Fun family full day sail

July 17, 2020 – A Lopez pick up for a fun family of sailors. We sailed north of the flood admiring the gorgeous view of the Shaw Island shoreline. Harbor seals warming and bald eagles on watch. Cutting inside of Low and Yellow Island to the shoreline of Jones Island sailing to Limestone Pt and Green Pt. On our arrival at Limestone Pt we heard the northbound Southern Resident J pod orcas flipped back south at Kellett Bluff so we continued a northerly course as we listened to reports of Biggs/Transient orcas near Blunden Island.

We drifted on the back eddies of New Channel which was at its best today with calm reflective waters and lots of wildlife. Kelp fronds stretched in the current served as a bed for harbor seals floating on top. Pigeon guillemots were carrying their catch. Bald eagles on every point and every roost with beautiful calls to each other. We drifted between the Cactus Islands and through Ripple Pass.

Following the Johns and Stuart Island coastline we could see whale watching boats on the Canadian side where the T37A’s and T65A’s had been milling in Camp Bay for around three hours. As we turned the point of Turn Pt and gazed upwards at Lovers Leap a report came in that the transient orcas were moving east so we doubled back at speed. However they moved rapidly at 9 knots on the flood without stopping and headed north towards Pt Roberts. So we changed course for a close-hauled sail to Flattop Island.

Our young passenger took the helm while his sister wanted to ride in the dinghy towed behind us. We sailed to Orcas Island to hug the coastline before tacking in good winds for fast sails down the channel back to Fishermans Bay.