Would YOU Anchor an 80-Foot Sailboat in an Alaska Winter Storm?

Would you rather ride out an Alaska winter storm at anchor or tied up safely in a harbor? We're aboard our 80-foot, triple-masted steel schooner, Alaskan Gypsy, anchored in Tenakee Inlet in Southeast Alaska as another powerful November storm moves through the region. With reports of winds reaching 100 mph elsewhere in Southeast Alaska, we're tucked behind the mountains, listening to the rain pound against the windows and feeling the occasional powerful gust pull against our anchor gear. Last winter, Audrey would have preferred the security of a harbor. This winter, something has changed! We sit down for a conversation about what it's really like living aboard in Alaska through the dark, stormy months. Scott shares the realities of anchoring a large steel sailboat, how mountains can shelter you from wind or funnel it into unexpected places, and why our new anchor has made such a difference. We also talk about the surprising costs of staying in Alaska's harbors, the advantages of remote state floats, shore power versus running a generator, and why we chose this lifestyle in the first place. And somewhere along the way, we get into winter driving, disappearing daylight, sleeping through storms, and the difference between waking up to wilderness and waking up to your neighbor's generator. 😂 It's a relaxed evening aboard the Alaskan Gypsy, sharing the realities of living on the water in Southeast Alaska. We'd love to hear from you! Would you choose a protected anchorage, a marina, or a cozy cabin with a wood stove? Thanks for being part of our journey! ⚓ Subscribe to The Alaskan Gypsy Life as we explore remote Alaska and share life aboard our 80-foot steel schooner. #AlaskanGypsyLife #AlaskaBoatLife #LiveaboardLife #SoutheastAlaska #winterstorm Chapters: 00:00 Riding out an Alaska winter storm 00:44 100 mph winds forecast in Southeast Alaska 02:41 Anchor, harbor, dock, or haul out? 03:19 Audrey's first winter aboard 04:16 A new anchor and a new perspective 05:26 Why Audrey feels safer on the boat 07:27 How mountains affect wind and anchorages 08:42 Fighting wind in Deadman's Reach 09:49 Choosing a protected anchorage 11:00 The risks of anchoring overnight 12:02 Why we don't love staying in marinas 13:55 What Alaska harbors actually cost 16:15 Why we choose life at anchor 17:22 Other ways people live aboard 18:36 Southeast Alaska's remote state floats 22:36 The advantages of wilderness floats 24:42 Mooring buoys and anchoring options 26:12 Our old anchor versus the new one 27:19 Long winter nights aboard 28:13 A look outside during the storm 29:17 Scott's final thoughts