Ketchikan and a Flock of Ducks

We arrived at Bar Harbor at 10 AM yesterday after getting an early start from Foggy Bay.  Since we were arriving from Canada, we obtained permission while still in BC from the CBP (Customs & Border Patrol) to anchor in Foggy Bay before clearing customs in Ketchikan. 

For the first time, we experienced the seas created by significant outflow winds.  The winds are the result of a high pressure in the interior and a lower pressure offshore.  The winds funnel down the channels, the Skeena and Portland Inlet, towards the sea.  We had 3 foot moderate chop for the 30 plus miles from the outlet of the Skeena south of Prince Rupert, the length of Chatham Sound, until we cleared the NE corner of Dundas Island where Portland Inlet meets Dixon Entrance.  The winds were steady in the 15 to 25 range with occasional gusts to 30 knots.  The salt spray added to the crust of salt we had accumulated along the way.

Once past Dundas, the seas were quite good and we enjoyed a smooth ride into Foggy Bay where we were the only boat anchored for the night.  The sun was so bright we had to draw the blinds on many windows to keep the interior of the boat from getting any warmer than it did (upper 70’s).

Once in Ketchikan, we started tackling our chore list in order to get out of town quickly.  The weather forecast had a strong front moving in Monday night through at least Tuesday so we wanted to leave ahead of it on Monday morning.

Later Saturday night our cousin boat Shearwater (David Cohn) arrived having left Prince Rupert that morning.  On Sunday another Diesel Duck, Seaducktress, owned by Peter Geerlofs joined us making a flock of Seahorse Marine Diesel Ducks at Bar Harbor.

From here we’ll do a partial loop around Revillagigedo Island via Behm Canal visiting some of our favorite anchorages and dropping the crab and prawn traps when we can.  We hope start enjoying some fresh Alaskan seafood as we do.  After that we’ll start heading towards Sitka via Petersburg.