July 8, 2026 – Before we left a humpback whale (BCX2473 Kiarra Kelly) had passed Friday Harbor traveling quickly south towards Cattle Pass. Feeling this humpback was out of range we headed north to the Wasp Islands. A bald eagle was in the nest on Cliff Island, black oystercatchers were keeping guard of 3 chicks on Low Island along with a great blue heron. We then heard that the humpback whale had turned at Cattle Pass and was heading north. We explored the area for awhile wondering if the whale would take Upright Channel or San Juan Channel north. In actual fact the humpback came inside Canoe Island taking the very narrow channel into Upright Channel. We were headed down Wasp Passage to Cayou Channel. The humpback was moving fast and we met at Blakely Shoal. Sailing alongside we watched as it passed the shoreline of Obstruction Island very close to shore taking Obstruction Pass into Rosario Strait. We left as it continued north at speed for a close-hauled sail back through Peavine Pass. The wind was brisk giving us a fun sail all the way home. 
Humpback Whale BCX2473 ‘Kiarra Kelly’ inter-island
- Orcas T49A’s by Lummi and T77C and T77E by Low Island
- Sailing north to New Channel and Flattop Island