It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
Since we left Ketchikan we’ve been managing to keep one step, sometimes two steps ahead of some gale force and full gale force winds. Last night we found an, according to one cruising guide, anchorage that was safe from all winds, a “very secure anchorage”, in that its entrance was a bit circuitous and once in, was a small and secure hole protected on all sides by steep walls of pines. At 5:00 this morning some very clever winds broke through this ring of security and we were battered by 30-40 kts winds which caused us to drag, slowly but surely, towards a rocky shore. Letting out more scope was beyond the question as had we had done this we would have been on the shore. So, in the complete darkness we had to raise the anchor, and find our way out all the while being battered and swung about by the building “breeze”. We did eventually exit the wash bowl but not without two or three very close calls with rocks and an unforgiving coastline. What was waiting outside for us in the Finlayson Channel was a bit worse in that these winds topped 50kts. We had no choice but to leave as resetting the hook in the darkness was impossible. Happy to say that we’re now tucked away in another secure anchorage, but this one has an easy out. By the way, after we finally clawed our way out of the anchorage Dominique said, “That was right up there with the ice.” We all agreed. 450 more miles to Seattle.
