Leaving Pruth we were met by our first drizzle, good thing we all brought rain gear! One by one the raft was undone, and the fleet made way off to Shearwater.

Taking a narrow passage alongside the Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy we spotted a raft of sea otters that began impressively diving around in the water very slick like as our fleet approached, one of our best sightings yet!

The land area that is conserved by the Hakai Lúxvbálís agreement between the Heiltsuk Nation and the Province of British Columbia is around 300,000 acres and is British Columbia’s largest coastal marine protected area!

Pulling into Shearwater and getting the fleet settled, a group of us headed into town and walked the Spirit Trail. This trail winds a short path through a boggy area known as a Muskeg! Muskegs are dense layers of peat, known as partially decomposed plant matter, and are present in areas of poor water drainage that were covered by the last glaciation.

One of the most incredible plants to call these environments home, are “flypaper” Sundews. Sundews are a carnivorous plant that use sticky dew drops possessing enzymes to digest small insects who find themselves stuck in the plant’s tentacles.

Heading back out of the muskeg we all washed up and gathered at a nearby pub to send off a dear crew mate of the fleet to their next adventure, thanking them for all their presence in our adventure and expressing all our excitement in looking forward to the next.

Shearwater is quite an incredible place, originally built as an antisubmarine bomber reconnaissance post in 1941, it was purchased shortly after it was retired and developed into a full-service marina with a fishing resort, hotel, and local restaurant. Recently the marina plot was purchased back by the Heiltsuk nation who has called these coast lines home for thousands of years.

With blue skies we all looked forward to cruising into Alexander Inlet tomorrow morning, a 57 nautical mile trip. Finishing our meals and saying our goodbyes to our fellow crew members we cozied in for the evening and prepared for our next venture.