The sailing adventures of SV Meriwether and her crew
When talking to others about us spending a few sailing seasons in Alaska, one location came up as a “must see”, from those that have been to Alaska, more often than any other; Tracy Arm. It is difficult to accept that a single spot could be the defining locale for all of South East Alaska, but that was the ticket...
Tall peaks overlook the small, well protected, safe haven in Stephen’s Passage that is Taku Harbor. It is also a nicely placed, and commonly used as such, staging point to visit the world renown Tracy and Endecott Arms – and their glaciers – just a few more hours to the south. Inside the protection of the harbor are a few...
Our time at Admiralty Cove was spent hunkered down on the boat for a three day wind event. We chose to stay where we had previously anchored – here – as it was going to offer us the best protection within a day’s sail. Best was relative of course, as we took the full brunt of the wind – hitting...
With the final mail picked up from the post office and the boat laden with fuel, water, firewood, and groceries we were able to untied the lines and push off from the Juneau docks – for good. Neither of us share any disdain for Juneau per-se, but both of us do for the sitting in one place for any period...
Well, it wasn’t guaranteed but it appears we have made it through a winter in Alaska. Our time in Hoonah was real tough. Juneau was a little easier, even though we had some much colder temperatures during our stay here. Just having access to supplies and groceries makes all the difference. Through out December and January the nights were extremely...
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...
