A sail to Smith Island and South Lopez

May 16, 2021 – Sailed south after leaving Friday Harbor. Cutting behind Turn Island and crossing San Juan Channel to hug the Lopez Coastline from Big Rock glacial erratic to Deadman Island. Out to Whale Rocks to see the Steller sea lions, harbor seals and a bald eagle who was perched on top of the rocks. Rode the ebb out of Long Island where a bald eagle flew to its nest.

We then heard of a humpback whale at the south end of MacArthur Bank west of Smith Island. We motor sailed the ridge of MacArthur Bank but unfortunately the humpback whale vanished. So we headed to Smith Island where we were successful in finding a pair of tufted puffins.

Came back by way of Colville Island, Castle Rock, McArdle Bay and explored the Lopez jagged tooth pick coastline. Swells were picking up as we crossed from Iceberg Pt to Long Island so we took the inside of Charles Island. In the lee of the island we brought the main sail to second reef and we could see Cattle Pass was looking gnarly so everyone moved to the cockpit and we battened down the hatches.

After Mummy rocks we hit the flooding current that was whipped by wind and swell into a fiery frenzy. Waves were vertical 4-5 footers from all directions at once as far as the eye could see. Peniel held a steady course despite the bucking bronco ride and we took some shelter by coming inside Deadmans Island. After Kings point conditions improved dramatically though current was swift with upwellings across the channel. True to the name Peniel we’d seen the face of God and survived to see the sun set over Friday Harbor.