We are ready to go home finally. We are determined to sail offshore on our way back although Canadian border patrol will allow us to transit Canadian waters on our way home if we are forced to turn inland to the Inside Passage.
The weather systems are relentless. The summer here is turning now, the days are shortening at an incredible pace and the northern Aleutian low is active along with westward spawned low pressure systems. We have no desire to test ourselves or Tomten in these conditions. We were hoping to spend a couple weeks in the San Juan Islands for a soft landing before we go home to Bellingham. That option is shrinking the longer we stay tied up on the dock in Sitka.
This is the first time all year we have had significant delays due to weather. This is part of what you sign up for when you go cruising but we are in that place on a trip when your thoughts have already turned to home and the next horizon.
NOAA Surface Analysis GRIB September 1
Our weather prediction skills are stretched for this 700 mile passage in these latitudes and we have decided to use Commander’s Weather routing services again. We have consulted with them a couple times now and a Thursday 3 a.m. departure is looking best, to be refined as needed. It is an odd time to leave but we need to be south of 52°N by Saturday evening before the winds turn against us again.
We are also checking Predict Wind and consulting the Ocean Prediction Center Daily (NOAA) daily. For the Canadian portion of our trip we are checking with Canadian Hydrographic Services (Canadian counterpart of NOAA) for predictions on Haida Gwai (Queen Charlotte Islands) and Vancouver Island. There is not going to be a great day to leave. 30+ knot winds are likely at some point but we are waiting for the winds to back to the north, northeast or northwest so we won’t be beating in to winds and seas. We may end up heading inshore through Haida Gwai but that would put us into the notorious Hecate Straits so we will only do that if the sea state will be better than being offshore.
We are trying to stay in the moment, taking long walks, sleeping, watching movies, doing small boat projects… The waterfront of Sitka is delightful- we went to the National Historical Totem Park today and saw a totem under construction and everything from ancient poles to super modern ones. Yesterday we walked up Indian River. There were signs of bear everywhere along the tiny unused by humans (un-smart) trail we took to get there. Along the way skunk cabbages lay across the path everywhere, dug up and partially eaten. The river itself was full of leaping salmon. We sang a lot and made lots of noises.
Alaskan Yellow Cedar Totem in the Making
Tomten Waiting Patiently in the Harbor 
On the Indian River, Sitka
We are looking forward to seeing friends and family, unlimited access to hot showers and a break from boat-work. ( who am I kidding- we have a pile of put-off projects but there will not be the same urgency.) It has been an astonishing year. It has been a deep lifestyle change and reset. It has not been a vacation! We are renewed, refreshed and deeply tired all at once.
Sailing Tomten 