August 26, 2026 – Sailing across to the Wasp Islands we saw a good many seals hauled out on the low tide at Shirt Tail Reef and Yellow Island. With news of a humpback whale on the west side of San Juan island we crossed to Limestone Point and over to the south side of Spieden Island. Lovely wing on wing sailing against the flood current along the shoreline. We began to go south at Sentinel Island, however heard that the humpback was still off the westside Preserve on the west side of San Juan Island, so we changed course for New Channel. However, we then heard a second humpback whale was heading north quickly in Haro Strait. With second reef on the main sail we caught the back eddy along the side of Henry Island meeting the humpback, BCX1700 “Notcho” at Kellett Bluff. Some good views as the humpback showed its tail flukes. We left the humpback northwest of Battleship Island. Coming about in the strong wind and flood current we had distant views of Southern Resident Killer Whales of J pod and K pod who were northbound towards Stuart Island. We sailed parallel beyond the legal limit of 1/2 mile. We continued our sail to come back into New Channel to have a lovely drift sail in the calm waters before a close reach to Jones Island and back down San Juan Channel.
