Mark Twain said it best: "Throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
What I've noticed from my years of living in the Last Froniter is that exploring, dreaming, and discovering are the cornerstones of many Alaskans' lives. Take my friend, Captain Louis Hoock, for example. He's got a zest for adventure that's infectious, so much so that he owns and operates Alaska Adventure Sailing, a charter company based in Alaska's capital city.
There are three things you need to know about Captain Hoock:
- Louie served active duty sea service as a NOAA Corps Commissioned Officer aboard the NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette where he explored the farthest reaches of the sea.
- His whistle is so loud, it could rival Guinness World records.
- In 2010, Captain Hoock founded Coastal Footprint, a nonprofit environmental/scientific research organization. That same year, he sailed The Jolly Roger from Alaska to Panama - almost 5,000 miles away - teaching more than 40 people to sail while simultaneously removing more trash from the shoreline than the entire NOAA Marine Debris Program accomplished in 2010.
In May, I took a day sailing trip with Louie and his friends. It was the adventure of a lifetime. Aboard his well-appointed and comfortable 54' sailing vessel, the S/V Arcturus, we were in very capable hands for our day of exploration. Departing from the Douglas Island harbor, we traveled south of Juneau down the Gastineau Channel and tucked into Taku Inlet. It was a sunny, picture-perfect day for sailing around Southeast Alaska. There was also a bit of stand up paddleboard skiing, too - which was an absolute riot to watch from the dry deck. All-in-all, what a terrific experience that's now got me hooked on Alaska even more!
Check out Captain Hoock's website - Alaska Adventure Sailing - for your own adventure on the water.
[Click the photos below to expand]
