In lower Resurrection Bay the adventure of wilderness cruising begins.
Departing Seward, the route for the quickest and most direct voyage to Homer or points west of Cook Inlet is pretty simple: Seward to Caines Head to Aialik Cape to Granite Cape to MacArthur Pass or Pye Reef to Gore Point to Chugach Passage to Kennedy Entrance and lower Cook Inlet. From there it is about 40 nm north and east to Homer or 75 nm west to Cape Douglas and the start of the 500 mile long Alaska Peninsula.
However, to take this headland-to-headland route would mean missing some very interesting coastline, not to mention being exposed to 100 miles of open ocean with few options in case of inclement weather. For those not in a big hurry, a leisurely voyage in mostly sheltered passages with some good anchorage and an abundance of sights will be more rewarding. Assuming a start in Seward or from the east, this section describes the route west from the head of Resurrection Bay. The eastern side of Resurrection Bay is described in a previous section, Chenega to Seward, and in more detail in the Resurrection Bay Supplement to the Alaska Boater’s Handbook [PDF], available in print and online from the Alaska Office of Boating Safety.
For detailed navigation information including more complete details of anchorages, hazards, and other considerations, consult the United States Coast Pilot, Volume 9. For other navigational information and more detailed historical, geographic, and natural history descriptions of the coast from Cape Puget (westernmost entrance to Prince William Sound) on the east to Port Dick to the west, including Day Harbor, Resurrection Bay, the Kenai Fjords and the Gulf of Alaska coast of Kachemak Bay State Park and State Wilderness Park, read David Wm. Miller’s excellent book Exploring Alaska’s Kenai Fjords. Seward resident Miller, a commercial fisherman, homesteader, and scholar with decades of experience running boats on this part of the coast, presents an engaging mariner’s guide that includes a great deal of history and natural history as well as sound advice on anchorage, hazards, and attractions. His book is especially helpful to kayakers because he notes landing beaches, campsites, and cabins.
The author of this transiting boater’s guide occasionally relies on Miller’s book for supplementary information, and strives to acknowledge it where it appears. The bulk of the content, however, is based on the author’s own experiences cruising and transiting the area. This guide does not replace the pertinent nautical charts, the United States Coast Pilot, US Notice to Mariners, NOAA tide charts, NOAA Tides & Current tables, and other tools used by the prudent mariner.
A skipper bound for Homer from Seward in most cases would choose the western side of Resurrection Bay, passing between the Kenai Fjords mainland shore and the western sides of Renard (Fox), Hive, and Rugged Islands. Summertime weather patterns tend to favor calm to light northerlies in the morning switching to brisk southerlies in the afternoon, so early morning departure usually offers the best chance for a smooth ride down Resurrection Bay.
Weather: WX1 but inconsistent
Tide table conversions: Cordova District or Seward District, depending on tide book
Diurnal tidal range at Seward is 10.5 feet