May 3, 2026 – We sailed out of Friday Harbor with news of the Biggs/Transient orcas T49A’s traveling East from Cattle Point. Unsure whether to head South in San Juan Channel or over to Rosario Strait was the best bet to see the orcas. We came through Turn Island Pass while we evaluated our sail plan. Many harbor seals watched from their haul out warming in the sun while a report came in that the orcas had reversed course towards the flood current of Cattle Pass. We meet the T49A’s (minus T49A1 and T49A2) at Big Rock, Lopez Island, and after they passed we sailed a ways behind until they stopped to hunt. Able to drift sail and watch as the hunt appeared to be successful. Lovely views as they continued North against the Shaw Island coastline. This was our first time meeting the newest calf in the family, T49A7 born early March 2026. They are the 7th offspring of 40 year old mother, T49A. At Point George they formed a resting line at the surface pointing into Parks Bay and overs several minutes made a slow turn to point North. We left them to follow the back eddy close to the Shaw coastline into Hicks Bay before a fast close hauled sail on the strong flood current across Reid Rock and into Friday Harbor. 
