Sailing with Transient Orcas, Mandarte island

July 23, 2018 – We sailed north after receiving reports of transients heading towards Sidney, BC in Haro Strait. Cut close to drift the northern shoreline of Spieden Island and on to the south side of Stuart Island. Lovers Leap and Turn Point Lighthouse in summer sunshine with blue skies. We cut down through Brethour and Reay Islands with their Canadian harbor seal inhabitants. We met the transient orcas, T99’s, in the group of islands below Coal Island near Sidney. As they were traveling north we let them pass and sailed south on a report of orcas near Halibut Island. We met the T34’s, T37, and T37B’s at Mandarte Island very slow resting travel. After slowly sailing alongside we broke off to visit the sea bird inhabitants of Mandarte Island. Pelagic, double crested, and Brandt’s cormorants attended their nests. The island was a busy Metropolis of sea birds. We sailed across Haro Strait to the south side of Spieden Island for our supper and returned home with sunset at the islands of Wasp Passage.