WILD Alaska!
54º 59’ 53 N, 131º 01’ 90 W
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 | 54º 59’ 53 N / 131º 01’ 90 W, local time 0600am
Hello from WILD Alaska! Our crew of 11 met at noon yesterday. With only 8 days to explore the rugged shores of our passage between Ketchikan and Victoria, we set off from the dock almost immediately after a quick safety briefing and orientation. It worked out well, because it only started raining once we had slipped! As one of the crew so aptly remarked, if you have to slip lines from the dock in the rain you might find yourself saying, “this is crazy, maybe we shouldn’t go.” Whereas, if it starts raining once you are underway, you just ask yourself, “are we crazy, but we might as well keep going…”
Unstopped by the rain, we then spent three hours gently motoring in no breeze while practicing winch work and learning how to make logs and use the nav equipment. It all worked out perfectly, honestly, and made for a nice change to do this without the squeaking fenders and the dock rubbing up our anxiety. It’s funny how that happens, isn’t it? That bit before leaving is always stressful—even if there isn’t much stress incoming. But once you set sail, even in no wind, the ‘to-do’ list dramatically falls off without a grocery store nearby or that last minute thing to get. All of a sudden, with less choice and less freedom, we in fact feel more relaxed and more… free! Ahhh, big breath.
The dream continued. We entered our idyllic anchorage about 8pm to humpbacks gently puffing into the dusk. We ate a delicious dinner. Everyone was asleep by 11pm. By 0530am this morning the hook was back up, and we are now headed to Prince Rupert to sign into Canada and start our adventure. Stay tuned! We are keeping our eyes out for a bear. Now that isn’t a phrase often used in a 59 North Offshore Sailing blog!
- Nikki | FALKEN Skipper
NikkiHenderson
View more passage logs
Ketch us if you Kan
Falken is soon to carry on our preferred route of South, back to (hopefully) warmer climates. We’re all excited to set off and see more of this wild landscape as we head down to Victoria. A thermal trough over Vancouver combined with an offshore high pressure creating funneling NW’ly winds means it is due to be pretty fruity on the 9th. This passage is just under 600 miles, relatively short for Falken, but I’m sure we’ll be kept entertained with dramatic scenery, wildlife and weather!
Final Blog
Falken and her crew arrived safely into port last night around 8pm boat time, 10pm Prince Rupert time. Some spicy weather was anticipated, but luckily the 35kt gusts and 2.5 meter waves were no match for this expert crew. We had an exceptionally smooth docking, despite it being Alex's first time parking this year (!). We all agreed that this was a very special group of people—I for one am so impressed with how everyone stayed so positive, helpful, and appreciative of humor despite an arguably challenging passage. We'll all return home significantly saltier than we were when we left, a mark of a passage properly sailed.
Lessons and a Gift
The biggest lesson is the helm. The lesson here is that even if you don't think you can do it over and over again with no sleep, cold and damp, it has to be done and so it can be done. Flying fish are cool, dolphins are really really cool, but the coolest of them all are the whales. And most of all Alex: "Find your center Carla. Always know where your center is so you can come back to it". He means the helm but it applies to life as well.