A sail with orcas T18's around Southeast side of Lopez

August 22, 2020 – This morning we heard that the T18’s Biggs Orcas were hunting at Smith Island. Raised sails outside Friday Harbor for a close hauled fast sail on the ebb around Turn Island. In close to shore passing the harbor seals on Danger Rock and tacking across to Big Rock glacial erratic on Lopez. A Bald Eagle perched on Deadman Island watched everything the current took through Cattle Pass including us. The current took us out to Whale Rocks where Steller’s sea lions played rough and a brown pelican was hanging out. We sailed around the rocks and the current took us to Long Island.

The T18’s were Northbound towards us as we came around Iceberg Point and they took a right to come inside Swirl Rock. We came in through Aleck Rocks to see a spyhop as they cruised the beautiful Lopez shoreline and cut inside the dramatic Castle Rock. With nice views against the shoreline of Watmough Head they continued North in to Rosario Strait. Traveling continued until they cut through James island circling the island close to shore presumably hunting harbor seals. They circled Pointer Island at speed inches from the shore-line and harbor seals were panicked either scurrying up the rocks or making bad decisions by jumping in the water. The Eastern side of Blakely Island and the Orcas blows were backlit against the wonderful old growth forest.

We left the Orcas to return by way of Peavine Pass and cruised the shoreline of Upright Head with its eagles nest and bald eagle roosted high on a spire watching the world drift by. We found a family of river otters swimming and eating and playing on the shore. The wind and current were in our favor again as we passed Flat Point for a beautiful sail back to Friday Harbor.