I was convinced that it would be too foggy for us to leave this morning.  But, once again, I was wrong.  Although I could see a layer of fog out in the Strait, it was clear in Port McNeill. So, I reluctantly rolled out of bed at 0430 hrs, fearful of what the day might bring.

The wind was light as we headed out into the Strait. I could see the fog hugging the mainland and hoped it would stay there. Al figured we could get at least as far as Blunden Harbour. Blunden Harbour, however, is on the mainland, where the fog was hanging out. So, I suggested trying to make Miles Inlet, farther north on the mainland, where there was no fog, for now anyway. Al said we’d head for Blunden, and if the wind didn’t come up any stronger, we’d adjust our course for Miles Inlet. Thankfully, the wind just got lighter and lighter. Pretty soon, we were changing course for Miles Inlet, with the possibility of maybe making it all the way around the dreaded Cape Caution.

There was a lot of commercial traffic in the Strait this morning, and we had a tug towing a barge headed right for us.  So, Al dialed in Vessel Traffic on the VHF, checked the AIS for the tug’s vessel name, and called the tug to ask if we’d be a problem for him on our current heading. He asked our speed, and then said if we continued on our current heading and speed it shouldn’t be a problem for him to pass just behind us. I kept checking his position, sure he was going to run us down. But, he cleared us with lots of room to spare.

When we got to Shelter Cove, we listened to the weather for Egg Island. They only had 4 knots of wind at Egg. Looks like we just might be able to get all the way around Cape Caution today. So, I put in a new course for Fury Cove, north of Caution.

There was a 1.7 knot current running out of Slingsby Channel, so I was expecting a real slog getting passed Slingsby. But, miraculously, the seas weren’t bad at all. Very unusual, but we’ll take it. So, on we went, rounding Cape Caution in fine fashion, across Smith Inlet, which was ebbing, but not too nasty, and Rivers Inlet, which was borderline nasty. The wind was behind us, however, so we were making decent speed. At this point, we decided to keep on going, heading for Kwakume Inlet. Just off Fish Egg Inlet, the seas got really big and confused, like you would expect off Slingsby. Fortunately, however, they eventually smoothed out.

When we got to Kwakume, I looked across Fitz Hugh Sound and saw the fog rolling in through Hakai Passage. Today, we’d beat it.  But, it will be back to torment us another day, I’m sure.

We were safe inside Kwakume InIet, with smooth seas and sunshine. It had taken us ten hours, but we were so glad to be north of Cape Caution, and so fortunate to have made it without the usual beating. With Caution behind us, this is where the summer cruise really begins.