July 24, 2025 – After leaving Friday Harbor we headed south towards Cattle Pass. There had been a minke whale spotted on Salmon Bank and there was a pod of orcas pointed west near Discovery Island not making much headway against the current. We thought we’d take our chances and see if the orcas flipped and came our way quickly on the flood, or if not try our luck on Salmon Bank… With the flood current against us we kept to the back eddy inside Griffin Bay. We saw lots of harbor seals resting with new pups and cormorants and gulls tending to their chicks on Goose Island. The orcas ended up continuing west close to shore so we made our way out to the bank. Conditions weren’t the best for spotting but we eventually made our way to the hot spot where several minkes were the day prior as well as the one found earlier. There was lots of active bait balls but we were coming up empty handed for minkes until one lunged briefly and then vanished. With the wind and swell behind us we sailed fast towards Whale Rocks zooming by the Steller sea lions. Sailed quickly in through Cattle Pass and hugged the Lopez coastline up to Big Rock before crossing towards Turn Island and back to the harbor.
Doggie loving the sail!
Sailing around Turn Island State Park
Pair of bald eagles by Turn Island
Harbor seals on the rock by Pear Pt, San Juan island
Harbor seals on the rock by Pear Pt, San Juan island
Harbor seals lined up on Goose island with Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Harbor seals lined up on Goose island
Growing gull chicks on Goose Island
Double crested cormorant nest, Goose Island
Cormorants, Goose Island
Active bait ball, Salmon Bank
Sailing with the wind behind us and following seas to Whale Rocks
Sailing with the wind behind us and following seas to Whale Rocks
Crazy seas by Cattle Pt, San Juan Island
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Crazy seas by Cattle Pt, San Juan Island
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, with Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, with Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, with Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Brandts cormorants, Whale Rocks
Chunky seas south of Cattle Pass
Black oystercatchers, Deadman Island
Newborn harbor seal pup, Deadman Island
Harbor seals, Deadman Island
Harbor seals, Deadman Island, with Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Bald eagle, Lopez Island
Route map 7/23/25