Epic sail with Resident Orcas (L's and some K's) and 2 Humpbacks

July 24, 2020 – Epic is the term we use to describe days like today. It started out like many others, rolling the dice to sail North on the whim that with L pod sighted 200 miles to the North 2 days ago they could be crossing the border from Canada today if they’d kept up an average speed of 5 knots. And the sail North was spectacular with a black tailed deer watching us leave the harbor, harbor seals with their pups and bald eagles living their lives in pristine wilderness of the wildlife refuge islands.

After hearing of a humpback whale headed North in Haro we came through Ripple Pass to the Cactus Islands drifting on a strong ebb passed the swirling fronds of the kelp forests. The current took as along the forested shoreline of the North side of Spieden where Mouflon sheep were grazing the low tide seaweed line. Black oystercatchers also grazed the low tide line with a new chick on Sentinel Rock. Picking up speed over Center Reef and Danger Shoal we met the Humpback BCX0870 ’Scoop’ as she continued a path to Turn Point. We sailed wing on wing alongside listening to her deep blows and seeing her stately surfacing showing her massive tail fluke before her deep dives.

We left ’Scoop’ to sail the Stuart Island coastline up to Lovers Leap cliff face and Turn Point Lighthouse. Rounding the corner into Boundary Pass we found the bald eagle chick has wandered a few feet from its nest. As we sailed North of Stuart we picked up a tip that Orcas had cleared Sandy Point Waldron heading towards us.

A few miles later and we met L72 and L105 with others close behind. Vocals were clear on the hydrophone. 19 members of L pod including Onyx who’s now back to traveling with his own pod and 3 members of K pod. There were some breaches and tail slaps and playful behaviour as they travelled towards Stuart Island.

We left them to continue our sail North of Stuart and Johns Island passing the view through New Channel to the West and riding the flood tide out to the South side of Flattop National Wildlife Refuge. We made good time around Jones Island to the Wasp Islands and were sailing across the channel to Friday Harbor from Shaw Island when we picked up a report of another humpback whale Southbound in San Juan Channel. After drift sailing towards Point Caution we met MMZ0004 ‘Zephyr’. Her blows and surfacing in the calm waters of the San Juan shoreline were magical. We were able to sail parallel leaving her swimming against a strong flood and barely moving at Reid Rock, right outside of Friday Harbor.