All Aboard Sailing

Sail to Flattop Island and New Channel

By allaboardsailing@yahoo.com October 13, 2023 Half Day Sail
October 13, 2023 – With a nice northerly breeze we were able to tack our way north up San Juan Channel. Tacking through the Wasp Islands gave a nice view of a bald eagle roosting on the green number 1 channel marker leading into Wasp Pass. We sailed through the pass of the McConnell Islands over to Reef Island. Gulls alerted us to a Steller sea lion who’d caught what looked to be a large salmon. Tacking through Spring Pass and rounded Jones Island State Park up to Flattop National Wildlife Refuge. Harbor seals were hauled out resting and warming on the Chuckanut honeycombed sandstone on the sunny lee shore. With no whale sightings today in Cowlitz Bay and Boundary Pass we sailed to Ripple Island and the Cactus Islands. Lots of harbor seals hauled out in the tranquil waters. We were surprised to see a pair of California sea lions playing together in the water as we often see Steller sea lions vs California sea lions. Quite a number of harbor porpoises in the fast current and a Mouflon Ram watched us as we passed Green Point. Quite a number of Steller sea lions both hauled resting out and in the water. We returned quite quickly as the sky darkened seeing bald eagles at Point Caution. Rain came just after we arrived back in Friday Harbor.

Washington State Ferry and Mt Baker

Beautiful day to sail in the San Juan Islands

Mt Baker viewed through Wasp Passage

Bald eagle on Channel Marker #1 by Shirt Tail Reef

Bald eagle on Channel Marker #1 by Shirt Tail Reef with Mt Baker backdrop

Pacific Madrone tree with berries

Haida cabin on Reef Island

Yellow Island through the gap

Our passengers hanging out on the comfy bean bag chairs

Harbor seals on Flattop Island

Harbor seals on Flattop Island

Harbor seals on Flattop Island

Harbor seals on Flattop Island

Harbor seals on Flattop Island

Bald eagle nest on Flattop Island

Harbor seal on the north side of Flattop Island

Harbor seals hauled out on rocks in New Channel

Harbor seals hauled out on rocks in New Channel

Harbor seals hauled out on rocks in New Channel

Harbor seals hauled out on rocks in New Channel by Ripple Island

Harbor seals hauled out on rocks in New Channel

Harbor seals hauled out on rocks in New Channel

Harbor seals hauled out on rocks in New Channel

Bull kelp forest in New Channel and Stuart Island in the distance

Pair of California sea lions in New Channel

Cormorants in New Channel

Oak tree with fall colors

Bald eagle flying by north of Spieden Island

Harbor seal swimming by in calm waters with forest reflections

Calm waters in New Channel north of Spieden Island

Harbor porpoise

Mouflon ram and sheep on Spieden Island

Mouflon ram on Spieden Island

Steller sea lions at Green Pt, Spieden Island

Steller sea lion in the water checking us out

Steller sea lions sleeping at Green Pt, Spieden Island

Steller sea lion with flippers draped over another sea lion’s back

Steller sea lions at Green Pt, Spieden Island

Mt Baker in setting sunlight

Forest and reflections at Pt Caution, San Juan Island

Belted kingfisher on San Juan Island

Bald eagle on San Juan Island

Bald eagle on San Juan Island

Bald eagle on San Juan Island

Friday Harbor, San Juan Island at sunset

Route map 10/13/23

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