T123 Orca family visits Friday Harbor

June 12th 2019 – We left Friday Harbor earlier than planned, raising sails in the harbor to heel and point into wind into San Juan Channel. Tacking and reducing sail to main sail only we slowed down to parallel the T123 family of Biggs Orcas as they came around Point Caution.

The Orcas came in close to the entrance to the port of Friday Harbor and then entered the Harbor at the South side toward Shipyard Cove. When they came back out they were engaged in hunting and sharing a meal, probably harbor seal. We left them at Turn Island to take the pass inside the island where Harbor seals were basking in sunshine with the backdrop of the Olympic mountain range.

Passing Pear Point we sailed South and met the Orcas who were again engaged in a hunt and meal sharing. We sailed South passing an eagle overlooking Shark Reef then tacking out to pass the cormrant rookery of Goose island. Passing Cattle Point Lighthouse we tacked again to pass the Steller sea lions of Whale Rocks and then on out to Salmon Bank.

Bait balls marked by gulls and Rhinoceros Auklets in feeding frenzy were also being dined upon by a Minke whale, possibly two. It was fun to see these whale again, the first time for us this year. Our return trip included a visit to Dead Mans Island where Harbor seals were warming and resting before following the Lopez forested shorline overlooked by Bald Eagles up to Big Rock glacial erratic.