A sail to Danger Shoal to find Humpback whale MMX0007 "Bond"

September 15, 2019 – After rounding Point Caution we raised the headsail for a light wind sail across San Juan Channel. Tacking around Low Island and passing Yellow Island where we saw cormorants and harbor seals we stayed with the flood current and tacked again to come through Spring Pass sailing wing on wing whilst hugging the shoreline of Jones Island State Park.

As we approached Flattop Island we changed our plans to head East as we could see rain coming, and increased our speed on a beam reach as we saw the rain line close in on us but the torrential downpour overtook us. Being caught by the rain we reversed our decision to resume our previous plan and sailed the North side of Flattop National Wildlife Refuge and on to the Cactus Islands and the North side of Spieden Island through New Channel.

The heavy rain shower had passed and the seascape and shorelines were gorgeous. We drifted with wing on wing sailing slowly through New Channel admiring the forest and found bald eagles and a Peregrine falcon. As we entered Haro Strait we found the humpback whale MMX0007 “Bond” at Danger Shoal. We stayed with the whale a while while he/she circled the area.

With a headwind increasing our homebound journey took the shelter of New Channel and found about 5 Stellers sea lions in the water at Green Point. Crossing to the West side of Jones Island as there were rainbows over Orcas Island and sunset light began. We unfurled the headsail after coming through Nob Island Pass for a spectacular sunset sail back to Friday Harbor.