October 14, 2023 – After ferry cancellations we ended up picking up our passengers at the Orcas Island Ferry Landing. We began our trip hugging the Shaw Island coastline and cutting inside of Canoe Island. After rounding the southern tip we met a humpback whale known as BCZ0492 “Meqe’” (BCY0584 Pillar’s 2017 calf) who was southbound down San Juan Channel against the flood current. We sailed alongside the whale at times making little headway against the strong flood. After some lovely views we sailed South West out of the current with close hauled reefed sails into Griffin Bay and down to Cattle Pass. Passing the harbor seals on the beach and cormorants on Goose Island, where the nests are now empty, we kept in the back eddies to the lighthouse where we met the flood again. The current then took us over to Whale Rocks. Steller sea lions appeared to be having fun with rambunctious play and play fighting around and on the rocks. We caught the tail end of the flood back into the pass by way of Deadman’s Island seeing an eagle on the rocks. We saw the humpback whale again coming through Cattle Pass. Jibing out of a beam reach to a wing on wing sail we had a fast sail North complete with birthday cake, arriving back in Friday Harbor just as the rains began.
Bald eagle calling out on Shaw Island
Bald eagle eating something on Shaw Island
Bald eagle soaring overhead, San Juan Islands
View towards Cypress Island in the distance from Cayou Channel
Fun shaped Juniper tree on Shaw Island
Picnic Pt, Shaw Island
Humpback whale BCZ0492 “Meqe’”southbound San Juan Channel
Humpback whale BCZ0492 “Meqe’”southbound San Juan Channel
Humpback whale BCZ0492 “Meqe’”with backlit exhale
Humpback whale BCZ0492 “Meqe’”dorsal fin left side
Humpback whale BCZ0492 “Meqe’” southbound in San Juan Channel
Humpback whale BCZ0492 “Meqe’” with Olympic Mountains in distance
Humpback whale BCZ0492 “Meqe’” with Olympic Mountains in distance
Humpback whale BCZ0492 “Meqe’” raising tail flukes before deep dive
Humpback whale BCZ0492 “Meqe’” raising tail flukes before deep dive
Humpback whale BCZ0492 “Meqe’” tail flukes
Harbor seals on Goose Island with Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Cormorants on Goose Island
Cormorants and vacant double-crested cormorant nests on Goose Island
Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lion and cormorants at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Curious Steller sea lions checking us out
Curious Steller sea lions checking us out
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Curious Steller sea lions checking us out
Curious Steller sea lions checking us out
Steller sea lions jumping in the sea
Gull trying to chase away bald eagle
Bald eagle landing on Deadman Island
Harbor seal on Deadman Island
Great blue heron on Deadman Island
Capt David sailing wing on wing downwind San Juan Channel
Cormorants on Goose Island with Cattle Pt Lighthouse behind
Olympic Mountains
Humpback whale BCZ0492 “Meqe’”with Olympic Mountains
Route map 10/14/23