July 7, 2021 – A short sunset sail was the plan but with Transient/Biggs orcas known as the T37A’s coming out of West Sound likely headed for Wasp Pass we decided to go for it. We left Friday Harbor hugging the shoreline to escape the ebb and with 1st reef in the main caught the southerly winds for a speedy motor sail to Wasp Pass. The orcas had come out of West Sound only to go back in and we found sailing races taking place as we sailed towards the marina where they looked to be hunting. Leaving the marina we sailed parallel as they crossed through the racing dinghies with spy hops and breaches clearly having fun. A man in a kayak raced alongside and at one time intentionally flipped his kayak and remained underwater. Interestingly the orcas turned and passed very close before continuing back into West Sound. After a minute or so, when I was about to head over to the kayak to check he was OK, he righted again and paddled off. The sunset as we passed through the Wasp Islands on our way home was stellar and the afterglow quite magical.
Route Map 7-7-21-pm
Sailing through the islands
Sailing downwind
T37A’s playful in West Sound
T37A’s in West Sound, Orcas Island
T37A’s check out the sailboat race
T37A’s check out the sailboat race
T37A’s check out the sailboat race
T37A’s check out the sailboat race
T37A
Calf spy hop
Orca exhales blowing in the wind
T37A5 swimming quickly
Orcas cruising quickly in West Sound
Orcas swimming near kayaker
Kayaker flipped his kayak over and orcas swam close by
T37A’s in West Sound
Blows illuminated by the setting sun
Nob Island in the sunset
Sailing back to Friday Harbor at sunset
Sailing back to Friday Harbor at sunset
Sentinel Island in the distance
Sun going down behind Spieden Island
Sunset sail in the San Juan Islands