Captain Craig Coker, of 48 metre Rebel, pens a route through America’s wildest summer hotspot...
Meet Rebel in Juneau, the capital of Alaska. While in town, ride the tram up Mount Roberts for an eagle’s eye view of the city and make the most of the long daylight hours with a scenic helicopter flight to the Mendenhall Glacier. Here you can visit a race training camp for huskies and take a dog sled ride across the vast glacier.
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Rebel will cruise three hours south towards Tracy Arm, where you can see the North and South Sawyer glaciers. Both may suddenly release chunks of ice into the water. Get close to the bay’s large icebergs in Rebel’s tender then anchor overnight in Wood Spit Cove.
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After the crew set crab pots, Rebel will cruise to Dawes Glacier. Here you will see huge pieces of ice falling into the fjord and seals sleeping on ice beds. Afterwards, have lunch at Ford’s Terror fjord. In late afternoon Rebel will return to Wood Spit Cove for an evening of kayaking or fishing.
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Wake as Rebel cruises two hours south into Frederick Sound to observe humpback whales. The yacht can shut down and drift among them or you can get even closer in the tender. Afterwards drop anchor in Cannery Cove, where you can watch brown bears feeding along the coast.
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Rebel cruises into Red Bluff Bay, which combines mountains, waterfalls and glistening ice fields. Kayak into the spray of a waterfall and get a close-up view of bears fishing for salmon (mostly in August). This is also a great spot to set pots for fresh Dungeness crab and shrimp.
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Venture to Baranof Warm Springs, which is located just off the Chatham Strait, next to a beautiful 30 metre waterfall. Nine hot springs range in temperature, reaching as high as 48°C. Relax in the warmth with champagne or fish for leopard rainbow trout in the nearby river.
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Cruise north through the Chatham Strait, stopping at Tenakee Springs, famous for its bakery’s delicious cinnamon rolls (Rebel has a standing order). Anchor overnight at scenic Pavlof Harbor, which is perfect for bear-watching. The next morning head back to Juneau for departure.
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