A sail with the T18's Biggs Orcas

September 8, 2020 – After setting sail we took the pass behind Turn Island down to Danger Rock to check out the harbor seals hauled out on the rocks. Cut down towards Shark Reef and tacked back towards Cape San Juan. Sailing across Cattle Pass we made our way over to Deadman Island to see what wildlife we could find. After passing many resting harbor seals we headed over to Whale Rocks to see the big steller sea lions.

We had been following earlier reports of orcas known as the T65B’s who had been southbound along the west side of San Juan Island. When they reached Cattle Point they made a sharp turn and continued to Hein Bank. At first they seemed out of range for us so we skirted Salmon Bank looking for minke whales. We later realized that the orcas had stopped near the Hein Bank marker and were just hanging out for the last hour. We decided to step on it with the hopes to see them. Unfortunately, as we got closer they decided to begin travel again at about 6 knots westbound in the opposite direction eventually crossing the border. We came about and decided to head back in towards Lopez Island.

Another report came in from the Ferry who spotted orcas near Thatcher Pass. A whale watch boat was in the area and found them southbound along the Lopez coastline. It turned out to be the T18’s and they were moving fast in our direction. We continued our course crossing over McAurthur Bank scanning for minkes, but instead found loads of diving birds. As we neared Colville Island we spotted the blows and tall fins of the two big males. The family of four orcas were traveling together at first but soon separated traveling parallel to each other as they moved westbound. After some nice looks we decided it was time to start making our way back to the barn.

We came back via Whale Rocks to see the sea lions again before following the Lopez coastline back up the channel. As we returned to Friday Harbor the islands were pastel colored and Mt Baker was turning pink from the sunset.