Sailing with whales – T60s, T2B and T59 followed by the T37As and a Humpback whale BCX1358 “Frankenstein”

September 3, 2019 – By chance we found ourselves in the middle of the Deer Harbor Wooden Boat Rendezvous race. Leaving them as they rounded Jones Island we sailed into New Channel following the forested shoreline of Spieden Island. Today was our first sighting of the winter return of steller sea lions to Green point. We sailed the Stuart Island shoreline to Lovers Leap and Turn Point Lighthouse. Crossing into Canada we followed Moresby Island shoreline to Salt Spring and Russel Island.

We encountered Biggs/Transient orcas known as the T60’s with T2B and T59 outside of Fulford Harbor. It was exciting seeing the brand new (7th known) calf of T60, named T60G (first Biggs whale with a G designation) . As we arrived to where the orcas were, suddenly T60D and T60E began porpoising at speed together racing all around while the others disappeared. They were found engaged in hunting close to shore behind Russell Island. Eventually the brothers joined the group and we saw lots of social interaction. The orcas were doing inverted tail lobs, tail slaps, spy hops and half breaches.

The whale vocals picked up on our hydrophone were absolutely incredible. It was hard leaving this amazing group of orca, but they headed north while we headed east along the shoreline of Moresby Island. As we crossed towards Boundary Pass we heard news of a humpback nearing Turn Pt Lighthouse. We spotted the exhale of the whale and its large back in the distance beneath Mt Baker. We sailed along with the humpback for several surfacings. After obtaining a tail fluke photo we confirmed that the humpback was BCX1358 aka ‘Frankenstein’. The whale’s back is sort of sunken in and interesting and memorable so we recognized this whale as one we’d seen recently (Aug 12th while s/he was with Big Mama).

As we were watching this humpback whale we noticed another fin nearby – it was another pod of orca. The T37A’s (also with new calf born in 2019) were milling right in the path of the humpback whale. Both passed each other and on the next surfacing the humpback exhaled with a loud trumpet-like sound. And again, another loud trumpet sound as it quickly swam away from the orcas who by the way stayed milling in circles. Pretty interesting that they showed up out of the blue like that right in front of us and the humpback! It was a great encounter and fun to see little T37A4 whom we nicknamed ‘Crinkly fin’ (born 2015) – one of Barbara’s favorites. It was fantastic getting a look at T37A’s newest calf.

Ripple Pass and the Cactus Islands was a phenomenal place for supper on our return.

Route Map 9-3-19

by chance found ourselves in the middle of the Deer Harbor Wooden Boat Rendezvous race

S/V Peniel by chance found ourselves in the middle of the Deer Harbor Wooden Boat Rendezvous race

our first sighting of the winter return of steller sea lions to Green point

Lovers leap, Stuart Island

suddenly T60D and T60E began porpoising at speed together

suddenly T60D and T60E began porpoising at speed together

suddenly T60D and T60E began porpoising at speed together

suddenly T60D and T60E began porpoising at speed together

Biggs Orcas of the T60s hunting

Biggs Orca siblings T60C male with new calf T60G

Biggs Orca Spyhop

Biggs Orca Pec fin slap

Biggs Orca Mum and Calf, T60 with T60G

Inverted tail lob

Biggs Orca Breach

T60C Male Transient Orca

Transient Orca tail slap

Skies develop over Salt Spring Island

Humpback whale BCX1358 aka ‘Frankenstein’

Transient Orca T37A with her new calf T37A5

Humpback whale BCX1358 aka ‘Frankenstein’

Transient Orca T37As

Humpback whale BCX1358 aka ‘Frankenstein’

T37A4 nicknamed by us ‘Crinkly fin’

New calf T37A5

T37As

Whale watching sailing

Whale watching sailing

Black tailed deer Jones island at sunset

Sunset sailing

Sunset sailing

Sunset Yellow Island

Moonrise

Sailing into Friday Harbor at dusk