Sailing around Orcas Island

July 29, 2020 – We picked up our passengers from Orcas Island today and planned a route to circumnavigate Orcas. The Shaw Island coastline has some wonderful forest where we found and heard eagles engaged in eating. From there we sailed to Upright Head on Lopez ands saw eagles again. The framed view of Mount Baker with Cypress Island floating on sea mist through Peavine Pass continued to open up until we stepped into the picture.

Flood tide carried us with a wing on wing sail to Peapod Rocks. Into the coastal beaches leading to Lawrence Point and wrapped around to the steep cliffs where we were surprised at the number of pigeon gulliemots with their high pitched whistles flying to their nest sites. An eagle came towards us with outstretched talons giving us a scare before flying to roost in a tall old growth Douglas Fir. Perhaps he was protecting a chick we could hear calling.

Out to The Sisters to drift through harbor seal heaven and pass Barnes and Clark with a great blue heron, eagles, black oystercatcher and pigeon guillemots. The magic continued as we drifted passed Puffin Island and skirted the North side of Matia Island passing into Rolfe Cove. We took the Northeast side of Sucia Island to come around the island and through the pass of Little Sucia.

And then a beam reach sail took us to Point Doughty to come back to the forested shoreline of Orcas Island. Lovers Cove where the forest shines with shades of green in the late afternoon light. So many beautiful views today circumnavigating Orcas Island.