Great minke encounter on Salmon Bank

August 7, 2020 – Although we had moderate southerly wind leaving Friday Harbor we were hearing winds South of San Juan Island were just 4 knots and so we decided to sail close hauled on the ebb to go and look for minke whales. It was an exciting sail heeled over within control of full sails. We sailed all the way to Cattle Pass on 2 tacks making good speed. Reducing headsail to drift on the current and pass Goose Island seeing harbor seals, cormorants and some young gull chicks. Passing Cattle Point Lighthouse we rode the last of the ebb out to Salmon Bank.

After some searching patience paid off with fine views of a minke whale. The light winds allowed us to sail slowly on main sail alone as he surfaced nearby. From here we raised the headsail again to head back to Whale Rocks. Among the growing number of Steller sea lions there was a young one. It was fun watching as they heaved their way out of the water. An eagle was on the rocks at Deadman Island and resting harbor seals were there, too.

We came back along the Lopez shorline to Big Rock glacial erratic. Then sailed and drifted on the flood through Turn Island Pass.