Sailing with Biggs orcas T36’s in Rosario

July 11, 2020 – We left Friday Harbor with sails sheeted in tight and a plan to sail South as J pod of the Southern Resident Orcas were on the West side. However on picking up a report of Biggs Orcas coming through Peavine Pass we let the sheets out for a beam reach to Shaw Island and Upright Channel. Wing on wing sailing to Canoe Island and drifting through the beautiful narrow to Picnic Point. Hearing the Biggs had turned South we fired up the main for motor sailing to Upright Point, a fast sail to the East side of Blakely and a push through Thatcher Pass.

On entering Rosario Strait we found the Biggs had turned North again and we met the T36s (which includes the 3 generations of mother T36 daughter T36B and her offspring) as they crossed the Strait to Strawberry Island. We sailed parallel with some beautiful views as they traveled South on the Cypress Island shoreline.

The family group passed through the middle of a line of trolling sports fishermen and when an extremely loud tug pulling a large barge passed they crossed by under and over the towline. They then circled to go back through the trolling fishermen and engaged in hunting a harbor seal a mile or two Northwest of the Anacortes ferry terminal.

Our homeward course took us along the old growth forest to the East side of Blakely Island with some great views of bald eagles. Light misty rain didn’t dampen the spirit as our passenger took the helm to navigate to Upright Head, Flat Point and ride the flood tide back into Friday Harbor.