Half day Sail North

August 18, 2018 – Half day Sail North on the flood. We sailed across San Juan Channel to Low island, Yellow and McConnell Islands. We tacked a couple of times to make headway against the wind in Spring Pass. Continued to sail North to White Rock Cormorant rookery before heading West to Ripple Island and into New Channel. Drifted on the currents between the Kelp forests of the Cactus islands and checked out the North side of Spieden Island. One unusual sighting today was a mother River Otter with 2 kids scurrying along the rocky shoreline. We headed out from Spieden to visit Flattop National Wildlife Refuge. The folds and layers in the geology of Flattop Island was lit today by diffuse light with a smoky haze in the air from the Nations Forest Fires. Many Harbor seals were hauled out in the cove on the East side. Returned passing Jones and Yellow islands. A great many Harbor Seals were hauled out on the West spit of Yellow island.