June 23, 2026 – Moderately strong northerly wind with a full on flood tide gave us a fun close-hauled sail to west of Tift Rocks. Tacking through the Wasp Islands we noticed in the photographs there was now an eaglet in the nest we’ve been keeping an eye on. Sailing passed Low Island we saw one adult black oystercatcher with a chick. Tacking around the harbor seal haul out by Yellow Island we changed our pace with the news that transient orca family, the T100’s who had come north of Waldron Island were now headed to Patos Island. With a boost from the flood tide up President Channel we popped into Lovers Cove with a nice view of a bald eagle. The orcas had turned east around Patos Island so we set course around the cliffs of the Pt Doughty State Marine Park. The orcas were spending some time at Clements Reef as we sailed towards Sucia Island. As we approached the fingers of Sucia it was clear the orcas were headed for Alden Bank. It took us awhile of fast motor sailing to catch up, but it was worth it. We sailed alongside towards Pt Roberts. Leaving them to head to Alden Pt Lighthouse we spotted many harbor porpoise and then explored the western coast of Patos Island passing a very humungous eagles nest. Our homeward course included Waldron Island southeast coastline to Spring Passage to Friday Harbor.
