cane."and COVID restrictions are in full force – no exiting the boat. However, we were rewarded today seeing seals, Dall’s porpoises, whales, eagles, and a lone wolf walking the shoreline. Waterwalls were too numerous to count and film. Next stop Prince Rupert.

Day 12 (2022-05-12): Hartley Bay - In the process of docking last night after 13+hours, a tactical error was made. It appears we ran over the tow line for the dingy. We spent the day waiting for a diver to return from a supply run in hopes he to see if the rope was wrapped on the shaft and prop. COVID restrictions were in full force so we had to sit on the boat all day but at least we had power.. After most of the day, we got out the GOPRO and put on a stick and stuck in the water to see if we could view the prop and shaft. It worked and we could see that the rope did get caught up in the prop but it does not appear to be on the shaft or bearing. We are optimistic we can travel tomorrow towards Prince Rupert which is the last stop prior to Alaska. Sea trials will be in order tomorrow morning and hopefully the prop will throw the remaining rope. Lesson learned – one should have floating rope for towing.