July 7, 2021- We left Friday Harbor and headed north with a strong southerly wind. But, on hearing that the orca family known as the T37A’s (minus T37A1) plus T49A1 who was traveling with them in south Rosario headed west we turned to head that way. However, as we passed Friday Harbor Barbara noticed in the turbulent chuck the tall dorsal fin of T49C traveling alone. We sailed on a parallel course as he quickly travelled north in San Juan Channel along San Juan Island. Meanwhile the T37A’s and T49A1 were crossing towards Lopez Pass and so before conditions escalated at Spieden Channel we set a beam reach for a fast sail towards Deer Harbor. Taking Pole Pass and passing between Orcas and Shaw Islands we came passed Leo Reef and inside Spencer spit to meet them. We sailed as they traveled north leaving them at Lopez ferry and sailed back to Friday Harbor via Upright Head and Picnic Point inside Canoe Island.
Ferry leaving Friday Harbor
T49C passing Friday Harbor
T49C traveling North along San Juan Island
Male orca, T49C, born 1998
T49C traveling North along San Juan Island
T49C traveling North along San Juan Island
Winds and white caps coming up the channel
Winds and white caps coming up the channel
Orcas Island Ferry Landing
Pretty coastline
Bald eagles nest
Shaw coastline
Harbor seal mom and pup
Harbor seal mom and pup
Sailing along Frost Island
Spencer Spit State Park, Lopez
Spencer Spit State Park, Lopez Island
T37A1 with T37A3
T37A3, T37A2 and mom, T37A
Youngest family member T37A5 (born 2019?)
T37A5 with T37A4
T37A2
Male orca T49A1, born 2001
Whale watching sailing wing on wing
Orcas going along the outside of Frost Island
T49A1 swimming close to shore
Orcas Island in the distance
T49A1 with exhale
T37A4 aka crinkly fin, born 2015
T37A2, born 2009
T37A’s
T37A’s
T37A’s
T37A’s
T37A5 with T37A2
Mom T37A with T37A4 crinkly fin
Upright Head
Picnic Pt
Mt Baker
Route map 7-7-21