May 2, 2026 – After picking up our folks from Orcas Island we had a difficult choice as to whether our best bet was to take San Juan Chanel South or to take Rosario Strait South. We had a report of 2 male orcas T49A2 and T51 Northbound from Partridge Point. Our best guess was that they would head for Rosario. We sailed through Spencer Spit and wing on wing down on a good breeze through the Islands to sail out Lopez Pass. Just outside the Paul Allen estate on Lopez we saw a gray whale blow. We met the gray whale in the shallows surfacing in the calm reflective waters. Continuing South used the back eddy of the now flooding current before cutting across to Williamson Rocks where we met the Biggs/transient male orcas travelling together. We sailed alongside as they came close to shore swimming through the strong current rips and watched as they cut into Burrows Pass and circled Burrows Island. We returned at speed on the flood with a fast close hauled sail when winds picked up after coming through Thatcher Pass en route back to Orcas Island. Note: images of the gray whale were sent to Cascadia Research Collective and Orca Network to see if this is a known individual.
