June 6, 2019 – Sailing out of Friday Harbor we received mixed reports of Orcas South in Rosario Strait. Every day North, South, East or West is a question and today this question seemed critical if we were to include whales in our tour of the Salish Sea. Tacking to sail out of the strong ebb current at the kelp reef off Turn Rock we drifted to view the harbor seals warming themselves at their haul out in the pass of Turn Island. We sailed back out into the ebb to head South, but then received a reliable report of orcas Northbound at Allen Island Rosario and changed tack to head North.Time was on our side to meet Northbound orcas so we sailed Flat Pt to Upright Head exploring the beaches and cliff face forest from our viewpoint of Peniel under drift and slow sail. A bald eagle watched from a Douglas Fir snag over the forest lit with the morning sunshine. Nearing Blakely we heard the transient orcas had flipped and were heading South. I’ve said many times the only predictable thing about Biggs/Transient orcas is that they’re unpredictable; but I was not ready for this surprise move. We sailed on not knowing if today we would be able to include whales in our sail.Fast current took us out of Thatcher Pass to Bird Rocks and South to Watmough Head. Rounding Point Colville to inside Castle Rock and flat waters mirrored the cliff face and rocky islets in a picture perfect way. South Lopez is a beautiful shoreline to sail and today was exceptional. Rounding Iceberg Pt gave us our first view of the Biggs Orcas who’d stopped South of Long Island to hunt. Fast drift spurred on by the flood passing Stellers Sea Lions on Whale Rocks to meeting the T65Bs and T137s hunting again at Goose Island. We sailed backwards using the flood current as they came through Cattle Pass sharing a meal.We sailed parallel from Harbor Rock North after yet another hunt and watched as they came in close to the harbor seals of Turn Island Pass. We saw the waves they made hit the rocks around the seals and then a deep dive. This is the first time we’ve seen them go through Turn Island Pass, and 23 years since witnessing this for the skipper of the whale watch boat next to us (T14 aka ‘Pender’ and mother, 04 and 05 ). To the North of Turn Island they were clearly engaged in a hunt that lasted some time not far from Friday Harbor. Light was changing as they passed Friday Harbor and cleared Point Caution to the North and a beautiful sail for us in the evening breeze.Route Map 6/6/19
Sailing out of nFriday Harbor with Captain David Howitt
Bald Eagle, Upright Head, Lopez island
Bald Eagle in flight
Purple starfish or Ochre Seastar, Upright Head
Looking East from Upright Head
Blakely island
Bird Rocks cormorant colony
Watmough Head, South Lopez island
Point Colville, Lopez Island
Sailing through Castle Rock Pass
Whale Rocks Steller Sea Lions and Cattle Point Lighthouse
Biggs Orca hunting at Goose Island
Biggs Orcas hunting close to shore Cattle Pass San Juan Island
Biggs Orcas hunting Harbor Rock San Juan Island
Large group of Harbor Porpoise in the current near the Orcas
T65Bs and T137s approach Turn Rock, San Juan Island
T137A adult male Biggs Orca born 2002
Biggs Orcas making waves at the seal haul out, Turn Island
Biggs Orca half breach while hunting
Double spy hop Transient/Biggs Orcas
Biggs Orca turns to grab a Rhinoceros auklet who had a fish
Biggs Orcas of the T137s and 65Bs pass Friday Harbor
Orcas traveling close to Pt Caution, San Juan Island
Sunset and rain clouds over San Juan Channel
Peniel under sail Point Caution – photo from Traci Walter
Barbara on Peniel – photo from Monica Wieland Shields
All Aboard Sailing
Whale Watching Sailing from Friday Harbor through the San Juan Islands – and beyond!
