[p]Fluenta2014
[pos] 56 30.5N 156 55.14W
[sp] 6.9 kts
[h]041T
[w]TWS 12 TWD 290T Baro 1019.1 Sea Temp 14C. Air temp 14.C.
[s] On passage from Sand Point towards Geographic Harbor. Just over half the way there but no "halfway celebration" chips as a short 280nm trip this time. Certainly different doing coastal passages as I think we gybed more times yesterday going around the various headlands and island in the shifty winds than the whole 3700nm passage from the Marshall Islands. We had expected light winds but have being making good progress with the winds from 2 to 25 kts mostly very deep behind us although we have also been close hauled for a few hours as well. Sailing along the edge of a big mountain range so that must be affecting the winds. Very scenic with snow and glacier covered mountains and the massive Veniaminof Crater visible for most of yesterday and Mount Chiginagak visible today. Lots of puffins as we round the headlands and the fin whales paid us a visit again yesterday. We had a nice visit at Sand Point. Galactic came in for a logistics stop before heading back out to continue their research so the kids were out fishing and berry picking. The salmon season closed for a few days so the harbour was awash in fishing boats and fishermen. In addition to the salmon the older boy on Galactic caught for us, our new fishermen friends on the docks gave us two more salmon as well as a tour of one of the purse seiners. We also had an interesting tour of the Trident fish processing plant with the Production Manager and their Safety Officer giving the tour. Very impressive facility and nice folks.
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