A mystical sail with fog, sunshine and a humpback BCX1057 aka ‘Divot’

September 16, 2019 – South on the ebb to cut through Turn Island Pass. Six raccoons foraging knee deep at the tide line while the harbor seals snoozed and a bald eagle watched. We had some light air sailing to tack down into Cattle Pass. Deadman Island was enshrouded in sea fog and sailing close to shore we saw black oystercatchers foraging, resting harbor seals and a great blue heron. Continuing out to Whale Rocks we could hear and just about make out the steller sea lions.

The fog was so thick that we chose a route close to shore following the outline of Long Island, Mummy Rocks, Charles Island Pass towards Iceberg Pt. From Swirl Rocks we broke through the band of fog to blue skies and the dramatic coastline of southern Lopez. Rounding Castle Rock the fog was burning off so we headed out to sea to MacArthur Bank and back to Salmon Bank looking for orcas, minke whales and humpbacks.

Glassy seas and mysterious light reflecting the wide mixture of atmospheric conditions gave way to a rainbow. We shut down for supper drifting over Salmon Bank surrounded by diving birds with a rare white winged scoter. We listened for blows. As we headed home through Cattle Pass we met a humpback whale who was pushing against the end of the flood current heading south. We turned around to parallel the whale getting some beautiful views against the sunset panorama. In comparing the fluke photograph to the catalogue we figured out that it was BCX1057 aka ‘Divot’.