The sailing adventures of SV Meriwether and her crew
In our third year as full-time live aboard sailors, 2021 pushed us to a whole new extreme in rough, salty, sailing; Alaska. We had planned to sail up to Alaska in 2020, but COVID put an abrupt halt to those plans. We did make it north of 48 degrees in 2021 to sail our biggest year of them all. In...
“We will just stay in Alaska…”, I said. With a straight face I might add. I meant it too. Our plans to spend the winter abroad – in a warmer country – was scrapped very early on in 2021. Mostly due to the pandemic, but also because we could save a ton of money – or at least spend said...
Over the past two weeks it has become plainly obvious that winter is here. We were lucky to have gotten out that last weekend of sun, but hopes are not high for another any time soon. I’ve covered the boat as best I can and stockpiled wood to burn in our stove, all in preparation for the crazy-ass’d task of...
An amazing forecast for the weekend, prompted Kerri and me to head out to an anchorage for a few days. Somewhere close though, just to give Meriwether a shake-down without a huge towing cost if it becomes needed. Plus, the next closest anchorages were many hours away. But, just south of Hoonah is a waterway – Port Fredrick – with...
It wasn’t easy being towed in to what would become our winter destination. In fact, I was having a real rough time with the level of stress in my life – something I am not really accustomed to. I was seriously doubting this boat living thing. We had planned to make it to Juneau originally, but the time it takes...
It was perfect timing to leave Hoonah; a Friday afternoon after a huge cruise ship just pulled into port. Not only does this mean the town gets crowded, but it also means the meager cell signal is completely choked into unconsciousness. So we left, on our way to the next closest anchorage – some 20ish miles north west – before...
The weather forecasts in Alaska have left a lot to desire. For the most part, it lies, and lies in the worst of ways – heavier winds in your face or no winds if you wanted some. Occasionally though, it lies in a nice way, such was the case the day we left Basket Bay on our way up Chatham...
Our trip up to the next bay was fairly uneventful. T’was only a short hop – easily accomplished after work hours on a random weekday night. Takatz Bay reviews boasted of good cell signal, and we were both ready for less struggle in that department. While out in the more open waters of southern Chatham Strait the cell signal was...
It felt as if our entire Alaskan voyage was culminating on this very spot. It is loved by the locals as well as the social media influencers. It is no secret, by any means. Talk to anyone about sailing around South East Alaska and they will advise a stop over in Warm Springs. Free, private, hot springs overlooking the bay...
30 nautical miles away, just across Chatham Strait, is a narrow inlet with steep slopes and it’s entry clearly marked with large red-rock mountains – hence the name; Red Bluff Bay. When I was planning this portion of our route, it stood out to me for two reasons; 1) the river at the head of the bay was labeled as...
