A heavy cloud layer obscured the nearly full moon when we were awakened by the alarm at 0330, so we knew that exiting Malibu Rapids would be in total darkness rather than having a hint of dawn. We pulled away from the dock at 0355, just ahead of …
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Vancouver to Pender Harbor
After a leisurely morning uin Vancouver, we departed ast 1100 to ride the flood tide north. Cruising by Point Atkinson light for photos we then headed up the Sunshine Coast under partly cloudy skies, nmoderate winds and following seas. Ther…
SE Alaska 2012 – The voyage begins
Steamer SS Prince Rupert in 1953SS Prince Rupert about 1914The CNR Terminal in 1952 with Howard Craven in foregroundWell, this journey actually began 60 years ago when Bill Craven took a trip with his parents to visit an older brother in Ketchika…
2012 SE Alaska Trip Preparations
Since our return from the Holland America cruise to Tahiti in the Fall of 2011, Spirit under went maintenance and upgrades in Seattle before returning to our home port in Anacortes in December 2011. We joined several other Selene Ocean Trawl…
Nuka Hiva to San Diego
Sunday, October 23, 2011The day started out sunny and warm, with a strong breeze from the east, which generated a beam swell that rattled the ship occasionally. Today is a traditional Rijstaffell lunch in the Pinnacle Dining Room for those of us …
Papeete to Nuka Hiva
It is about 780 nautical miles from Papeete to Nuka Hiva, or somewhat further than Seattle to Ketchikan. About halfway to Nuka Hiva we passed by several atolls in the Tuomotos, including Takaroa atoll which has the remains of an old square rigger…
Moorea to Papeete
We actually arrived in Papeete by 2000 and we were able to leave the ship as soon as dinner was over. The bars and clubs close to the ship were packed, but we found a table and shared some Tahitian beer with some of our cruising mates. We g…
Bora Bora to Moorea
Day 2 of our stay in Bora Bora consisted of shopping in Vaitape and then going to a motu for a beach break in the afternoon. This shore excursion returned to the ship just before departure giving us just time to get cleaned up before we hosted a …
Raiatea to Bora Bora
The Westerdam entered the lagoon at Bora Bora shortly after 0600. The skies cleared somewhat overnight, but the wind was still brisk. The first tenders went ashore by 0700, and Miriam and I went ashore with Craven’s at 0815 for a 4WD offr…
Rarotonga to Raiatea
October 14, 2011After the aborted attempt to stop at Rarotonga we headed NE to Raiatea in brisk winds and seas to 15 feet almost on the beam. Since we left early, the captain has kept the ship at only 13 knots, so there is quite a bit of roll mot…
