A day of Changing conditions with a glimpse of J11's and two Humpback Whales BCY0160 "Heather" and BCY0458 "Raptor"

September 26, 2019

With news of Orcas heading North in Rosario Strait we headed North quick on the flood through Spring Pass and the shoreline of Orcas Island up Presidents Channel. Conditions were beautiful as we crossed to Sucia and we unfurled the headsail on light air.

Today was to be full of changing conditions and as we rounded Sucia to Clements reef we met steep swells of 3-4 feet. Steller Sea Lions were on the reef and we spotted the blow of a humpback whale. Southern Resident Orcas were traveling North at speed and we pushed North for a while catching a few glimpses of the large fin of a male, perhaps J27 .

The rolling swell increased so we changed course and headed towards Patos. Two Humpbacks, we ID’d as BCY0160 ‘Heather” and BCY0458 “Raptor”, circled together where the current pushes out between Patos and Sucia. Sailing against the current we passed the honeycombed Sandstone cliffs North of Sucia.

We cut through the pass of Little Sucia which opened into a seascape that was calm as a mirror. Beautiful crossing to Skipjack National Wildlife Refuge with many dozens of Pacific Lunes. We met wind on the nose as we rounded Sandy Point. We had supper in the shelter of the cliffs of Point Disney where many hundreds of Common Murres, White Winged and Surf Scoters and lots of Lunes were crowding the waters. A golden sunset seemed to come early as we passed Yellow Island before a twilight sail across the channel into Friday Harbor.