July 2, 2025 – After leaving Friday Harbor we dithered around deciding whether to go north to see humpback whale “Big Mama” with her calf by East Pt or to head to Rosario Strait to see Biggs/Transient orcas including “Chainsaw” T63, his mom, T65, and the T36’s southbound near Lummi Island. With winds from the south we were worried conditions might be too sloppy in Rosario but took our chances and headed that way. We had some good sailing inter-island mixed with motor sailing and a fast sail across Rosario to Cypress Island. North of Cypress winds were light and seas were calm giving us a chance to slow down to watch a large group of pigeon guillemots flying back and forth to the cliff face. The orcas looked at first like they would take the east side of Guemes Island which wouldn’t have worked well for us, but instead took Bellingham Channel in our favor. We got on scene and pushed south quickly as we paralleled the orcas. Chainsaw and mom were trailing the others who appeared to be trucking south. The orcas continued south while we wrapped around the bottom of Cypress Island to meet a pair of humpback whales who also happened to be southbound. We stuck with them until we were abeam of Thatcher Pass and came about to sail up the gorgeous Blakely Island coastline to Peavine Pass. Behind Canoe Island we reefed sails again and had a fun sail across San Juan Channel back to the harbor.
Biggs/Transient orca T63 “Chainsaw” southbound Bellingham Channel
Mt Baker
Going sailing
Lopez Island – Upright Head
Lopez Island – Upright Head
Bald eagle, Lopez Island – Upright Head
Eagle Cliff, Cypress Island
Cypress Island NE side
Pigeon Guillemots
Cone Islands
Biggs/Transient orca T63 “Chainsaw” southbound Bellingham Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T63 “Chainsaw” southbound Bellingham Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s southbound Bellingham Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s southbound Bellingham Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s southbound Bellingham Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T63 “Chainsaw” southbound Bellingham Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T65 southbound Bellingham Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T36B southbound Bellingham Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T36 with T36B4 southbound Bellingham Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T36B1 southbound Bellingham Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T63 “Chainsaw” southbound Bellingham Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T36B southbound Bellingham Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s southbound Bellingham Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T65 southbound Bellingham Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T63 “Chainsaw” passing Anacortes
Humpback whale southbound Rosario Strait
Humpback whale southbound Rosario Strait
Humpback whale southbound Rosario Strait
Humpback whale southbound Rosario Strait
Humpback whale #1 southbound Rosario Strait
Humpback whale southbound Rosario Strait
Humpback whale southbound Rosario Strait
Humpback whale #2 southbound Rosario Strait
Humpback whale southbound Rosario Strait
Humpback whale southbound Rosario Strait
Humpback whale southbound Rosario Strait
Humpback whale southbound Rosario Strait
Humpback whale southbound Rosario Strait
Close-hauled sail to Blakely Island
Bald eagle, Blakely Island
Harbor seals, Blakely Island
Harbor seals, Blakely Island
Blakely Island
Harbor seals, Spindle Rock
Harbor seals, Spindle Rock
Fast close hauled sail across San Juan Channel
Route map 7/2/25