With a forecast calling for strong winds and rising swell, we made the call to depart Port McNeill early, aiming to stay ahead of the weather and ensure a smooth crossing of Queen Charlotte Sound. As it turned out, the weather had other plans—in the best possible way.

We were met with beautiful sunshine and far lighter winds than predicted, making for a surprisingly pleasant passage. While the swell did build throughout the morning, reaching approximately 2 meters at 9-second intervals, our crews handled it smoothly, keeping steady course across this significant open-water leg of the journey.

As we cruised north, we passed through the Duke of Edinburgh Ecological Reserve, home to more than one million seabirds and known as the second largest seabird nesting site on the West Coast. The skies and water were alive with bird activity; we spotted rhinoceros auklets, Leach’s storm petrels, fork-tailed storm petrels, and many other species. It was a humbling and awe-inspiring moment for wildlife lovers aboard.

By early afternoon, we arrived at Frypan Bay, tucked away in a quiet and remote anchorage. The secluded setting offered a perfect contrast to the open waters of the morning, and guests were able to stretch out, explore, and soak in the sunshine during a peaceful afternoon.

The evening brought a chance to relax over dinner and reflection, with many sharing their thoughts on the day’s crossing. What could have been a rough passage turned out to be a surprisingly smooth and memorable one; everyone was thankful for the cooperative weather and the opportunity to experience both the power and peace of this incredible coastline.