October 15, 2025 – North wind and a flood current gave us a fast close-hauled sail across the channel towards Neck Pt. Here we heard a report of orcas south of Salmon Bank. Reversing course we viewed the Shaw Island coastline and the wildlife coming through Turn Island Pass. Headed down towards Cattle Pass and sailed passed the harbor seals by Deadman Island and out to Whale Rocks to see the Steller sea lions. We met the two male orcas, T65A5 and T49A2, headed north the way we’d just come. Spectacular views all the way up San Juan Channel. We witnessed as least two successful hunts complete with breaches and tail slaps. We saw the sea otter at Turn Rock and the orcas headed north into the sunset. Bucket list stunning sail.
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 tail lobbing
Pacific madrone trees, Shaw Island
WA State Ferry with Mt Baker
Cormorants near Pear Pt, San Juan Island
Harbor seals by Deadman Island with Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Harbor seal mom and pup by Deadman Island
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lion yawning
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2
Steller sea lion at Whale Rocks with Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 tail
Harbor seals at Shark Reef
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 northbound along Lopez Island
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 northbound along Lopez Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A5 and T49A2 northbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A5 and T49A2 northbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 hunting
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 with Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 northbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A5 and T49A2 northbound San Juan Channel
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 with Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orcas T65A5 and T49A2 hunting a harbor seal
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 tail lobbing while hunting with T65A5
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 tail lobbing
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 with backlit blow
Biggs/Transient orcas T49A2 and T65A5 hunting by Turn Rock
Biggs/Transient orcas T49A2 and T65A5 hunting by Turn Rock
Sea otter by Turn Rock, San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 breaches with blood spraying out of mouth
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 breaches next to T49A2
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 tail lobbing after harbor seal hunt
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 tail lobbing after harbor seal hunt
Biggs/Transient orca T65A5
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 with backlit blow
Sunset sail San Juan Islands
Sunset Friday Harbor
Biggs/Transient orcas T49A2 and T65A5
Biggs/Transient orcas T49A2 and T65A5
Biggs/Transient orca T49A2 heading into the sunset
Biggs/Transient orcas T49A2 and T65A5 heading into the sunset
Route map 10/15/25