Orcas T18's in Spieden/New Channel

September 6, 2020 – As we raised sails leaving Friday Harbor we heard a report that the Biggs orcas of the T18 family were Northbound on the West side of San Juan Island. We headed North on the East side of San Juan Island. We crossed San Juan channel to the Wasp Islands and after passing Yellow Island cut a course for Green Point. Following the Spieden Island shoreline we saw a bald eagle roosting in a large Gary Oak. Mouflon sheep ran along the tide line grazing seaweeds and many harbor seals rested in the sunshine.

Clearing Sentinel Island we met the T18’s near Center Reef. They came into Sentinel Rock clearly searching for harbor seals and then made quick passage inside Sentinel Island. Picking up speed to 7 knots they proceeded to Green Point and wrapped around into New Channel. They were clearly looking for harbor seals but if there were predation events they happened very quickly.

We cut through the Cactus Islands and drifted passed the kelp forests and harbor seal haul outs of the reefs extending from Ripple Island to catch the current on to Flattop Island. We saw phalaropes on the North shore of Flattop today, an eagles nest and many seals. Cutting inside McConneIl Island and through Nob Island Pass to close our sail with beautiful views of the San Juan Islands.