All Aboard Sailing

Full day sail up to Boiling Reef

By allaboardsailing@yahoo.com May 2, 2024 Full Day Sail
May 2, 2024 – We used the flood and ebb tides with their back eddies to add benefit to our sail. Passing through the Wasp Islands between Orcas and Shaw we continued North around Flattop National Wildlife Refuges and White Rock seal haul out into Canada. Java Rocks to Monarch Head and a lovely sail on the back eddy to East Point and Boiling Reef where the Steller Sea lions were hauled out. One California sea lion was hanging out in the water. Picking up the ebbing current we scooted South passed Skipjack and Waldron Islands to Lovers Cove on Orcas Island. Wing on wing on a river-like current we cruised down Presidents Channel to Jones Island and then back through the Wasp Islands to return to Friday Harbor. A good number of bald eagles, loons and Bonaparte gulls, pigeon guillemots, black oystercatchers, belted kingfishers and cormorants as well as a billy goat gruff and a few harbor porpoise were seen along the way.

Bald eagle outside Friday Harbor

Mt Baker

Harbor seals on Flattop Island

Flattop Island

Harbor seals on White Rock National Wildlife Refuge

Bald eagle on White Rock

Harbor seals on White Rock National Wildlife Refuge

Steller sea lion near White Rock

Skipjack and Bare Islands

Java Rocks and Saturna Island

Blue Camas growing on Java Rocks

Harbor seals on Java Rocks

Sailing near Saturna Island

Bonaparte’s gulls near Monarch Head, Saturna Island

Billy Goat on Saturna Island

Sailing near Monarch Head, Saturna Island

Juvenile bald eagle on Saturna Island

California sea lion near Boiling Reef

Steller sea lions near Boiling Reef

Bald eagle on Boiling Reef

Mt Baker towering over Patos Island and Alden Pt Lighthouse

Pelagic cormorant on Bare Island

Waldron Island

North shore of Orcas Island

Bald eagle nest on Orcas Island

Historic Lime Kiln on Orcas Island

Layers of islands

Layers of islands

Sailing vessel Orion

Harbor seals on the rocks near Jones Island

Harbor seals near Shirt Tail Reef

West tip of Yellow Island

WA State Ferry with Mt Baker

Route map 5/2/24

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