June 22-25
Hi All,
TRAWLER CONDITIONS, TRAWLER CONDITIONS, TRAWLER CONDITIONS!!!!!
Yippee….finally….a passage that was gentle on the body!!!! While we were very disappointed to miss Atka Village our reward was a very nice, gentle, boring passage from Bechiven to Hot Springs Bay on Umnak….sweet as!!!
For the most part we had winds <10 kts, all behind, W-WSW and seas 1-3′ astern….we did have one stretch where winds were 14-18G23kts all astern but maybe for 1-2 hours!!!
We had been looking for whales all day when all of a sudden ~4:30pm Kathy cries out WHALE…..we saw 2 Blue’s, mainly blows, then 5 minutes later a group of 4 Fin whales…..a pretty good show. Then 5 minutes later a single whale….the closest yet….maybe 100 yards…1 blow, then body, then nothing…..not a good enough look to identify. You should she Kathy….she has numerous whale books and she has them all out like a library reading and telling us all about them!!!!
We arrived ~3pm….about 1.5 hours ahead of plan….passage beer, catch a fish (although I could not catch one off the boat, had to take the dinghy to some rocks/kelp and bam:))), set the crab trap….the routine….LIGI!!!!
More Dall Porpoises: Yep….maybe another 12-15 pods….~4-15 per pod….must have played on our bow all day…..every time we looked up more dolphin!!!
Andy and Sue on SV Spruce were here…got in around 7:30am…..so, let the games begin again….Kathy made chili and we treated our Brit friends to chili dogs ala American style…..hot dogs smothered in chili you eat with a knife and fork….yummers….and of course, some very nice Australian red wine!!!
Weather: The front/LO did arrive around 9pm Sat night…..by Sun am it was blowing 25-35G40-50kts in the anchorage….we are anchored in 30′ about 1/2 mile from shore….shallows very fast….getting 1′ chop so very comfortable here at anchor…..but, then by late morning/afternoon we saw up to 50kt gusts….holy wind batman….2-3′ wave chop…..and our bridle chain hook bent…..that’s a tremendous force to do that….had to swap to the storm bridle….yep, we all got pretty soaked/cold getting that chore done…ugh!!!!
It was so rough I could not go out in the dinghy to check the crab trap. Instead we got up early on Monday the 25th and found it in about the same spot…we were a bit concerned it might have gotten blown out to sea….AND….nada, zilch…..arghhhhhhh!!!! But, not skunked….a 3-4-lb Pacific cod was in the trap….yummers. AND, all the fresh black rockfish bait was gone….so, theory….either there were a lot of small crabs or some very large King/Opilio crabs that can’t get into the trap but can reach in with their long legs and eat the bait. So, game on crabs….we are on the hunt:))))) We will definitely be restocking/seeking counsel in Dutch Harbor!!!
Hot Springs: Andy/Sue told us the hot springs are a bust….too hot, too shallow and covered with green algae….yuck. Since the weather was so rough on Sunday not allowing us ot go to shore we thought we might go in early on Monday and check it out….but, it was all fogged in so we said….ok, we get the message, first high winds, now fog…we are out of here!!!!
The Plan: It is now Monday, June 25 and we are on a 55nm passage to Mailboat Cove on Unalaska….should be there mid-afternoon….we will stay for 2 nights!!!!
Boat stuff:
Kathy noticed that our stern navigation light was out so Mark helped her change it out….hmmm, yep bad bulb, changed, but the fixture has deteriorated so much it was falling apart….not good….but several cable ties later and it held for this last run…..JOMT to the list to replace….ugh!!!
Final Stats:
Position: Inanudak Bay/Hot Springs Cove, Umnak: 53 15.476N 168 22.098W
Distance traveled: 262nm, arrived 3pm on 6/23 AKDT; 32.5 hours
Speed: avg 8.1kts, wow, our best yet; 1600rpm; varied from 7.4-9.5kts; mainly fair current
Boat sightings: 1 200’+ fishing vessel
Hit something: Nothing
Boat Slammings: ZERO
Weather: Heavy overcast; a little rain, air temp mid-40’sF, water temp 43*F
Wildlife: Birds galore; Storm petrel, albatross, shearwaters, puffins, ducks and gulls….everywhere!!!
Whale count: total 7: 2 Blue, 4 Fin, 1 unknown
Whale Count since Japan: Total 45; 9 Humpbacks, 26 Orcas; 3 Sperms, 2 Blue, 3 Fin, 1 Unknown
Fishing: Nope; too, too cold
Sail: down
Fuel burn: 1.4nmpg for passage, excellent, fair current sure helps; normal for 1600rpm is 1.35nmpg.
Hope all is well!
John
Mystic Moon
GO MYSTIC GO
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