Honeydew Cove to Hobart Bay

Yesterday’s blue skies were just a tease—this morning brought a steady drizzle and low clouds, right on cue. With a possible weather break five days out, we decided to make some eastward progress toward Tracy Arm, Endicott Arm, and Windfall Harbor, hoping to time our visit with a patch of sunshine.

Today's destination: Hobart Bay. Friends on Empress and Escapade had recommended the North Cove, so we decided to check it out. Light winds and a favorable current made for a smooth, comfortable ride. We spotted several humpbacks along the way, including a few shoreline blows that hinted at just how many were nearby.

Approaching Hobart Bay, we were treated to a real show—a pod of Dall’s porpoise leaping and zigzagging in our bow wake for a solid 15 minutes. Karen, soaked in the rain but grinning ear to ear, had the best view from the bow.

The entrance past Entrance Island is well-charted, and the kelp helpfully marked the shoals and rocks. But the North Cove held a surprise: we steered north between two charted islets (keeping them to port), and suddenly the bottom shot up fast. We paused and drifted over just 8 feet under the keel on a +10.7' tide—clearly, the shoaling off the eastern shore extends much farther than charted.

Despite what the chart promises, you won’t find 30-foot depths in most of this cove. After sounding a 200-foot circle, we settled into 60 feet of water with decent swinging room and carefully avoided a minefield of a dozen crab pots. Alone in the anchorage, we dropped the hook and tucked in.

The scenery was subdued but still striking—low clouds shifted all afternoon, occasionally lifting just enough to reveal rugged peaks beyond the tree line. If tomorrow clears, Hobart Bay may yet show off the beauty it’s hiding behind the mist.