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Crusing in Alaska
Summer cruising in Alaska starts in mid May, and ends in mid
September. However within those months, your choice of what dates to
pick for crewed yacht charter should depend more on what you want to
see and do rather than what the weather does. In online weather
information, you might see that August and July are supposed to be
drier than June. And, most people think that August will be warmer than
June.
In actuality, this all varies from summer to summer in Alaska, with no rhyme or reason. The dates you choose for yacht charter in Alaska should not be based on the weather. Your dates for crewed yacht charter in Alaska during the summer charter season should be based on the wild and marine life that you might want to see, and the activities you might want to do, as the migration patterns of wild and marine life are far more predictable than the weather
Weather in Alaska from mid May to mid September can change from 50 degrees Fahrenheit to 80 degrees Fahrenheit at any time, and does so on a daily basis, not on a monthly basis. At anytime during the summer cruising season in Alaska it may be cooler, warmer, drier or wetter, and again, all in the same day. And, your activity can create a weather change, such as if you are up under the calving face of a glacier, it may feel colder as the glacier ice slices through the air into the water below, sending a rush of cooler air and water your way.
If you don’t like the current weather during your crewed yacht charter in Alaska, stick around 10 minutes and the weather will change. On a side note, dressing for Alaska summer weather does require thought. Recommendations are to dress in a series of layers that can easily be peeled off or put back on as the weather changes minute by minute throughout the day.
What is more predictable than the weather in Alaska is the migration of the wild and marine life, which should influence your charter date choice if you have particular wild or marine life that you want to see, or if you have particular activities you want to do. For the summer cruising season in Alaska, the wise person picks charter dates and charters around their interests, not the weather.
The summer salmon run in Alaska is famous. Salmon are anadromous, which means that they are birthed in fresh water, make their way to salt water to live and return to fresh water to spawn and die. At the end of their life span, salmon return from salt water to their natal stream, which is the stream in which they were born, to fight up that stream to spawn dozens of eggs for new life. Both males and females return to their natal stream, as the female carries the eggs, which the male fertilizes. This ritual marks the life span of each salmon, which is ended spawning in the natal stream from whence that salmon emerged.
This ritual of returning up the natal stream for spawning follows a general summer schedule, which starts in the beginning of the summer cruising season, with the salmon gathering in the salt waters off of the mouths of many fresh water streams in Alaska. At this point, in May and June, there are plenty of salmon for salt water trolling for fishing, and the bears and sea lions that dine on this fish are patrolling the beaches and shorelines for dinner. As the salmon enter their natal stream in July and August to fight upstream, the bears will move up stream with them inland, and away from the shoreline.
If one of your purposes for charter in Alaska is to see bears, it is better to go in May and June, while the bears are along the coast. For in May and June, bears are often seen patrolling the shoreline, fishing for the salmon in salt water. As the salmon move upstream later in the summer, the bears move inland and upstream and are harder to see.
Fly fishing is a great sport in Alaska; however the species fished
for in Alaska when fly fishing varies throughout the summer, based on
the migration patterns of the fish. In June the Steelhead and Cutthroat
Trout will pack the streams heading up river for excellent fly fishing,
while in July and August, the fly fishing will be for salmon. Some
trout species are able to survive this fight upstream for spawning and
return again to salt water, however for salmon, this is the end of the
line, and they show it. July and August are great for fly fishing for
salmon, but those salmon caught, are not the best for eating, as they
have begun to deteriorate pending the end of their lives. Eating salmon
are better if caught in salt water, and there are always salmon in the
salt waters of Alaska in various stages of life.
For salt water fishing, there is no place better for Halibut fishing than Alaska, where catching a Barn Door Halibut, which is what the fish are called if over 200 pounds, is a real possibility. Halibut fishing is from April through October, however if your heart is set on catching a Barn Door Halibut, the best chance is in mid July.
Even as the bears retreat up the stream banks inland to fish for salmon in July and August, the moose, wild goats, and deer come down from the mountains closer to shore as the ice and snow melt as summer progresses. In August, moose, wild goats and deer can more readily be seen closer to shore.
Whales are back in Alaska beginning in mid May to June, and stay in Alaskan waters feeding throughout the summer, in pods, with a bubble net feeding pattern, that must be seen to be believed. Grey Whales return first and can only be seen in May, just passing through to their summer home in the Bering Sea. Humpback Whales begin to appear in Alaska in May. A good charter yacht captain will be keeping track of the various pods of Humpback Whales as they move throughout the summer, to be sure to cruise in whale areas for each charter.
The famous American Bald Eagle returns to Alaska as early as April and stays around all summer nesting. There can be as many as 100 or more Bald Eagles in any given anchorage, and watching these magnificent birds fly is a treat.
And of course, no matter when during the summer season, you choose to charter, there are always virgin forests to visit, which are only a myth in most locations, and shoreside towns to visit, each with their history, culture, and gift shops.
So, whenever you do a crewed yacht charter in Alaska during the summer season, there is plenty to see and do. However, if you have a particular must do activity, time your charter, not for the weather, but for the migration and various activities of wild and marine life.
Cruising Destinations
| Alaska | British Columbia, Canada |
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| San Juan Islands, U.S. | Other Interesting Links |
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Testimonials
Jamal Alaska Yacht Charters Testimonials
Take advantage of our off-season discount from October 15 through April 30.
Of all the journeys I have taken, this one has to be one of the best! A memorable time spent in the company of old and new friends. Jim, you are a great skipper and a most interesting man! We enjoyed your thought provoking questions at dinner and felt better for the laughter many of them provided! Sally, you are a wonder! As a chef, you excel but as a person, you are unmated. What a lot we learned from you! We hope you have a wonderful summer of cruising. We will thank of you often and wish we were sharing the moment with you.
Thank you so much!
Love,
Gleims
Jamal Cruise –
Jim thanks for the opportunity to cruise with you. There is much to remember and remember I will. From the bears and whales, to the dolphins and eagles, to quiet bays and a pod of Orcas, this was simply a great trip. Not one day of rain and only about 4 hours of rough seas, how did you do it? It was an added bonus to help you and Sally celebrate your birthday.
Thanks for letting us play with all the toys and drive the boat around logs.
Whishing you a summer of sunshine and smooth seas, and love and laughter as we have known these past 10 days.
Thanks,
Joe
Dear Jim, Fran & Sally,
We have had a most fantastic cruise with a most generous Captain. Sally in the galley had the most satisfying food of any cruise I have been on. The sea lions and seals were great to watch and the whales put on a fine show, with their fluking and blowing. The scenery was awesome. The sailing was smooth. I will never go on a large cruise ship again. This is the only way to go on a vacation.
Mary Lkaks, Mike & Janice O’Neal
Dear Jennifer, Fran & Sally,
This was the best vacation! So relaxing and beautiful! Thank you for everything and especially teaching me the “Jamaican” wave!
Ann (and Don) Lees
Jon, Jim, Sally, Wally, & Frani Wani,
What a wonderful wonderful holiday and an adventure beyond imagination. Every day something new and fun. The aromas and tastes of such amazing food “Sal”, well I’m looking forward to the cookbook. Frani, where do you get so much energy? Thanks for the ‘service’ with sooooooo many smiles, hugs and giggles. Gen, you are fabulous in so many ways. Thanks for getting us there and doing so much behind the scenes for us to make it all the more fantastic. Jim, you are awesome, awesome, and “Sal” thanks for treating my kids like a prince and princess. All the tender loving care in Dawn’s food.
Thank you Thank you Thank you. I hope our paths cross so many times again. Love you all cause we are family now.
Donna Jackson
Keep Smiling !!!
Jen, Jim, Sally & Fran,
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This has not been just a trip, it has been an experience full of memories and ‘firsts’. You’ve made us all fee like a part of your family which has made this journey even more special. Thank you for all the smiles & for the way you took care of us all. I hope our paths cross again, we have been blessed to be in such wonderful company.
Love from Dawn & Tom Buehnes
Jen, Lenora and Maureen,
“Thank you” so much for a wonderful experience here on The Jamal. It has to be the very best cruise in the world. Jen, you have to be the most wonderful, big-hearted, talented Captain ever. We are so lucky to have Lenora as our chef. Not only is she the very best at her skill, she’s loving, kind, and joyful. Maureen has been an absolute doll with her sweet smiles and darling personality. Thank you all so much!
Marguerite & Richard
Dear Jen, Maureen & Lenore,
We thank you very much for this wonderful experience. You all will have a very special place in our hearts. You do this job so very well, each of you.
Much love, Bob & Judy Argazzi
Den Jen, Mo, and Sally,
There’s nothing I could write that would express how truly wonderful this trip on Jamal has been. The itinerary you laid out was extraordinary, from the whale watching to the quaint harbors, but the best of all was the opportunity to spend time with three amazing women – the Jamalians, of course! Also, special thanks to Sally for forever raising our expectations of great food! I hope we all meet again! Thanks for sharing your love of Jamal and the Pacific NW with us!
Jamie Matusou
Awesome sights – mtns, waterfalls, glaciers
Lots of wildlife – bears, sea lions, whales, eagles
Adventures on shore – Steely Dan, hot springs, lakes, wild flowers, bear poop
Sensational Sensations of the Senses – Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners
Kindest Crew!!! – Jim – Corinne & Sally Jo
Among friends while making memories.
Kathy & Charlie Watson
Well, this is Day 5 for my week long adventure on the Jamal. Grandpa & Grandma will still be with all of you for a week after we leave. Trent & I, (newlyweds), have had the most spectacular time with all of you. Our crew, Captain Jen, Kathy (Kiki) & Sally Wally. You have made this trip a dream come true for us. We came here to relax before our big day, & we have definitely accomplished that. It was above & beyond anything we could have imagined! Alaska is beautiful & breath-taking, but not half as beautiful & breath-taking as you three ladies. The hospitality, amazing, the food, outstanding, the memories, forever! The generosity of our Captain, even though she was on a schedule, was perfect. She knew how badly I, (Allie), wanted to see whales. She found them & took the time out for us to enjoy them. I shall never forget her for that; I will never forget any of the crew. They will be forever in our hearts and I truly wish they could be at our wedding. Thank you so much for your kindnesses.
Jen – Don’t ever change! Your bubbly nature is infectious! I love it!
Kathy (Kiki) – Great child-naming skills. Great taste! Love ya!
Sally Wally – We love you! You are the gentlest, sweetest woman we have ever met!
All of you will be forever remember, forever loved!
Trent & Allie Jacobson
xoxo
Sensational sights of whales, glaciers, and bears have made this voyage on the Jamal the most fantastic way to see Alaska. Taking those narrow passages and hearing the thunderous crack of the glaciers remains for me the highlight of the trip.
Thanks to you, Jennifer, we have seen as much of Alaska as possible in a short time. You took us to waterfalls, sea lions, warm & hot springs and superbly maneuvered the boat to sight whales. Travel in tandem with DK, Stacy and Megan proved to be fortuitous, with them some of our group went fishing and even saw bears in action.
And, Jen, your crew of Sally, Sally Jo, and Cathy went out of their way at all times to make us extremely comfortable, well fed, and entertained.
You have all enriched my life and I will miss you. Alaska will be here if we ever decide to return, but we would be lacking something if we didn’t see you again.
Mike Kain
Sally, Jen, Sally-Jo (Cathy) & Cathy (Kiki)
We Love you ladies – and had an absolutely awesome time! Highlights of course were: Sally’s incredible meals, whale-watching, kayaking, glacier watching & just being here! You ladies are the BEST – we love you all!
Connie
My Dears,
Beautiful Jamalian Girls, well Women really, I or we love you all. This trip to British Columbia was amazing. I loved every minute of it. From swimming in the lake to cruising all day. I wouldn’t change a thing. Not to mention the amazing food and crew on board. Sally, you are so sweet and an amazing cook , undeniable the sweetest, most patient woman I have ever met and I am a better person for knowing you. Fran, we had so much fun talking about random things and I’m glad I have met you, you are an amazing person. Captain Jennifer, he he, what can I say, your funny, sweet and serious all at the same time, just so fun to be around. I would have never dreamed of a better trip and better people to spend it with. God bless you and stay safe. Your up and coming.
Love always,
Jamalian Girl
Latta Queke
Fred & I thank you for a wonderful cruise. This is such a special boat and everyone has been so good to us. We definantly look forward to sailing with you again.
Love,
Shawn & Fred Smith
Austin, Texas
Ditto!!
Jim & Barbara Roberts
Park city, UT
This trip was everything we hoped for – and more!
Thank you for a memorable week
Jim & Bea Taylor
The Jamal is a U. S. Coast Guard certified, extremely stable, all weather motor yacht that was built for the oceans of the world. Its accommodations have been created for your enjoyment and convenience including air conditioning, washer and dryer, flush toilets, large en suite baths for each stateroom. This world class yacht is ready to take you anywhere in comfort and safety.
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