Around San Juan Island with J pod, T65As, Minke Whale, Rainbows and Stormy Skies

August 11, 2018 – Epic full day sail. We raised our sails passing the starting line of the Shaw Island Classic Sailboat race . Peniel has many trophies from winning this race in the 1960s to 1970s. We left the race to head through Turn Island Pass and quickly South to harbor Rock and Goose Island finding back eddies through the flood current in Cattle Pass. Skies had changed from picturesque to steely grey threatening rain Crossing the channel to whale rocks and seeing the daily increase this week in Steller Sea Lions now up to about 25 including at least one female and some young ones. We saw some boisterous play fighting between some big guys – these guys can weigh upwards of 2,000 lbs. Sailing the South side of Mummy Rocks we took shelter inside Long Island as rain fell. Two eaglets are now out of their nest and exercising their wings. We drifted in light quiet rain without disturbing resting seals around the shoreline of Long Island and on to Salmon Bank in search of Minke Whales. We found two here and one was feeding and traveling in the glassy currents as we sailed by. Skies broke through with blue over spectacular cloudscapes. We sailed North on the flood meeting J pod whales who’d flipped at Open Bay and were now traveling and foraging their way South against the flood. We saw J 17s filing by close to shore followed by the J16s, also filing by the many people watching from shore at Lime Kiln Point Lighthouse. Offshore some of the J11s passed by with J38. With wind and flood current in our favor we moved out across the Canadian border to Kelp Reef where we met the J14s foraging against the current. Dramatic skies as we continued North to sail North to Speiden Island South side. With binoculars we could see birds riding and possibly foraging on the backs of the Fallow deer. After supper we caught some wind for close hauled sailing under a rainbow. From Jones Island down sunset constantly changed its beauty and after viewing over Yellow Island we picked up speed on the ebb passing Shaw Island down to Lopez. As night fell we caught a faint glimpse of T65A Transient Orcas. They followed the shoreline to Flat Point and rounded the corner looking to be hunting. In darkness of night we drifted listening to their blows and a few calls on the hydrophone. They logged at the surface for some time. T65A has a raspy breath sound on exhale. It was magical and very special to sit and listen to them.