July 6, 2026 – Ebb tides and some fair winds we sailed south through Turn Island Pass and tacked our way down to Cattle Pass. After passing Goose Island cormorant colony and seeing the newly hatched gull chicks we sailed over to Whale Rocks. Circling the Steller sea lion haul out we caught the current to Long Island out to Iceberg Pt. We then explored the coastline of south Lopez Island with its spectacular cliffs, eagle’s nests and myriad of islets to circle Castle Island. We heard of orcas, T46B1’s (T46B1, T46B1A, T46B1C and T46B1D) and T46C2, near Smith Island but that seemed a long way so we continued back towards Swirl Rock. At that point the orca behaviour and direction justified heading south. We met the orcas halfway to Smith Island and while they appeared to be hunting they were actually involved in rough housing play with the youngest calf, T46B1D, born 2025. This included lifting, rolling, and tossing the calf into the air between family members. This energetic play helps develop skills they’ll need for hunting as well as strength agility and control and social bonding within the family. We saw the calf swim as speed to the north but was quickly caught up by the adults who resumed the rough housing. We did not hear any calls on our hydrophone. As they continued to the northeast and we continued northwest catching the flood tide for a fast run home. 
Orcas T46B1’s and T46C2 rough housing with T46B1D
- Orcas T100’s southbound San Juan Channel to Cattle Pass
- Short sunset sail Turn Island to Shaw Island