All Aboard Sailing

Phenomenal sail – J, K and L pod Southern Resident Orcas

September 18, 2018 – Sailed north tacking through Yellow Island and Spring Pass.  Moving quickly along the shoreline of Waldron Island as we’d heard Southern Resident Orcas headed south in Georgia Strait. We also heard a pair of humpback whales were heading south from East Point.
 BCY0160 ‘Heather’ and BCY0458 ‘Raptor’ just passed Skipjack Island when we arrived. Peaceful sail alongside as they headed south. Beautiful glassy conditions as they surfaced in unison. Truly awesome to hear their deep blows. Resuming a northerly course to pass the shoreline of Skipjack Island where harbor seals warmed in the sunshine. Continuing towards Patos Island we met a large group from the J’s, K’s and L pods of the Southern Resident Orcas
The Orcas appeared to be deciding whether to take Rosario Strait, Boundary Pass or Presidents Channel. As we arrived a group made a strong push towards Presidents Channel and we sailed alongside. J pod who had been favoring Rosario turned to follow behind. Spectacular sailing with so many whales; 59 in total. Downwind sailing parallel to the Orcas Island shoreline and down San Juan Channel to Friday Harbor. We saw them fishing, breaching, spy hopping, and mating. They were vocal on the hydrophone the whole time and we listened while sailing alongside in silence. A Phenomenal day sailing in the San Juan islands.
route map 9-18-18

route map 9-18-18

Sailing towards Skipjack Island

Sailing towards Skipjack Island

Humpback Whale 'Raptor' Humpback Whale 'Raptor' BCY0458

Humpback Whale ‘Raptor’ BCY0458

Humpback whales Raptor BCY0458 and Heather BCY0160 in Boundary Pass

Humpback whales Raptor BCY0458 and Heather BCY0160 in Boundary Pass

Heather BCY0160 Humpback whale

Heather BCY0160 Humpback whale

Harbor seals on Skipjack Island National Wildlife Refuge

Harbor seals on Skipjack Island National Wildlife Refuge

K25 scoter with Mount baker

K25 scoter with Mount baker

Southern Resident Inverted tail lob

Southern Resident Orca Inverted tail lob

Spyhop next to Mona, Center for Conservation Biology Conservation canines who are sniffing for whale poop

Spyhop next to Mona, Center for Conservation Biology Conservation canines who are sniffing for whale poop

L55s of the Southern Resident Orcas

L55s of the Southern Resident Orcas

Sonata K35 and Cappuccino K21

Sonata K35 and Cappuccino K21

Cappuccino K21 sea snake

Cappuccino K21
sea snake (whale penis)

rainblow Tika K33

rainblow Tika K33

K33 Tika Male Southern Resident Orca

K33 Tika Male Southern Resident Orca

mix of Ks and Ls Presidents Channel

mix of Ks and Ls Presidents Channel

Spyhop, Southern Resident Orca, Presidents Channel, Orcas Islands

Spyhop, Southern Resident Orca, Presidents Channel, Orcas Island

Mike J26 and sister Echo J42

Mike J26 and sister Echo J42

Lapis L103 and young son 3 year old (2015) Lazuli L123

Lapis L103 and young son 3 year old (2015) Lazuli L123

Js and Ks, Southern Resident Orcas Presidents Channel, Orcas Islands

Js and Ks, Southern Resident Orcas Presidents Channel, Orcas Islands

Wing on wing downwind sail down Presidents Channel

Wing on wing downwind sail down Presidents Channel

Breach -Southern Resident Orca

Breach -Southern Resident Orca

Back lit blows in San Juan Channel Southern Resident Orca

Back lit blows in San Juan Channel Southern Resident Orca

Salmon knocked into air by Southern Resident Orca

Salmon knocked into air by Southern Resident Orca

Fishing for salmon - Southern Resident Orca

Fishing for salmon – Southern Resident Orca

Fishing for salmon - Southern Resident Orca

J27 Blackberry joins in fishing for salmon – Southern Resident Orca

Fishing for salmon - Southern Resident Orca

Cartwheel -Fishing for salmon – Southern Resident Orca

Group of Js passing Shaw island shoreline

Group of Js passing Shaw island shoreline

breach - female

breach – female

Backlit blow at Point Caution - San Juan Island

Backlit blow at Point Caution – San Juan Island

L98 Onyx gives Pectoral fin wave to Friday Harbor

L98 Onyx gives Pectoral fin wave to Friday Harbor

K25 Scoter (who'd been reported as looking emaciated) passing Friday Harbor

K25 Scoter (who’d been reported as looking emaciated) passing Friday Harbor

Sunset over San Juan Island with Southern Resident Orca

Sunset over San Juan Island with Southern Resident Orca

Sunset over Friday Harbor

Sunset over Friday Harbor

Sunset light on Mount Baker

Sunset light on Mount Baker