2014-06 Preparations for the Alaska Inside Passage

Once again this spring the Wild Blue will be cruising the Inside Passage to Alaska.  This is our 7th consecutive year northbound on the Passage, although in 2010 we turned left early and circumnavigated Vancouver Island.  If all goes well, the Wild Blue will depart Anacortes for Alaska on May 6th, with Vancouver, BC as the first port.  Since this year we have just 14 days to make Ketchikan, we're planning a FAST cruise with several 12 to 14-hour daily runs.  After Vancouver, it's Gorge Harbour, then Lagoon Cove, Pruth Bay, Shearwater, Lowe Inlet, and Dundas Island, arriving in Ketchikan by the 19th.  There is always a chance we will get stopped by a storm, prawn festival and/or crab stampede, and if so we will hook the boat to the bottom, and drop our traps.  And if we do get behind schedule, Wild Blue's bright forward facing lights allow us to motor safely at night.

The Pot of Gold is always just off the bow of the Wild Blue.
Thanks to crew Elliott Olson who captured this photo from Tillamook, Oregon.

Preparations and provisioning have began:  We loaded 900 gallons of diesel at $3.59/gallon; purchased two additional kayaks and racks; had the diesel heater and main engine serviced; started the deep freezer; loaded $400 of Trader Joe's frozen goods and $400 more of dry goods and supplies.  We have the critical staple to keep us alive: "seafood surprise" canned cat food for prawning, and frozen chicken thighs/drumsticks for crabbing.

The detailed itinerary follows.  See you in May on the Passage.

2014 WILD BLUE ALASKA CRUISE ITINERARY
Revision 2, March 25, 2014

Leg #1 TUE-May 6 BRITISH COLUMBIA TO MON-MAY 19 KETCHIKAN, AK.
Northbound BC cruising with Vancouver and small resort visits, prawning and crabbing. Vancouver, Gorge Harbor, Broughton Islands, Port McNeil, Namu, Shearwater, Boat Bluff/Alexander Inlet, Hartley Bay, Prince Rupert, Dundas Island, Ketchikan – 14 days: To Boat fly www.AlaskaAir.com to Seattle.  From boat fly www.AlaskaAir.com from Ketchikan to home.

Leg #2 WED-MAY 28 KETCHIKAN, AK TO SAT-JUN 7 SITKA, AK.
Northwest bound Alaska cruising, anchoring at night, visiting Craig, fishing, prawning and crabbing: Ketchikan, South Kaigani Harbor, Craig, Port McArthur or Kell Bay, Port Alexander, Red Bluff Bay, Warm Springs Bay, Peril Strait, Kalinin or Fish Bay, Sitka – 11 days: To boat fly www.AlaskaAir.com to Ketchikan. From boat fly www.AlaskaAir.com from Sitka to home. Crew with Alex only:  Gerard Ages, Bill Lee.

Leg #3 SUN-JUN 8 SITKA, AK TO TUE-JUN 17 SITKA, AK.
Local Sitka cruising with King Salmon fishing and crabbing, anchoring at night.  Short cruises northwest or southwest along coast of Baranof Island in support of King Salmon fishing: Sitka to Sitka – 10 days: Fly www.AlaskaAir.com to Sitka. Fly www.AlaskaAir.com from Sitka to home. Crew with Alex only: Roger Larsen, Sid Findley, Dave McNamara

Leg #4 WED-JUN 18 SITKA, AK TO FRI-JUN 27 SITKA, AK.
Local Sitka cruising with King Salmon fishing and crabbing, anchoring at night.  Short cruises northwest or southwest along coast of Baranof Island in support of King Salmon fishing: Sitka to Sitka – 10 days: Fly www.AlaskaAir.com to Sitka. Fly www.AlaskaAir.com from Sitka to home. Crew with Alex only: Willie Benedetti, Joe Cebe, Mike Celentano

Leg #5 SAT-JUN 28 SITKA, AK TO SUN-JUL 6 SITKA, AK.
Cruising the southwest coastline of Baranof Island with King Salmon fishing in local Sitka area, anchoring at night, hot springs visit: Sitka, Goddard Hot Springs, Jamboree Bay, Whale Bay, Sitka – 8 days: Fly www.AlaskaAir.com to Sitka. Fly www.AlaskaAir.com from Sitka to home. Crew: Max Benson-Katie Patterson
 
Leg #6 TUE-JUL 8 SITKA, AK TO SUN-JUL 20 CRAIG, AK.
Cruising the southwest coastline of Baranof Island with King Salmon fishing, crabbing and prawning, anchoring at night, and maybe a hot springs visit: Sitka, Whale Bay, Port Alexander, Port Arthur, Port Alice, Sonora Island, Craig area islands, Craig  – 13 days: Fly www.AlaskaAir.com to Sitka. Fly www.IslandAirX.com from Craig to Ketchikan then www.AlaskaAir.com to home. Crew: Vince Fonte, Bob Silva, and Marvin Dee

Leg #7 TUE-JUL 22 CRAIG, AK TO WED-JUL 30 KETCHIKAN, AK.
South bound Alaska cruising, anchoring at night, with salmon and halibut fishing, crabbing, prawning, and whale viewing, visits to Craig, Hydaburg, Nutkwa Inlet, Hessa Inlet, Nichols Bay, Ketchikan – 9 days: Fly www.AlaskaAir.com to Ketchikan, then www.IslandAirX.com to Craig. Fly www.AlaskaAir.com to home. Crew: Vince and Marianne Fonte, Chuck and Carolyn French

Leg #8 SAT- AUG 2 KETCHIKAN, AK TO SUN-AUG 10, SHEARWATER, BC
Alaska to British Columbia Southbound, anchoring at night, Coho salmon fishing, crabbing and prawning, and a visit to Prince Rupert: various northern BC ports on the “outside” inside passage, Klemtu, Roscoe Inlet, Ocean Falls, Shearwater – 8 days. Fly www.AlaskaAir.com to Ketchikan. Fly www.Pacific-Coastal.com from Shearwater-Bella Bella to Vancouver, and then fly www.AirCanada.com from Vancouver to home. Crew: Rudolf Budginas and Mr. Budginas.

Leg #9 TUE-AUG 12 SHEARWATER, BC TO THU-AUG 21 PORT MCNEILL, BC.
Central British Columbia Southbound cruising, anchoring at night, fishing-crabbing-prawning, visits to small boat resorts, Namu, McNaughton Islands, Fish Egg Inlet, Pierce Bay, Rivers Inlet, and Port McNeil – 10 days. Fly www.AirCanada.com to Vancouver and then fly www.Pacific-Coastal.com airlines to Shearwater-Bella Bella. Fly www.Pacific-Coastal.com airlines to Vancouver, then www.AirCanada.com to home. Crew: OPEN

Leg #10 SAT-AUG 23 PORT MCNEILL, BC TO MON-SEP 1 ANACORTES, WA.
Southern British Columbia cruising, anchoring at night, fishing-crabbing-prawning, visits to small boat resorts, Port McNeil and Vancouver: Port McNeil, Lagoon Cove, Desolation Sound, Smugglers Cove, Vancouver, Anacortes – 10 days. Fly www.AirCanada.com to Vancouver and then fly www.Pacific-Coastal.com airlines to Port Hardy. Fly www.AlaskaAir.com from Seattle to home. Crew: Ryan Benson and Dr. Ross Icyda?