Half day sail to New Channel and Flattop Island

August 19, 2020 – Close to the shoreline after raising the main leaving Friday Harbor and a Steller sea lion elevated out of the water before disappearing quickly – as surprised by us as we by him. Light winds today and sailed slowly passed Shirt Tail Reef where a bald eagle watched the currents pass from the number one channel marker. We tacked to come around Low Island and the west spit of Yellow island for a view of the resting harbor seals.

North bound on the flood to Green Point and rode the back eddy in strong currents into New Channel. At times we drifted backwards and others came in close to escape the flooding current. Many mouflon rams and fallow deer grazing seaweeds around the forest edge. In the fast moving flat waters we drifted through kelp forests near the Cactus Islands passing bald eagles and harbor seals.

Staying in the fast moving flood current we continued to Flattop National Wildlife Refuge. A family of black oystercatchers with their two toned billed chick and harbor seals with their pups were nestled into the fruit cake geology of the cliffs. We explored the South side also with bald eagles and their nests and more harbor seals lined up on the honeycombed sandstone.

Southbound with harbor porpoises South of Spring Pass. Cutting through Nob Island for the view as the sky began to progress though pastel colors.