June 21, 2018 – Moderately strong winds today so we reefed the main sail right off the bat. As we left the harbor there were reports of the T65A’s heading our way from the Orcas ferry landing. Our timing was perfect to catch them at McConnell Island, but they quickly picked up speed to the north making it hard to catch up in the chunky seas. It was beautiful watching the orcas charging through the waves with their exhales backlit by the sun. Suddenly to our surprise, another large group of orcas was heading our way from Sandy Pt. We realized immediately when we saw them that they were Southern Residents – a group of 18 orcas from L pod. The transients had just changed course towards Turn Pt moments before we were aware of the Southern Residents. The L’s decided to go down San Juan Channel. We stayed with them to watch them pass our home port of Friday Harbor. Tying up on a mooring buoy to have our BBQ dinner in the lee of Turn Island was a great way to end one unforgettable day.
Black Oyster Catcher
Sailing North from san Juan island
T65As
T65As
L Pod passing Point Disney, Waldron Island
L Pod Souther Resident Orcas
L Pod passing Point Disney, Waldron Island
L Pod passing Point Disney, Waldron Island
L Pod Southern Resident Orcas passing White Rock with tip of Mount Baker
Shelter in lee of Flattop Island
Pigeon Guillemots, Flattop Island
Backwards half breach by Yellow island
Tail Slap from L110
Backwards half breach in San Juan Channel
Inverted tail lob
Southern Resident Orca L pod, L105 ?, passing Friday Harbor with Whale Museum
L pod with Spike Africa
Tail lob by Turn Island
The breach we missed
Syphop by Turn Island
L pod single file passing Turn Island close to shore
L pod single file passing Turn Island close to shore with tail lob
L pod clearing Turn Island
Backward half breach clearing Turn island