Biggs/Transient orcas T65 and T63 "Chainsaw"

April 15, 2026 – We sailed north on the beginning of the flood tide with a report of Biggs/Transient orcas at East Point, Saturna Island, and two orcas approaching San Juan Island from the Southwest (T65 “Whidbey II” and son T63 “Chainsaw”). Winds were light, but we had a nice drift sail north from Yellow Island in the calm waters. We had a report from Barbara viewing from the shore of San Juan Island that T65 and T63 were northbound from County Park. We picked up the pace bucking the flood through Spieden Channel and picked up some good wind outside Roche Harbor to sail past Battleship Island. Pushing south we met the orcas near Kellett Bluff. Sailing alongside they traveled fairly close to shore at Battleship Island before veering toward Canada. Changing course we sailed wing on wing while enjoying lunch and then drifted through New Channel. Lots of juvenile and adult bald eagles as well as Bonaparte’s gulls in the tide rips. Steller sea lions both on shore and lounging in the water including a branded sea lion “526Y” were at Green Pt, Spieden Island. Our southerly trip home via the Wasp Islands and Pt Caution included some nice sailing back to Friday Harbor.