May 22, 2026 – After casting off we headed north with news of Biggs/Transient orcas (T60’s with T69D2) heading southeast north of Stuart Island. Our plan was to meet them between Johns Island and Flattop Island. However; the orcas did a 180 and flipped direction westbound. We did the same taking Spieden Channel moving quickly on the ebb current. After the orcas wrapped around Stuart Island they crossed over toward the Canadian Islands and headed south from Gooch Island. We arrived on scene near Halibut Island and sailed parallel getting some beautiful views as they traveled eventually wrapping around the bottom of Sidney Island. It was exciting for us to see T69D2 as this isn’t an individual we usually see. Somewhat low profile whale without showing much of their saddle patch. After two very long down times of approx 10 minutes we later saw their dorsal fins moving away from us northbound up Sidney Channel. We continued our adventure passing some harbor seals on the reef resting in the sun and a bald eagle on the Kelp Reef marker. Another orca report of a family known as the T100’s were moving up the westside of San Juan Island. Our passengers were keen to go for it so we changed course to meet them near Lime Kiln Point State Park. The orcas hugged the coastline moving at a snails pace against the tide in resting travel mode. After departing the orcas we cut through Mosquito Pass through Roche Harbor. On Posey Island we spotted a bald eagle in their nest with two eaglets visible. So cute! Then we made a fast run back to Friday Harbor hugging the coastline to stay in the back eddies of the now flooding current. 
Orcas T60’s with T69D2 by Mandarte followed by T100’s near Lime Kiln Point State Park
- Circumnavigating Lopez Island and seeing Gray whale CRC2702
- Epic sail with orcas T65A’s with T64B’s by Cypress Island