With the start of each new year, I try to do a bit of reflection and make decisions on which directions I would like the coming year to go. At the beginning of 2019, I was searching. I have had some great travel experiences in my life, but I wanted BIG. REALLY BIG. I wanted EPIC. I needed a drastic change. With my captain’s license in hand, and fishing skills sharp, I started looking for working travel opportunities in the marine field. Somehow, someway, I ended up scoring a job on a private yacht in Alaska. I had never worked on a yacht or been to Alaska, but that was the whole point, right?
So off I fly to Vancouver, B.C. to meet the owners and my new floating waterfront home for the summer. She was a beauty. I hadn’t been off of the plane for a couple of hours when the work began. “Unwinterizing” her was a process. Off came all of her covers and the cleaning began, which never really ended all summer! By the time we finally got underway a few days later, I realized just how much work I had signed up for.
Traveling at an average speed of 8 knots, (slower than my typical trolling speed!), would have been tedious but for the amazing scenery. The landscape was mind-boggling. As we traveled North through Discovery Passage, I was completely awestruck. Never had I imagined the continual snow-covered peaks jutting into the sky, the countless waterfalls that just didn’t stop, or the copious amounts of marine mammals I had only previously seen on National Geographic. But I was there. In the middle of it all. And I had almost four months of the summer under contract yet to come.
The day we crossed over from Canadian to Alaskan waters was extra special for me as we were preparing to fish for the first time on this new adventure. I had done my research on Halibut, but nothing could prepare you for the feeling of a fifty-plus pound Halibut hitting your line for the first time! (Now I know why the locals leave the rod in the rod holder! Lol!) I wrangled that big boy to the surface and my delight was all too evident. With my line back in the water and my adrenaline still flowing, I got another bite and reeled another of these monsters in. At a two Halibut per person per day limit, my fishing was done for the day. I must add, reluctantly, that I was fishing with two men from Alaska that day and I was the only one to catch fish! Not bad for an out-of-her element Florida girl, and fishing off of the swim platform of the yacht.
We traveled most of the time, with me living and working aboard the yacht, and lived “on the hook” most of the time. They had traveled these waters for many years and picked the most beautiful little coves to anchor up for the short nights. We also towed a 32’ fishing boat behind us for our fishing endeavors once in Alaska. The places I got to visit were unimaginable to me and I got to see more Alaskan coastline than I ever dreamed I would…… but days were long and work was hard. Being at the helm of this beauty was like taking a long break. Thank God for autopilot!
Living on the yacht was incredible. No matter the hard work, the graciousness of my employers, the invaluable work experience, and the travel made the whole experience worth it. The several months were so eventful that there is no way I could express it all in one blog post, so there will be many chapters to my Alaska story. The Humpback Whales. The Orcas. Glacier Bay. My unforgettable flight in Haines with a bush pilot in a Super Cub. Having my faithful companion join me for a hike up Mt. Verstovia and then some! I could go on and on. And I will! So stay tuned for my Alaska series. With 2 trips there so far, and plans to return in the future, it will only get better and better!!
