August 16, 2025 – Coming out of Friday Harbor we met Biggs/Transient orcas, the T109A’s, at Reid Rock. They came into the south entrance to the harbor and we sailed into the north entrance. They were reported (and videoed on Facebook) as coming through the middle of the marina inside the breakwater. We saw them as they approached and came inside the Friday Harbor UW Labs dock exciting quite a crowd of students. Continuing up the coastline we sailed alongside photographing their backlit blows. We left the whales near Rocky Bay and crossed towards Jones Island whilst eating BBQ sockeye salmon and veggie supper that we cooked on our grills. Sailing south and tacking through the Wasp Islands we brought out the birthday cake for one of our passengers. Superb sunset unfolded on our way south to Friday Harbor.
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s inside the dock at University of WA Marine Labs
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s approaching Friday Harbor
People whale watching from the Ferry
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s approaching Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s inside the dock at University of WA Marine Labs
Biggs/Transient orca T109A4, San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orca T109A4
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s northbound from Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s northbound from Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s northbound from Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orca T109A northbound from Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s northbound from Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s northbound from Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orca T109A4 with backlit exhale
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A’s with backlit exhales
Biggs/Transient orca T109A4 with backlit exhale
Close-hauled sailing
Birthday celebrations
Epic sunset sail from Friday Harbor, WA
View towards Spieden Channel from Wasp Islands
Sunset reflections
Wasp Islands in evening light
Sentinel Island in the sunset
Sentinel Island
Yellow Island in glassy waters in the sunset
Distant view of Sentinel Island in the sunset
Black oystercatchers with chicks on Low island
Harbor seals on Low island
Pacific Madrone tree on Yellow Island
Epic sunset sail from Friday Harbor
Epic sunset sail from Friday Harbor
Epic sunset sail from Friday Harbor
Epic sunset sail from Friday Harbor
Route map 8/16/25 pm