All Aboard Sailing

A minke on Salmon Bank and a sail to south Lopez

By allaboardsailing@yahoo.com August 8, 2020 Full Day Sail, Sailing with Minke Whales, Sailing with whales
August 8, 2020 – Raised sails as we left Friday Harbor at the start of the Shaw Island Classic sailboat race. Peniel has many trophies from winning this race through the 60s and 70s. With a close hauled sail on the ebb tide we made good ground out towards Cattle Pass with great views of harbor seals and bald eagles, black oystercatchers and cormorants – and a Brown Pelican. The pelican was asleep at first but woke with a wide gaping yawn when a boat passed.
We circled Long Island before sailing to tack our way out Salmon Bank in light winds looking for minke whales. We had several close passes as she meandered around us. Moving onwards over McArthur Bank wing on wing sailing brought us to Colville Island. We rounded Castle Island where a pair of bald eagles watched us drift pass from high on the cliff. McCardle Bay was paradise with steep cliffs and emerald waters.
Exploring the Lopez shoreline brought us back to Whale Rocks where steller sea lions were rough house playing. A fast flood current gave us a thrilling ride back through Cattle Pass and a beautiful drift through Turn Island Pass with sunset colors.

Shaw Island Classic Sailboat Race

Shaw Island Classic Sailboat Race

Harbor seals near Deadman Island

Harbor seals near Deadman Island

Bald eagle on Deadman Island

Bald eagle overlooking Deadman Island

Black oystercatchers on Lopez shoreline

Brown pelican waking up from his nap and stretching

Brown pelican yawning

Brown pelican yawning

Brown pelican yawning

Brown pelican on Whale Rocks with Cattle Pt Lighthouse

Bald eagle on Long Island

Bald eagle nest on Long Island

Minke whale on Salmon Bank

Minke whale on Salmon Bank

Minke whale on Salmon Bank

Sailing wing on wing

Sailing inside of Castle Rock

Pair of bald eagles on Castle Rock

Bald eagle nest in McArdle Bay

Beautiful scenery along south Lopez coast

Beautiful scenery along south Lopez coast

Castle Rock

Another pair of bald eagles

Great blue heron standing on the bull kelp

Great blue heron on the rock with the gulls

Black tailed deer

Looking towards Long Island

Female harlequin ducks near Cattle Pass

Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks

Steller sea lion and cormorants on Whale Rocks

Steller sea lions asleep with black turnstone between them

Harbor seal with large salmon

Harbor seal with large salmon

Route Map 8-8-20

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