OCC CRUISING INFORMATION SERVICE

George Curtis, Blacksmiths Cottage, Aston Tirrold, Oxfordshire, OX11 9DQ, England

Tel/Fax:+44 (0) 1235 850794; e-mail will be forwarded by: cis@oceancruisingclub.org

Information Supplied by Kitty van Hagen

28 September 1999

email: skvanhagen@pophost.eunet.be

This is the largest part of North America that is still wilderness country. Habitation is scattered and the facilities adequate rather than fancy. Those that venture off the beaten track will do so knowing that they must be self-sufficient. Spare parts can easily be flown in from Seattle if needs be to the larger towns. The wilderness is a wonderful experience, but not for those people who cannot take the rough with the cold.

Yachts do not need to clear customs unless arriving from outside the United States. Visa’s for UK visitors are essential unless they are arriving and departing by ‘plane. The fine for not complying with the rules is quite steep. A cruising permit is necessary and valid for six months, but that will be issued when you clear in your first port of call. There is also a requirement for a special cruising permit to visit Glacier Bay in the Inside passage, this is to stop it becoming over crowded. We read in one book that it is possible to contact the local rangers on the VHF when you arrive and see if you can cruise there. Other advice was just to turn up at any rate. As we didn’t visit Glacier Bay I don’t really have a comment to make, but it is something you should find out about and then make your own decisions. Fishing licences. This year the current price is $100.00 for a seasons’ permit. Apparently there is a large fine if you are caught without one.

Weather:

Mid May, June – August are the recommended months. Prince William Sound and the Inside passage are large areas where the wind is mostly light and variable. A reliable engine is essential. To be honest the sailing in these parts is almost negligible and if I were to cruise this part of the world again, I would seriously consider doing it in a motor boat. The distances are so large that to cruise these areas by yacht could take several years.

If coming from Hawaii, time your arrival at Kodiak for the end of May. Any earlier and the risk of running into big storms en route are higher and it will be extremely cold. You can expect fair winds from Hawaii until the westerlies come in. You can expect to meet some strong to gale force winds. From Kodiak north expect a fairly high percentage of east in the wind.

Crossing the Gulf of Alaska from Prince William Sound to the Inner Passage there is a high chance of strong to gale force easterly winds. The best advice is to wait for a weather window if you have the time. A weather fax is a very useful tool. There is a continuous weather channel on VHF 1 or 2, depending on the. They also give an overall picture. Don’t expect weather maps pinned up on the harbour masters door!

General

All through Alaska, and especially in the more remote parts, the people are extraordinarily friendly and pleased to see you. To begin with it is a rare treat for them to see a European yacht. They are inquisitive and the fishermen are more than helpful at pointing the way to anchorages that are not necessarily in the books. They are generous with advice and the occasional fish too. In the bigger places there are excellent grocery stores but shopping Alaska is expensive especially for fresh fruit and vegetables which all has to be carried in from California. They are also fairly widely scattered so it pays to be well provisioned up before you set off. There are plenty of liquor stores. Most towns will have a Laundromat and sometimes a drop off laundry too. Ketchikan was the only place that delivered and was cheap too.

Fuel and Water

This is available at all the harbours in the Inside Passage and even at some of the small places that have a pontoon. The guide books have all that information. Prince William sound has nothing except at the towns.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS AND CRUISING GUIDES

Charlie’s Charts. North to Alaska. Charles E Wood. ISBN 0-9697265-4-6. Good for passage making with quite a fair number of ports and anchorages.

Exploring the inside passage to Alaska. Don Douglas and Reanne Hemingway-Douglass. Fine edge productions ISBN 0-9386655-33-2. This has many more anchorages than Charlie’s Charts. Almost all have been mentioned by the pilot and added to by the authors. Recommended.

Alaskan harbour and Boating facilities directory. Published by the Alaska Department of Transport and public facilities. Recommended.

Exploring Alaska and British Columbia. Stehen E Hilson. Evergreen Pacific Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-945265-59-X. This is an historical reference atlas and is highly recommended.

Exploring the inside Passage. San Juan islands to Glacier Bay. Don Douglass and Reanne Hemingway Douglass. ISBN 0-938665-33-2

Canada chart book 3313.

The OCC Cruising Information Service is provided by the OCC. The information is supplied to the OCC by members and is for OCC members only. The date given in the above is the date that the members supplying the information visited this place and the information may have changed at any time. The OCC has taken no steps to verify the information, which should be confirmed independently. The OCC accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the information and cannot be held liable for any damage howsoever caused whether directly or indirectly or any consequential losses.