July 11, 2007:
When we awoke at 4am, the bay was flat. As we stumbled on deck to make ready for our departure to Sea Otter Cove, a line of fishing boats streamed by in the dim light of dawn. There were a couple dozen of those little boats all heading out to the good fishing spots, with brave and sleepy fishermen aboard.
We wound our way through the passage between Kains Island and Cape Parkins, and up the coast to Sea Otter Cove. The sun was shining and wind was north enough so a warm breeze was coming off the land. It was hands down the most pleasant passage we have had this season.
The entrance to Sea Otter was easy and the cove flat calm. There were three sailboats riding at the four available moorings, we took the fourth (50° 40.690’ N / 128° 21.070’ W).
Shortly after we were secured the other sailboats left, and we had the cove to ourselves. That afternoon we had a light northwest breeze, but the weatherman was forecasting yet another South Easter. Winter is still hanging on. We were planning to leave the cove for our slack tide rounding of Cape Scott at daybreak. At 03:30 the front went by and the South East winds came on strong. At 04:30 the weatherman was forecasting S.E. gales. We turned over and went back to sleep. Our rounding of Cape Scott, just ten miles up the coast from here will wait another day.July 12, 2007:
The wind blew and Teal strained at the mooring as small white caps came through the cove, but we were very comfortable being here rather than making way up the coast in a gale.
About mid day a 39-foot trawler came through the tricky entrance and into the cove. He had come 34 miles, around Cape Scott, from Bull Harbor. He had to make several attempts in the strong winds to get a line around the mooring next to us. After he was secured, we chatted on the radio. He told us that Cape Scott was pretty lumpy, but the seas were worse as he got closer to Sea Otter. They still had to cleanup the stuff that spilled on the carpet in the heavy seas. We both complained about the vagueness of the weather reports, and he said in hindsight that he should not have stopped at Bull Harbor the night before.
July 13, 2007:
The South Easter blew all through the night. The winds were lighter at 0:4:30, but the weatherman was forecasting continued strong south easterlies. We decided to stay put one more day for more favorable conditions tomorrow.
The day was windy and gray until late afternoon when the sun peaked through the clouds and we started seeing blue skies…. A promise of a great day tomorrow! This photo is looking seaward from Sea Otter Cove.More to come,
George and JoAnne
