The night had been windy. Mary did not sleep well because she was checking on the anchor periodically to ensure it did not drag. She only got to sleep soundly around 2:00 AM, after the wind died.
We departed the anchorage about 7:30. The sky was cloudy and the wind was cold. After leaving the anchorage, we powered north through the long fiord of Johnston Straight which had been carved out by glaciers during the last ice age.
Our progress was slowed by 20 mile per hour winds blowing south down the straight against us. Those winds were being channeled by the high cliffs on either side of the fiord. We were also fighting tidal current that was flowing from north to south at between 2 and 3 knots. Between wind and current, we were making about 4 knots north as opposed to the 6.5 knots we can make without opposition.
As the day progressed, the winds dropped gradually, the current abated, and the sun appeared. Our speed increased to between 5 and 6 knots. Late in the afternoon, we were making between 7 and 8 knots. This allowed us to reach Alert Bay by 6:00 PM.
We anchored in front of the Cultural Center in Alert Bay. We plan to visit the Cultural Center tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM.
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