Preparing Our 80' Sailboat for a Gulf of Alaska Crossing

The Gulf of Alaska is calling, but first there's still work to do. Join us aboard our 80' steel schooner, The Alaskan Gypsy, as we spend our final days exploring Southeast Alaska while preparing for one of our biggest voyages yet. From Whale Pass and Coffman Cove to Rats Harbor, Thorne Bay, and Ketchikan, we're soaking in every mile before turning our bow toward the next adventure. Along the way we share our honest impressions of these remote communities, discover potential anchorages, enjoy a beautiful evening under sail, and encounter humpback whales feeding in the sunset just before arriving in Ketchikan. Back in Ketchikan, the Gypsy returns to a place that was home for many years. We reconnect with the boat's previous owner, lend a hand on a project, gather supplies, and begin checking off the final items on our Gulf crossing preparation list. This episode has a little bit of everything: 🐋 Sunset humpback whales ⛵ Sailing Southeast Alaska 🗺️ Exploring Whale Pass, Coffman Cove, Rats Harbor & Thorne Bay ⚓ A return to Ketchikan 🔧 Engine maintenance and oil changes 🛠️ Autopilot and steering upgrades 🌊 Preparing for a Gulf of Alaska crossing Thanks for joining us aboard The Alaskan Gypsy. Chapters 00:00 Preparing for the Gulf of Alaska 00:38 Cruising through Whale Pass 05:02 Why we're heading to Ketchikan 06:26 Exploring Coffman Cove 09:45 Checking out Rats Harbor 15:07 Discovering Thorne Bay 20:23 Float houses and waterfront life 29:50 Raising the sails 32:04 Sailing toward Ketchikan 33:07 Humpback whales at sunset 38:24 Arriving at Tongass Narrows 40:14 Exploring Refuge Cove 42:23 Docking in windy conditions 44:01 Visiting the Gypsy's previous owner 45:36 Ketchikan adventures 47:24 Leaving Ketchikan behind 48:17 Engine oil change before the crossing 51:03 Autopilot and steering upgrades 57:57 The next chapter begins