Endless Alaska summer rolls along

Anchored to the west of a tall mountain peak rising vertically from sea level, the sun is up and filling the bay, but not quite touching Yahtzee. Rowing towards a sun-splashed beach, we soon feel the warm sun rays and scurry…

Soaking in the experience of Sitka Sound

When the anchor was set, I scrambled to get the dinghy off the foredeck and Yahtzee switched from offshore mode back to cruising mode. We’d just made landfall after four days crossing the Gulf of Alaska and Goddard Hot…

Retracing our steps across the Gulf of Alaska

By all measures, the Gulf of Alaska is a large, imposing body of water. Even in the summer, weather windows to get across are short and can be few and far between. Because of this, many mariners choose to take a longer…

The ups and downs of Aialik Bay

Reaching south out of Resurrection Bay past the Rugged Islands, an easterly swell rolls from our port side like small grey hills and a dense rainy fog envelops jagged Aialik Cape to the southwest. The glorious weather we…

The Log of "Row Bird"

When I tell fellow sailors that I keep a log for my 18-foot sail and oar boat, they mostly look puzzled. "Why would I want to do that?" I see them wonder.