Lone Eagle near  Skull Cove

We left Skull Cove for the second time. This protected bay southeast of Cape Caution again provided welcome refuge from rough seas. One day earlier, we left Dawson's Landing in calm, drizzling conditions and made for the Cape. Near Egg Island the seas were throwing two foot wind waves whipped by 16 knots of gusty breeze. Only a mild example of the range of emotions displayed by the Cape. We would go around. Approaching the Cape and two miles off, the wind was now more steady at 18 knots and the waves were building. Skull Cove was only nine miles away.  We could turn, head downwind and run for the cover of Fly Basin. We decided to press on, endure the conditions and slog our way to Skull. We put the Cape astern but were now making three knots against three foot waves and a twenty knot wind.  It was 2:30pm. At 4:30pm we had tacked twice, making longer runs out away from shore in an effort to ease the force of the waves and to gain position for a smoother angle of approach to Skull. We were flying the staysail for balance and using the engine to make between two and five knots depending on the waves. We knew we could turn and run as the wind was parallel to the coast but we could now see McEwan Rock and the entry to Skull across the white caps which were peaking closer to four feet with steep faces aggravated by the apposing flood tide. One long tack out to Storm Islands and we would turn toward McEwan with twenty-five knots of gusty wind two points off the starboard bow and make safe harbor... by 6:30pm.

Gatekeeper at Skull Cove

Even eagles get wet. After yesterday's sail, we could relate to this eagle's appearance.