June 30, 2025 – As we left Friday Harbor there was a report of a humpback and calf heading south from Pea Pod Rocks (Olympus and calf). We sailed south knowing we may meet them at the south end of Lopez Island. As we passed the sea lions on Whale Rocks we had some decisions to make and decided to go epic. Instead of meeting Olympus and calf we rode the ebb current south to meet “the herd” of approximately 20 humpbacks near Dungeness. Biggs/Transient orcas (T46B’s and T109A’s) were also in the area. The T69’s were also at Discovery Island looking north into Haro Strait. Conditions were 2 footers and winds good for sailing as we crossed Salmon Bank and Hein Bank. We spotted a minke whale foraging briefly on Hein Bank. When we arrived we were the only boat on scene and there were humpback exhales scattered around a couple mile radius in small groupings. We sailed between groups who appeared to be foraging, socializing, tail lobbing and cartwheeling. It was an epic encounter as we had hoped. As we returned over Hein Bank our passenger spotted a minke whale again. Winds were great for sailing as we rode the flood current back stopping once more to see the sea lions.
Humpback whale CRC-18865 / BCX2046 “Pinnacle”
Sailing wing on wing
Black oystercatcher
Bald eagle, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lions on green can at Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Hein Bank
Humpback whales with Olympic Mountains
Humpback whale CRC-18865 / BCX2046 “Pinnacle”
Humpback whale CRC-18865 / BCX2046 “Pinnacle”
Humpback whale CRC-18865 / BCX2046 “Pinnacle”
Humpback whale CRC-18865 / BCX2046 “Pinnacle”
Humpback whale CRC-18865 / BCX2046 “Pinnacle”
Humpback whale CRC-18865 / BCX2046 “Pinnacle”
Humpback whale CRC-18865 / BCX2046 “Pinnacle”
Humpback whale CRC-18865 / BCX2046 “Pinnacle”
Humpback whale CRC-18865 / BCX2046 “Pinnacle”
Humpback whale CRC-18865 / BCX2046 “Pinnacle”
Humpback whale CRC-18865 / BCX2046 “Pinnacle”
Humpback whales with Olympic Mountains
Humpback whale exhale
Check out the two blow holes
Humpback whale feeding
Humpback whale
Humpback whale tail flukes
Humpback whale
Humpback whale pectoral flipper in the air
Humpback whale pectoral flipper in the air
Humpback whale calf
Humpback whale feeding
Humpback whale tail flukes
Humpback whale
Humpback whale tail flukes
Three humpback whales
2 more humpbacks- 5 traveling together
Humpback whale
Humpback whale
Humpback whale
Humpback whale
Humpback whale
Humpback whale
Humpback whale calf tail lift
Humpback whale calf tail lift
Humpback whale
Humpback whale feeding beside our boat
Humpback whale traveling beside our boat
Humpback whale
Humpback whales with Olympic Mountains
Humpback whale
Humpback whale tail
Humpback whale feeding
Humpback whale exhale
Humpback whale tail with noticeable orca teeth rake marks
Humpback whale tail with noticeable orca teeth rake marks
Humpback whale feeding
Humpback whale tail
Humpback whales
Humpback whale tail
Humpback whales and tugboat
Humpback whale
Humpback whale tail
Humpback whale
Humpback whale
Humpback whale tail of BCY1068 – BCY1000’s calf 2017
Humpback whales with Olympic Mountains
Humpback whales with Olympic Mountains
Humpback whale tail
Humpback whale
Humpback whale
Humpback whale tail
Humpback whale tail
Humpback whale with eye visible
Humpback whale tail
Humpback whale pectoral flipper
Humpback whale with Olympic Mountains
Humpback whales with Olympic Mountains
Humpback whales with tails and flippers
Humpback whales
Humpback whales raising pectoral flipper
Bye bye whales
Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Epic family sailing adventure
Currents in San Juan Channel by Cattle Pass
Upwelling
Route map 6/30/25