After waiting three nights in Frypan Bay, we felt we had a window of opportunity to make the rounding of the Cape.
Upped anchor at 6 AM and motored towards Cape Caution into light south winds (predicted NW of course). The forecast winds never appeared, which was probably just as well, and the only seas we had to contend with was a slightly confused 2 meter swell coming in from the SW. A bit rolly and uncomfortable being partially beam-on to the short swell (lots of thing flying around in the cabin), and the crew was caught feeding the fish as we approached the Cape around 10 AM.
After that, the going should have gotten better, but instead we encountered more and more following seas as we motored SE down Queen Charlotte Strait. It got really nasty as we passed the entrance to Slingsby Channel with a combination of a strong Ebb tide and big steep chop on top of the SW swell. Crew was again contemplating the side of the boat from close up. Still no wind.
We basically reversed the same course we used when going northward a few weeks ago, all the way to Blunden Harbour. A total of about 50 miles in just over 8 hours. We used the engine the entire way as there was no wind until we got within a couple of miles of the anchorage. And naturally it then started howling out of the north.
So here we sit, the boat being tossed around violently on the anchor, wondering if it will ever let up. But at least we are here safe and sound once again. Tomorrow we will try and find a more sheltered spot in the Boughton Islands somewhere.
Conversation overheard on the VHF today:
"Hey Joe, if you are coming this way, better get out your camera."
"Why is that?"
"I see a sailboat and it actually has a sail up!"
Nuff said?
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