All Aboard Sailing

Biggs/Transient Orcas T123’s north of Pt Doughty

By allaboardsailing@yahoo.com September 17, 2023 Half Day Sail, Sailing with Transient Orcas, Sailing with whales
September 17, 2023 – After leaving Friday Harbor we headed north based on a report of a family of orcas north of Flattop Island. The orcas were multi-directional, but eventually made it to Pt Disney and traveled up the shoreline of Waldron Island. With a strong ebb current running we hugged the coastline of Orcas Island on the opposite side of the channel. They were a couple miles ahead of us and going almost the same speed as us making it difficult to catch up. But, we finally closed the gap north of Pt Doughty and got on scene with the T123’s. Winds were moderately strong giving us a great sail beside them, but we were too fast and decided to reef the main sail. The orcs continued towards Sucia Island and we came about to come back south along Orcas Island once again. We came inside the Wasp Islands before returning to Friday Harbor just in time for our passengers to catch the ferry.

Route map 9/17/23

Nob Island

Harbor seals on Low Island

Marbled murrelet by the Wasp Islands

Bald eagle nest on Orcas Island

Great blue heron with bite to eat

Great blue heron flying off with bite to eat

Orcas Island north shore near Turtleback Mountain

Bald eagle on Orcas Island

Mt Baker

Biggs/Transient orca T123A

Biggs/Transient orca T123C and mom T123

Biggs/Transient orca T123A and youngest sibling T123D

Biggs/Transient orca T123 with two youngest offspring

Biggs/Transient orca T123A, born 2000

Biggs/Transient orca T123D, born 2018

Biggs/Transient orca T123C, born 2012

Biggs/Transient orca T123, born 1985

Biggs/Transient orca T123A

Biggs/Transient orca T123

Biggs/Transient orca T123D

Biggs/Transient orca T123D

Biggs/Transient orca T123

Biggs/Transient orca T123C

Biggs/Transient orca T123A

Bare Island and Skipjack Island

Biggs/Transient orca T123A

T123A showing off that wavy dorsal fin

Happy passengers as we sail with a family of orcas

Sailing towards President Channel and Orcas Island

Orcas Island north shore near Turtleback Mountain

Nob Island

Sailing back to Friday Harbor

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