Captain Scotts Log ~ Monday, August 11th, 2008

Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 3:39 AM
Subject: Toward Kodiak

The wind was strong out of the NE so we stayed in Dutch Harbor an extra day. Good call but wish we had one more day to wait as the wind was still on the nose when we left. Commanders weather promised it would slacken and back to the NW--it didn't. The passes between the Pacific and the Bering Sea are noted for rough water--it was. So we settled in for the heavy wind and sea beat--crash, bang. By mid day the boat was taking on water at an alarming rate--drop all sail, turn down wind to access the forepeak, pump the boat dry, fix some of the leaks in the bow, and start again--crash bang. To preserve sanity and the boat I decided to motersail at a slower speed. With reefed main only the boat was more upright and dryer. And at the slower speed of 7 kts the crashing and banging was reduced. The next morning the wind quit, skies cleared, and our sense of humor returned. The mid portion of this leg was gorgeous. I actually saw the sun rise and set for the first time since leaving Japan. Stars and moon on a flat sea--wow. We were now up under the Alaskan Peninsula. It the clear air and with setting sun behind you could see 3 volcano's 75 miles away. I have never seen anything so neat. The tallest 2 were 8000 and 9000 feet high and nearly vertical. The top half was snow capped and one was smoking heavily. The slopes on these monsters had to be 70 degrees--perfect cones. Today, Monday, the wind has returned and again on our nose. The barometer is dropping and we are hoping to make landfall before dark.