Shearwater to Pruth Bay

Today wasn't about reaching a particular destination.

It was about positioning ourselves for rounding Cape Caution in two days.

Our original plan called for a five-hour run to Kwakume Inlet, just off Fitzhugh Sound. It would put us in good position for the next leg while providing another comfortable night at anchor.

The day, however, had other ideas.

A favorable current gave OceanFlyer an unexpected push, allowing us to cover considerably more distance than planned. Rather than arrive early and stop short, we decided to take advantage of the extra miles and changed our destination to Green Island Anchorage.

It seemed like the perfect adjustment.

Until it wasn't.

As we continued south, the southeast wind steadily increased, along with the accompanying sea state. Green Island is one of our favorite anchorages, but it does have one weakness. During strong southeast winds, especially near high tide when the drying reefs and islets become submerged, enough fetch develops between the islands to make the anchorage a bit uncomfortable. The forecast was calling for exactly those conditions.

Time for Plan C.

We altered course once again and headed for familiar Pruth Bay.

Pruth has proven itself time and again to be a dependable refuge in southeast weather. While some wind still finds its way into the bay, the surrounding land prevents any significant sea from developing, making it a far more comfortable place to spend the night.

It was another reminder that successful cruising is often less about faithfully following the original float plan and more about continually adapting it to the conditions at hand.

Tomorrow will be much the same.

Our float plan includes two possible destinations. Which one ultimately becomes home for the night will depend entirely on the sea conditions we encounter as we approach the first option.

Out here, flexibility isn't simply convenient.

It's one of the most valuable pieces of safety equipment on the boat.

Rain settles into Pruth Bay