We left at 0630. Foggy, and moist day today. For the first hour we had quite a few whale groups, which is always exciting.

Today we’ll be in exposed seas, meaning there is a portion of the passage that doesn’t have protection. So we needed to think about sea- state before we made our plan.

On this passage, the group split up.

Ocean symphony was going to have family visiting, and needed to get back to port McNeil fast! So they and Grato went further today. And the 3 boats with dogs opted for shorter passes over a few extra days.

The way the decision was made wasn’t my favorite… And I’ll talk more about that elsewhere. But it made it so we couldn’t truly say goodbye to people and that was hard. But absolutely part of this lifestyle. It’s a sharp reminder to tell people how you feel about them WHEN you have the chance. You never know when it’ll be the last time you see them. It sounds kind of morbid… But honestly… It’s true. It’s true in cruising, it’s true in life.

I sent Whatsapp messages to the women I got to know. Thanking them for their good company and conversation. Hoping to see them again sooner than later.

Boating community is small. There is a good chance we will see them again.

Overcast skies and low clouds hanging over forested islands outside Princess Royal

Rachel and Maui bundled up together in foul weather gear on a foggy passage day

Rachel in yellow rain gear photographing whales with a camera from the deck

Foggy view forward through the rain-splattered dodger windows during the passage

Rachel in rain gear smiling while wiping the dodger window on a foggy day

SV Yahara arriving at a calm sheltered anchorage surrounded by evergreen trees