August 11, 2025 – After casting off we headed south on the ebb current passing resting harbor seals by Turn Island and Deadman Island. A newly fledged bald eagle chick was hanging out near Deadman Island where we had recently seen it once before. We sailed over to Whale Rocks to see the Steller sea lions before sailing around beautiful Long Island. A humpback whale was milling since yesterday in the area between MacArthur Bank and Salmon Bank. We got on scene and had some really nice views. We matched the white underside of her tail flukes along with the shape and notched tip dorsal fin to the catalogue and identified her as BCZ0345 “Victory”. During the first two weeks of Aug 2023 this humpback hung out in that same area according to our website blog. After leaving the whale we headed to the south Lopez Island coastline and explored the area around Castle Island. Hugged the coastline to keep out of the strong flood current up to Iceberg Pt and had a really fast sail through Cattle Pass and back up San Juan Channel to Friday Harbor. A gorgeous day
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” near MacArthur Bank
Sailing around Turn Island State Park
Harbor seals near Turn Island State Park
Newly fledged bald eagle chick
Harbor seals by Deadman Island
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks with Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Gulls and Cormorants at Hall Island
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” near MacArthur Bank
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” near MacArthur Bank
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” near MacArthur Bank
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” near MacArthur Bank
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” near MacArthur Bank
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” near MacArthur Bank
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” near MacArthur Bank
Humpback whale BCZ0345 “Victory” near MacArthur Bank
Sailing around southwest side of Lopez Island
Bald eagle southwest side of Lopez Island
Sailing around southwest side of Lopez Island
Sailing around southwest side of Lopez Island
Sailing around southwest side of Lopez Island
Castle Island
Toothpick rocks by South Lopez Island
Close hauled sail back to Friday Harbor
Route map 8/11/25