September 14, 2019 – Winds were perfect for sailing swiftly moving us along out of Cattle Pass to meet a humpback whale MMX0006 aka “Double Drop” and back to Friday Harbor at speeds exceeding 11knots.
It was fun spotting our family of raccoons on the beach – its been awhile since we’ve seen them. The harbor seals were hauled out by Turn Island and a bald eagle was perched above in the tree top. Steller sea lions were large and in charge at Whale Rocks where they growled at each other jockeying for a good position on the rocks. Others were playfully rolling around in the water near the bull kelp beds.
The tide was in our favor to ride the ebb out and meet the humpback whale off Iceberg Pt. Just as we arrived he began cartwheeling and tail slapping. We weren’t keeping track but the captain in the boat beside us said he counted 40 tail slaps and he wasn’t done yet. It was incredible watching this massive whale throwing its body around. The Olympic Mountains in the distance were beautiful. This is an encounter we won’t soon forget!
Route Map 9-14-19
Raccoons on the beach
Raccoons on the beach
Gull calling
Bald eagle, harbor seals and Olympic Mountains
Gulls playing games with kelp
Gulls playing games with driftwood
Fast close hauled sail
Fast close hauled sail most of the way to Cattle Pass
Goose Island and Cattle Pt Light
Best adventure in the San Juans 🙂
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Gigantic steller sea lion
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Does someone look out of place?
Humpback whale lunge feeding
Humpback whale cartwheel
Humpback MMX0006 tail lobbing (over 40x)
Humpback MMX0006 tail lobbing
Humpback MMX0006 tail lobbing
Humpback MMX0006 tail lobbing
Humpback whale sex ID photo – will send to experts
Humpback whale cartwheel
Humpback tail inverted tail slap
Humpback tail inverted tail slap
Humpback tail inverted tail slap
Humpback whale tail
Humpback whale MMX0006
Humpback whale MMX0006
Humpback whale tail slap
Humpback whale tail slap
Humpback whale tail slap
Humpback with Olympic Mountains
Humpback whale tail with Olympic Mountains
Black oystercatchers
Steller sea lion and Olympic Mtns
Riding the current in through Cattle Pass
Sailing in the San Juans