MacGregorSailors.com

We were the couple that was on the old cruise ship Norwegian Dream that lost 2 engines and did not go to 3 of the planned ports.

Hi BK,

Now I remember. We talked by the boat and at the head of the marina and walking up the hill. Sorry to report that I've not yet put together anything for the web on the Intracoastal Waterway and Bahamas cruise from the year before. Have lots of material, just need to spend the time. Regarding the Alaska cruise, we actually started by trailering the boat from home in Washington up to Vancouver BC. We put in at Sunset Marina near Horseshoe Bay, and then cruised up to Prince Rupert and then through SE Alaska. Our son rode up to Vancouver with us, then drove the truck home. Other friends drove the pickup and trailer to Prince Rupert in mid August and met us there. It saved us backtracking over 500 miles, thereby giving us more time to spend in Alaskan waters. The plan worked out very well. Since you've gotten a taste of the Inside Passage from the deck of the Cruise Ship, you really should see it from your own boat. Extraordinary experience.

Happy sailing, Mike Cecka

Mike,
We are planning to do the Inside Passage but not this year as we want to do the Desolution Sound area first. A life time of summer exploring to do up there.
I was wondering if you plan to submit your trip to the exploring section? Such a well documented trip to a remote area should not be lost in someone else's post with 50 replys. I doubt if very many people saw your post about the great trip. Your trip is what this board and the Mac boat is all about.

BK, great idea! I think you just post it to Heath for submission. I to have a return trip to the San Jans area....dont know when as we are in the family wedding stage of life, with our kids.

Hi BK,

Thanks for the encouragement. Actually, I tried to do that a couple of weeks ago. I opened the Explore page and sent an e'mail with the site link to Heath. I got a nice reply, and I've been checking to see if it has been added. Not yet. Not sure if there's something else I need to do.

Regarding Desolation Sound, we first visited there 20 years ago on a week long charter out of Comox. Had a great time, accompanying friends who skippered the boat. Was our first experience cruising aboard a sailboat, and the hook set deeply. We passed through the area again last summer on our way to Alaska. It's a very popular area, and for good reason. Wonderful scenery, interesting waters, wildlife, and some good bottom fishing. We particularly enjoyed Teakarne Arm and Von Donnops Inlet. Anchoring was a problem in Teakarne Arm (we snagged an old logging cable with the anchor; almost lost the anchor). Good idea to have some long shore tie line along with. We used it in Teakarne Arm, tieing to both sides of a small steep sided cove after failing to get the anchor to hook on a hard, rocky bottom.

Where will you be starting from? We found Sunset Marina in North Vancouver to be a good jumping off point. Not sure how much they want for long term parking, since we had someone drive our truck and trailer home, rather than leave it there for the summer. We'll be taking in the Blue Water Yachts rendevous at Friday Harbor this June (22-25), and probably be poking around the Gulf Islands during the prior week. If you're in the area then, give us a hail.

Happy cruising, Mike