August 12, 2026 – With a report of orcas to the south we headed south with hopes to encounter them. The adorable sea otter was hanging out at Turn Rock. We passed by Goose Island and saw the growing gull chicks, cormorants on their nesting sites and harbor seals hauled out on the beach. A Steller sea lion was snoozing on the Salmon Bank channel marker. We pushed on towards the bottom of Middle Bank where the orcas had been socializing and milling. The group consisted of the T19’s and the T46B’s (minus T46B1’s, T46B3’s and T46B6) and the T49A’s (minus T49A1 and T49A2). After circling for quite some time the group began traveling northeast towards the bottom of San Juan Island. Epic views as we sailed parallel to the whales toward South Beach. Here we broke away and headed to Whale Rocks to see the Steller sea lions and over Deadman Island where we found a newly fledged eaglet and two adults nearby. There were many harbor seals hauled out resting in the sunshine. We enjoyed some BBQ supper and birthday dessert as we sailed up San Juan Channel before returning back to Friday Harbor. 
Epic Sail with Orcas T19’s, T46B’s & T49A’s
- Short Sunset Sail with Orcas T19’s near Jones Island
- Biggs/Transient Orcas T46B’s near Fisherman’s Harbor at Sunset