May 18, 2025 – With news of Biggs orcas, the T19’s, coming down San Juan Channel we turned north out of Friday Harbor and met them near Pt Caution. We sailed parallel passed Friday Harbor and down toward Turn Island State Park. Other orcas, the T49A’s (minus T49A1 and T49A2) appeared on the other side of the channel heading north. The T19’s crossed behind them towards Upright Channel and we left them to catch up with the T49A’s. It seems often that the T19’s and T49A’s spend a fair amount of time together, but today they didn’t interact that we know of. We caught up to the T49A’s near Neck Pt, Shaw Island, and sailed alongside as they travelled north. We left them heading towards New Channel as we continued to Flattop Island National Wildlife Refuge. Many harbor seals were hauled out resting. Returned with a fast sail south back to the harbor as the sun set.
Sailing downwind wing on wing
Biggs orca brothers T19B and T19C
Biggs orca T19B passing Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Biggs orca T19B
Biggs orcas T19’s (mother and two adult sons)
Biggs orca T19C
Biggs orca T19C
Biggs orca T19B
Biggs orcas T19 with son T19C
Biggs orca T19B
Reefed sails passing Shaw Island
Harbor seals hauled out
Biggs orcas T49A’s northbound San Juan Channel near Shaw Island
Biggs orcas T49A’s northbound San Juan Channel near Shaw Island
Biggs orcas T49A’s northbound San Juan Channel near Shaw Island
Biggs orca T49A3
Biggs orcas T49A’s northbound San Juan Channel near Shaw Island
Biggs orca T49A with youngest offspring T49A6
Biggs orcas T49A’s northbound San Juan Channel
Biggs orcas T49A’s northbound San Juan Channel
Biggs orcas T49A’s northbound San Juan Channel
Flattop Island National Wildlife Refuge
Flattop Island National Wildlife Refuge
Harbor seals on Flattop Island National Wildlife Refuge
Harbor seals on Flattop Island National Wildlife Refuge
Sunset viewed from the Wasp Islands
Sunset sail back to Friday Harbor
Sunset over San Juan Island
Route map 5/18/25