S/V Ripple

Everything comes to Alaska by barge. June 1, 2015 Today we cross into Alaska.  My first time in the state, and Mathias' as well. And we will arrive by slow boat from Seattle. It is three weeks since we left and we've covered about 750 miles, never in the same place for more than a day. But to get to Ketchikan we have to cross the Dixon Entrance, and of the two open water crossings, Dixon has the nastier reputation.  We leave Fitch Island Cove (in Brundige Inlet) at 0520, and we're greeted at the mouth with gentle, rolling swells, less than a meter. Dixon is a pussycat this morning. The skies are overcast and there is a bit of fog (enough that keeping an eye on the chartplotter is imperative).  The horizon is featureless, and steering a straight course is surprisingly difficult. I can identify with sea stories that have ships sailing in circles. But the going is easy, and after a time the shoreline of Alaska becomes dimly visible. 57 miles in 13 hours Wavele...

Leaving Grenville Channel to the south, moving north on Chatham Sound May 30 - 31, 2015 We are two days from the Dixon Entrance, one of the two open crossings, the major crux moves of the trip, the threshold of Alaska. A small thing for a veteran, but we are rookies and don't really know what to expect. Today and tomorrow are about staging that crossing, and we read and re-read the guidebooks, mapping Ripple's speed onto potential anchorages. The anchorages between the northern end to the Grenville Channel and Prince Rupert are few, and not as well protected as we are used to. We can stay in Kumealon Inlet at the northern end of Grenville, which is well protected and attractive, but makes for a short day today and much longer the next.  We want to get closer to Dixon. Lewis Island has anchorages protected from the south but open to the north -- not good. Lowe Inlet to Kelp Passage: 40 nMiles We settle on Kelp Passage, though, looking at the chart I am wondering w...