Up at 0500 this morning, preparing for the 77 nm trip from Barkley Sound to either Sooke Harbour or Becher Bay.

Last night was foggy so I was pleasantly surprised when the morning had fairly good visibility, probably about 2 miles. As I pulled out of Dodger Channel into Hammond Passage the day looked promising and just as I was turning from Hammond Passage into the ocean, a humpback whale surfaced less than 50 feet off my starboard beam. It was quite a treat after last evening's show watching another whale breaching while feeding jus outside the anchorage.

Unfortunately the good visibility didn't last and the fog filled in. With the chart plotter and radar I wound my way around Cape Beale and through a few fishing boats and headed for Sooke Harbour in light wind with a full main and jib. Nearing Carmanah Point the fog lifted which made me hopeful that I would be able to keep a visual watch versus concentrating on radar images and identifying targets. Fortunately because the fog lifted I saw another whale about a quarter mile away who was headed north (west).

I passed Renfrew/Port San Juan and Neah Bay about noon and the wind, as forecasted started to build to westerly at about 12 to 15 kts. Time to roll up the jib and unroll the genoa and enjoy a broad reach at 6+ knots.

Within an hour the wind increased to 15 to 20 kts so it was roll up the genoa and put the jib back up. nest as the wind exceeded 20 kts I put in the first reef in the main, shortly thereafter, I put in the second reef, now running at 9 kts with a double reefed main and jib. About ten miles from Sooke the winds were in the high twenty knot range and sees were building to four to five feet, As I neared Sooke the wind was now 28 to 30 kts with prolonged gusts exceeding 33 kts. I rolled up the jib and proceeded to sail with only a double reefed main. I decided that Sooke would not be a viable option due to the difficult entrance and wind and although Becher Bay was farther away which meant more time is these very challenging conditions that It made more sense to head there where I could anchor.

I arrived in Becher Bay about 77nm and 12 1/2 hours after I left Barkley Sound where the wind had subsided to 14 to 18 kts in the anchorage. Needless t say I was worn out and after a light meal I was off to bed.

Tomorrow is another long day going from Becher Bay to Bedwell Harbour.