Log Entry: Tuesday, July 13th, 1999

Petersburg to Roosevelt Harbor: 34.7 nm

We had to do the hose sharing thing again: this time we shared with some fishing boats ...

Two orcas!!!  This was the last place we expected to see two killer whales: in a shallow narrows crowded with boats.  But there they were, cavorting in the distance, leaping into the air on their backs, then slamming back down into the water with large splashes.  They were headed in our direction!  It was difficult to watch them, as we were in close proximity to other boats maneuvering through the narrows.  We slowed down, and still the orcas kept approaching, then they were right beside us, leaping into the air, and diving right under our boat!  It was a breathtaking experience.

We passed a large ferry in the narrows. 

Once we were anchored in Roosevelt Harbour, we relaxed.  There was a Dutch boat with us in the anchorage, and we could see Wrangle in the distance.  There was a logging dock at the head of the bay, with a huge solar panel on the hut.

There was a lot of radio traffic: one boat complained about not being able to get space at the Wrangell dock; Samaria down in Anita Bay tried to contact us, and there was the usual chatter of boats arriving and leaving the busy dock at Wrangell. 

The engine is still shaking a little, but it's better at 2800 rpms.

We have gotten into the routine of observing proper flag etiquette: we take our flag in every night at sunset, and put it back up at 0800 the next morning. 

This evening we did a review of the remaining routes from here to the Queen Charlottes. 

Jane's log:

"Filled the water tanks (again).

"Fueled up and left in the current.

"What a sight: two small orcas dove right at the boat, coming around buoy #R52 in the Wrangell Narrows. Amazing that they were playing in 36 feet of water, at first I thought they were in distress.

"Continued through the Wrangell Narrows and along Sumner Strait to Roosevelt Bay.

"Had fun listening to the Wrangell Harbourmaster tell people they would have to raft, and were glad we had decided not to go there."