October 6, 2026 – We left Friday Harbor with a one hour old report of orcas seen from the ferry at the Lopez dock who looked to be heading into Upright Channel. Although boats had been through Upright Channel the orcas had not been found, and conditions were complicated by heavy fog persisting into the afternoon. We took a chance and headed down to Turn Island scanning into a clear area toward Flat Point. As luck would have it a distant faint orca fin briefly appeared through the binoculars. Heading across the channel and we met the T46B family of 9 orcas. After an exciting first pass we sailed parallel to two groups along Shaw Island, crossing towards Friday Harbor and then spread in a line that disappeared into thick fog they travelled North west up San Juan channel quite quickly close 5 knots. At Mineral Point they grouped up and then reversed course. This time they travelled slowly sometimes 2 knots and stayed close together as a tight group. Hearing their blows across the calm misty waters with surreal views. A light wind as we came back to Point Caution and leaving them close to Friday Harbor we raised sails to sail across the channel. Fog became thick again but we could make out the Islets of the Wasp Islands and make out the shapes of harbour seals, a great blue heron and an eagle. As we approached Jones Island blue skies opened above us and the fog slowly started to burn away in patches. Checking out Green point and no Steller sea lions here today. Drifting into New Channel for dinner before crossing toward Flattop Island seeing many large noisy large groups of birds squabbling over bait balls of probably herring. The sail South was quite lovely with the sun arriving for the golden hour along the coastline. One very large egg yolk jelly and a Parasitic jaeger in aerial combat with Bonaparte gull. Surreal sunset and the last of the sunlight was on Mount Baker which rose above ribbons of sea mist.
