Good Old Boat Issue 142: Jan/Feb 2022

Magnus takes a little downtime on the mainsail cover.

voyage ahead. The sunshine of days before had given way to overcast skies and wisps of low clouds settled in over the islands. A few hours later, motoring over a glass-calm sea out of Southeast Alaska, the open ocean and long horizon in front called. Once we were clear of land, the wind promptly filled in from the west, and with a hoot and holler from the crew, Yahtzee leaned to port, and off we sailed with so many wonderful memories trailing in our wake. GoodOld Boat Editor Andy Cross is exploring the western Pacific coastline, from Alaska to Panama, with his family aboard Yahtzee , their 1984 Grand Soleil 39.

and he casted from the bow and after about 30 minutes of trying, he had another one on the line. This time, he landed it. And while devouring the delicious salmon that night, he mourned the one that got away. Sweet Rewards Moving on from the latest telling of the lost salmon story, Magnus is the last one up. At four years old, I know his story is going to be something more immediate. That’s his person- ality. And I’m not disappointed. His story was from a chance encounter earlier in the day. Even though space is at a premium on a cruising sailboat, we keep scooters and helmets aboard for the boys so they can roll around whatever port we happen to be in. In Craig, there’s a hill that goes up from the marina to the grocery store, and they loved going to the top and then riding down as fast as they could. On one of their rides down, a police officer was coming up the two-lane road and made a U-turn when he saw the boys. When he met us at the bottom of the hill, none of us was quite sure what he was going to say. Then, much to our surprise, he pulled two coupons out of his vest pocket and handed one

to each boy. “I pulled you over,” he said with a smile, “because I see that you’re wearing your helmets. Nice job. Enjoy your ice cream.” Porter and Magnus stood on the sidewalk in stunned silence before saying thank you, and Jill and I laughed and told the officer we appreciated the gesture as he got in his cruiser and pulled away with a hearty wave. It was yet another positive experience in small- town Alaska. Magnus’ telling of the story concludes with the most memorable part being eating the ice cream, his favorite flavor that day, chocolate. The moment is perfectly sweet. Stories and memories like these are part of what makes cruising on a sailboat so intensely rewarding—especially as a young family. Our summer in Southeast Alaska had been amazingly memorable, and we knew it. If there ever was a year to be wandering this incredible place by boat, it was certainly this one. And though it’s hard to pull ourselves away, we’re content with moving on because we know that the best sailing desti- nations are like that. Mentally and physically, they pull you back time and again. Thus, it’s

not a matter of if we’ll return, but when. I had that in the back of my mind while untying the docklines in Craig early the next morning, while also thinking about the long

Baranof Island

ALASKA

Kuiu Isand

Bay of Pillars

Chatham Strait

Gedney Harbor

Warren Island

Coronation Island

Prince of Wales Isand Craig .

Trocadero Bay

GULF OF ALASKA

To San Francisco

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January/February 2022