Misty Fiords* National Monument: The most beautiful cruising I have ever done by a long shot.  Rudyerd Bay branches off East from the Behm Canal which is not a canal at all but a humongous  fjord. Rudyerd Bay is also a true fjord, (not a Bay)  although narrower than Behm and  with deep cliffs,  lots of snow and a giant waterfall every 500 ft. The waters are lightly coloured from all the brackish waters from the mountains.

We sailed the entire fjord with the flood under jib alone in winds 8 to 20 knots, the ultimate cruising experience! We are anchored in 32 meters of very cold water  at high tide with all our chain out, 160 feet and another 8 ft rope.

Many floatplanes are doing daring acrobatics along the cliffs for our enjoyment  and to earn higher tips from their fares. They also land in different arms of the fjord to add a landing and take-off to the excitement. This afternoon the mist is all gone and there are only a few pretty clouds high above to adorn the scenery.

The brown bears are frolicking in the grass on the beach completely ignoring human presence.

getting close… with the zoom!

We also went past the New EddyStone Rock,   so named because Vancouver thought that it looked like the Plymouth light-house. Rising 230 ft from a sand shoal, it is actually a genuine basalt spire remnant of a volcanic plug. Its outer layer has been eroded away by wave action, leaving this dramatic feature.

*Fiord, that is how they spell  fjord in Alaska!