Foot Island to Petersburg

Today’s cruise was all about timing—specifically, slack water at the top of Wrangell Narrows. Hit it right and docking in Petersburg is a breeze. Miss it, and things get... sporty. Slack was around 1:30 p.m., so we enjoyed a relaxed morning and a mid-day departure from Foot Island.

The cruise south was smooth and scenic. We passed pod after pod of humpbacks—plenty of blows and tail flukes, though no bubble-netting or breaches today. Still, it’s always a thrill to have whales alongside.

A seadoo group passed us as we approached petersberg

Fun?

Petersburg doesn’t take slip reservations, but Karen gave the harbormaster a courtesy call this morning. To our surprise (and delight), they gave us the exact slip we had back in May. Familiar territory—and an easy landing.

The fish plant was working overtime, and with it came the unmistakable aroma of "money," as the locals like to say. Depending on the breeze, it ranged from barely noticeable to sinus-clearing strong.

Across the dock was Spirit, a 55' Selene. We’d met her owner, Patrick, earlier this year in Sitka. He and his wife, Miriam, invited us aboard for evening cocktails. We swapped Alaska cruising stories and heard about their far-flung adventures on expedition cruises—to Antarctica, the Arctic, and other dream-destination extremes.

They've been cruising Alaska for 14 seasons, balancing their own boat time with voyages to the ends of the Earth. A perfect end to a great day—old friends, new stories, and Petersburg’s unmistakable charm.