August 31, 2026 – Where should we go today? North, south, east or west? Where are the whales? With an ebb current and good weather and a light northerly wind we sailed south through Turn Island Pass viewing the harbor seals and a glimpse of the sea otter at Turn Rock with a very large urchin. With a report of orcas at Hein Bank we picked up speed on the ebb passing Deadman Island with a good many harbor seals warming in the sun. What else did we see? Whale Rocks was alive with cavorting Steller sea lions. Passing over Salmon Bank and our passengers reported seeing a minke whale. With the orcas on the move we decided to press on to meet them. At first we saw the T36’s and then we continued south to see T137A. Two others, male orcas T49A2 and T65A3, had been there but changed course to the southeast. We sailed parallel to T137A (aka “Jack”) swimming fast towards False Bay. There he joined with the others (T36 and T36B’s) and continued up island in a social group. Spinning around we returned to Cattle Pass where we sailed on the fast flood current tacking to come into Goose Island. We’re now seeing double-crested cormorant chicks visible in their nests. Harbor seals and a great blue heron tucked into the bay. Fast flood current took us back north where we had another good look at the sea otter who was catching some Z’s. Great close hauled sail from Shaw Island back to Friday Harbor.
