Circumnavigating Stuart Island to Flattop Island

July 19, 2025 – After leaving Friday Harbor we headed north on account of an orcas sighting earlier that morning seen westbound in Spieden Channel. We took the north side of Spieden Island and cut across to the south side of Stuart Island. The orcas known as the T123’s had been found by the bottom of Swanson Channel and eventually made their way into Satellite Channel. As we made our way up to Turn Pt on Stuart Island we were hoping they’d flip and come back out of Satellite Channel making it possible to see them. However, they continued south all the way to the very bottom of Saanich Inlet. We continued on our sailing adventure around Stuart Island, through the Cactus Islands and over to Flattop Island. Wildlife highlights included harbor seals hauled out with newborn pups all over the place, a bald eagle chick in the nest on Stuart Island and on Flattop Island. Pigeon guillemots nesting by the Cactus Islands and Flattop Island. A large flock of black oystercatchers calling repeatedly as they circled Low Island. Good winds for sailing as we tacked our way down San Juan Channel with our passenger at the helm all the way from Flattop Island to Friday Harbor.