Onward to Dutch Harbor
September 18, 2019
Days at Sea: 287
Days Since Departure: 353
Noon Position: 59 45N 168 97W
Course(t)/Speed(kts): SxE 7
Wind(t/tws): NE 18
Sea(t/ft): NE 10+
Sky/10ths Cover: Mostly clear; post-low cumulus astern. 3
Bar(mb): 997
On-deck Temp(f): ?
Cabin Temp(f): 57
Water Temp(f): 52
Relative Humidity(%): 68
Magnetic Variation: 8.1
Sail: All three sails flying. Wind on port quarter
Noon-to-Noon Miles Made Good (nm): 152
Miles since departure: 36,494
The barometer got as low as 991, but by 4am wind velocities hadn’t changed in hours and neither had the seas, which only rarely threw over Mo their loving embrace and were each time rebuffed with grace and charm. Having satisfied myself I’d seen what the low had to offer and that Mo could take care of herself, I finally went to bed.
Nights are growing longer, a full 12 hours at last count, and day feels slow to break. By 6am, the horizon is just hinting of light and sunup isn’t until around 9am. Aside from hourly status checks, I stayed in my bunk until full light.
Wind has been slow to diminish today, but slowly diminish it has. Now it is early evening and we’re in a lumpy calm and back on the engine. Must keep pushing the for miles.
The near-term goal is Dutch Harbor, 650nm from Nome and still 300nm further on as I type. And we’re on a schedule: arrival is planned prior to the next hefty low that will swing through the Aleutians on Saturday. We don’t have much time to spare.
From Dutch, we’ll launch for the final homeward leg, which looks to be a boisterous run of about 2,400 miles. The Gulf of Alaska is a chaos of strong and rapid systems, and to be frank, at the moment, I’m not sure how to slice it.
Now you sound like a sailor with a schedule. Be careful! I understand that may not be good. Here’s hoping you enjoy fair winds and following seas on your last legs home.
The last part of your NWP read a lot like ours in 2013. We left Cambridge, Tuk and Nome within a day of the same dates. We hid in Pierce Point; you in Barnard. Our Bering Sea was ugly too and we just got out of it to King Cove in advance of an uglier storm. We too made it onward (to Canada) the same season as you will to San Francisco. Congratulations on an amazing voyage 1 1/2 times around the world.
Dutch to SFO:
1- Great Circle direct, expect gale to storm as;
2- Dutch to Kodiak to Spencer then Inside Passage to San Juan Straits then coastwise to SFO;
3- Dutch to Dixon then Inside Passage to San Juan Straits then coastwise to SFO;
4- Dutch to top of VNC Island then Inside to San Juan Straits then coastwise to SFO;
5- Mix and match ducking inside before being caught offshore…
Smooth seas,
VA
Kinda personal, Randall, but wanted to tell you that I am now catching up on your daily blogs as you approach St. John’s while also following your daily runs as you head to Dutch H. Mom passed in May so life has been a little upside down but soon I will also be ready to adventure. Meanwhile, I’m enjoying the challenge of watching you enter and exit Arctic waters at the same time!! Aloha, Mary