July 1, 2026 – Today we had an extended 10 hour sail per the request of our passengers on board. We circumnavigated San Juan Island and Spieden Island. After casting off we headed south down San Juan Channel towards Deadman Island seeing many harbor seals hauled out, black oystercatchers and ochre sea stars with the low tide. After seeing the Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks a male orca, T49A1, popped up nearby there shortly after we left so we came about to check him out. He was moving quickly in through Cattle Pass and up San Juan Channel. We had other plans in mind to see other orcas in Haro Strait so after a few good looks we pressed on stopping briefly by Goose Island to see the nesting cormorants. Earlier there had been a large T party of orcas socializing east of Discovery Island with 21 orcas (T46B’s, T46B1’s, T46C2, T49C, T65B’s & T100’s, reportedly). The group split in two and we got on scene with the T46B’s and T49C as they traveled northeast towards the west side of San Juan Island. The group was spread continuing north and we had a great sail paralleling them with lovely views. Near Henry Island we broke away to hug the shoreline before continuing to New Channel. Male orca, T49A1, whom we saw first was now entering New Channel from the east side of Spieden Island. We got on scene to see him do some quick hunting near the Cactus Islands. After some kelping he continued on and we sailed across to Jones Island with a good sail down San Juan Channel back to Friday Harbor as the sun set.
