The Washing Machine.

[AKMel]

A few weeks ago the weather in SE Alaska was looking great. On a Sunday afternoon my wife spontaneously said, “Let’s go to Pelican.” I double checked the wind and weather, and we were on the water an hour later for the 50 mile voyage. All looked well. The inside water was like glass. The passage at South Inian Island is always a washing machine. Swirling currents want to change your direction. Inian is one of only 2 small inlets in our area that allow the tide to go in and out for thousands of miles of coastline. I knew from the chart we were several hours after high tide, so the tide was going out strongly. I didn’t think anything of it until almost to the open ocean. We started riding 4-5 ft swells. I could see some wave action of unknown height close ahead and wondered about turning around, but the opportunity to make a decision was short. Before I realize it we were in six foot waves, and at least one eight footer. The frequency was very close. There was nothing to do but keep the boat headed into it. We lofted and crashed repeatedly as the outgoing tide clashed against incoming currents. My wife said I muttered aloud, “What have I done?” What seemed like ten minutes was probably only about two, and we were beyond the worst of it. I have been through that passage a half dozen times and expect a little change to the surface of the water, but nothing like this. I had heard of people getting caught in similar fashion, but never experienced it myself. Of all my situations in Alaskan waters this was the first time I ever felt genuinely scared. The launching off waves and pounding belly flops of the hull gave my wife concern. She asked if the hull was going to be ok? I told her of a line in Riverhorse where they were told the hull can take more than the passengers. But that was someone else’s words. I don’t care to prove it again.

We tucked to the leeward of islands and followed a trawler out into open ocean for a while, then vectored off on our own in mildly rough seas that limited our speed to 8-10 knots. So much for the weather report. Once in the inlet to Pelican the swells followed us for a few miles, going faster than we were. The harbor was welcoming. We docked and headed for the only establishment that was open to get some dinner... and stress relief.

The trip home was a piece of cake.
Mel & Susan

[NORO LIM]

I hear you brother! We had a similar experience coming out of Clarence Strait and heading toward Dixon Entrance. We had waited out a severe blow for almost a week. When the wind and water had calmed down in Ketchikan, and the forecast was good, we took off and got the surprise of a lifetime. I think the most shocking thing was the noise. The washing machine created steep, closely-spaced waves that hit from constantly changing directions. I did manage to turn around, but only after what seemed like an eternity of screwing up my courage, trying to judge the wave patterns, and trying to sound confident and calm when responding to my increasingly alarmed first mate.

Glad you came through your experience OK! All’s well that end’s well.

[Hunkydory]

Mel, I throughly enjoyed your tale of the passage through South Inian pass on your way to Pelican & sure glad you ended up making it through ok even though harrowing.

We’ve come through there many times with much preferring to arrive very near slack tide or flood & most of the time did with waters fairly smooth. On our first trip we came through during some fairly large incoming swells, but at slack tide, so ok. Two sailboats behind us, a couple hours had a horrible go with thinking they were doomed as they hit huge standing waves on the ebb tide. After hearing about their experience, I talked to fellow C-Brat, Ken, who operated a charter fishing boat out of Elfin Cove & passed through this routinely without mishap. He advised me, when the passage was rough, he stuck close to the south side in between it and a rock, marked on the chart just off shore. It’s pretty tight & when the ebb is strong a bit unnerving, but much better than any other alternative, except waiting for slack.

Before learning of this safer route, I had either made sure to arrive at slack or flood, & one time during a strong ebb got behind a large 150 foot landing craft, that knocked the waves down enough to be safely doable.

These photos show where the standing waves most often occur & the first one our tracks around on a strong ebb tide with swell.





I’ve been in what I consider, washing machine waters of about 6 to 7 feet & they were entirely different then those directly in the South & North Passages, which are more like large dangerous standing waves, that the tide is moving you through much faster than safe or wanted especially with the extra speed needed to not broach. The route through the Inian islands between the North & south passages even on a strong tide is mostly just very swirling waters, but not near like Fords Terror or the other well known tidal passes in BC Canada & not particularly dangerous unless combined with strong winds.

It would be good to meet you on one of our future SE Alaska cruises.

Jay