San Juan Islands Sunset sail

June 13, 2019 – Following todays reports on the Orca whales we knew that T49As had been heading South since the morning report of them in Active Pass. Other whales included the T65Bs, T123s and T137s who had been slow South bound with social milling since the morning report of them at Lummi Island.

As we left the harbor the larger group of Biggs Orcas were Southbound in Rosario away from us while the T49As were at East Pt heading towards Skipjack and our way. So with the main sail at first reef point and a reefed headsail for the strong winds today we sailed North at speed wing on wing and then an exciting fast beam reach. White caps with a following sea and sun light sparkled all around us as the spray hit the air.

While sailing fast it was comfortable and our passengers enjoyed their spread of foods on the forward deck.The T49A’s had come down to Sandy Point, Waldron Island, but are now heading West so we kept up speed hoping for a glimpse of them. And today a glimpse is all we had. Their blows were nicely backlit in the choppy waters and the seas were building as we neared Turn Point with the opening to Haro Strait to the South.

We decided to turn as the seas were picking up and head for a more sheltered fast sail along the Stuart and Johns coastline. We came in through Ripple Pass to the beauty of the waters around the Cactus Islands. The kelp beds now span a large area and were gorgeous in the sunset light. Distant calls of bald eagles as we enjoyed the change to tranquil drifting on the forested North side of Spieden Island.

On our fast sail home we came inside of Reef Island and a slower sail out between Shirt Tail reef and Yellow Islands to enjoy tonights stellar sunset.