Circumnavigation sail of Orcas Island

June 28, 2018 – Today we departed Friday Harbor with two different island pick ups. First stop, Lopez Island. Downwind sailing via Upright Channel to Shaw to pick up our next group. We decided it would be fun to circumnavigate Orcas Island so we sailed out through Peavine Pass into Rosario Strait. Downwind again on a flood tide to Peapod Rocks where many harbor seals hauled out on the rocks and a couple eagles were being harassed by black oyster catchers. We rode the tide rip off Lawrence Point and we saw a great deal of harbor porpoise action. Continued sailing the flood to the Sister Islands and Barnes and Clark. Again many harbor seals including a new pup, and a black oyster catcher crossed our bow holding a limpit in his/her mouth. We continued sailing to Point Doughty where we saw a Peregrine falcon circling the skies while another ate some supper on the cliff top. Rounding Orcas Island into Presidents Channel we had our supper too. An eagles nest near Lovers Cove surprised us with a chick perched above the nest. All together we travelled approximately 50 nautical miles and we sailed most of it with the tide in our favor.