July 22, 2023 – Fog was in the air after leaving Friday Harbor. We decided to head south today on the ebb tide. Winds were perfect for a great sail as we tacked our way down the channel. Near Cattle Pass we found a pair of bald eagles overlooking the cormorant rookery and gulls on Goose Island along with a line of harbor seals hauled out on the beach. At Whale Rocks many of the Steller sea lions were acting very tough play fighting with one another while the rest snoozed on the rocks. At Salmon Bank we found 3 different minke whales engaged in some lunge feeding. There was tons of rhinoceros auklets there as well. On our return we sailed inside Turn Island pass and found more harbor seals resting on the rocks, some with new pups, and a raccoon foraging on the tide line.
Sailing vessel “Lady Washington” in Friday Harbor
Pirate ship in Friday Harbor
Sailing vessel “Lady Washington” in Friday Harbor
Bull kelp by Turn Rock
Goose Island
Pair of bald eagles overlooking Goose Island
Harbor seals on Goose Island and Cattle Point Lighthouse
Cormorants on Goose Island
Cormorants and Gulls with chicks on Goose Island
Steller Sea Lions by Whale Rocks
Steller Sea Lion by Whale Rocks
Steller Sea Lions by Whale Rocks
Harbor seals by Whale Rocks
Steller Sea Lions by Whale Rocks
Minke whale #1 on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale foraging on Salmon Bank
Minke whale foraging on Salmon Bank
Minke whale foraging on Salmon Bank
Minke whale #1 on Salmon Bank
Minke whale #1 on Salmon Bank
Minke whale #1 on Salmon Bank
Minke whale #1 on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank with Mt Baker backdrop
Sailing whale watching with All Aboard Sailing
Minke whale #1 on Salmon Bank
Minke whale #2 on Salmon Bank
Minke whale #2 foraging on Salmon Bank – and an exhale
Minke whale foraging on Salmon Bank
Minke whale foraging on Salmon Bank
Minke whale #3 with notch on the front of dorsal fin
Minke whale #2 on Salmon Bank
Cattle Point Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island
Raccoon on Turn Island
Sailing around Turn Island
Route map 7/22/23