Boat awaits die-down of the wind; church time

Suluk's boat. While the gale that blew in Friday night has eased, the wind still blows at 20 knots and the ocean beyond this little cove on the south, shore-facing rim of the island remains too rough... "Bill!" Captain Edward calls my name as I thumb type this sketch. "Time to go to church..." So I will leave this undone and go to church... #crossisland #inupiatwhaling #beaufortsea #arcticocean #arctic #alaska #boat

Why the boat took on water

I mentioned how, on yesterday's first journey onto the Beaufort in search of bowhead, we had to come back to the island after Edward's boat started taking on water. The problem was compounded by the fact the bilge pump malfunctioned. I had to put my cameras aside in a safe place, grab a coffee cup and help Suvlu bail. After we reached the beach, I switched to Suluk's boat. Edward fixed the pump,went back out until the wind got too hard and the waves too rough. His boat continued to take on water but with the bilge pump working and the way he drove the boat, he was able to keep up with it. Back on shore, he hauled the boat out of the water, inspected the hull and found this crack.

Tommy

The wind and waves continue and we are onshore. Yesterday, I mentioned that after beginning Friday's hunt with Edward, I had switched boats. This happened after we return briefly to the island because Edward's boat was taken on water. I then switched to Suluk's boat. Harpooner Tommy Nukapigak carries the harpoon and float to the boat. I have fallen behind on this very incomplete record and may or may not catch up. From the forecast, it sounds like we could be onshore until Tuesday or even Wednesday. V

Today before the wind picked up on the Beaufort Sea: Image 4 of 4

Isaiah spots another whale behind us. Isaiah is very good at spotting whales. Image 4 of 4. We never reached any of those whales and now the wind is blowing hard enough to make the ocean a dangerous place for a small boat. Before it did, I switched boats for awhile and got another little series that I might post tomorrow, when the wind is still forecast to blow. Please keep in mind that I am only posting iPhone images here but am doing my real work with my "real cameras" and will not be posting it. Although I just finished a Uiniq and do not yet have the funding to do another, I hope to make a Uiniq magazine dedicated to Cross Island. Uiniq is where I hope to show the work.

Earlier today before the wind picked up on the Beaufort Sea: Image 3 of 4

Isaiah shows us the direction the whale was going and the motion it was making.