Sailing north to New Channel and Flattop Island

July 10, 2026 – With good winds for fast sailing and a flooding current we sailed North in San Juan Channel. We payed for a bald eagle scavenging near the shoreline outside the harbor on what’s later reported to be a black fox. New Channel was busy with bald eagle activity, belted kingfishers, pigeon guillemots, Black Oyster catchers, peregrine falcon, mouflon sheep and more. Scanned the windswept Haro Strait for whales and jibed to wing on wing and broad reach through Johns Pass to scan Boundary Pass. No whales sighted so we continued around Johns Island to come through Ripple Island pass and Cactus Island pass with more views of harbor seals, black oyster catcher and eagle. Sailed over the Flattop and enjoyed the chorus of high pitched whistles from The pigeon guillemots who are now gathered to nest here. After passing the harbor seal haul out we rounded Flattop National Wildlife Refuge for a view of an eaglet in the nest with an adult making nest renovations. Fast close hauled sail South with a tack over to the Wasp Islands with Black Oyster catchers and Harlaquin ducks. Good sailing today with interesting gusty winds.