Great winds for sailing to see humpback whale MMZ0004 "Zephyr"

September 29, 2020 – Mount Baker clad with fresh snow was pin sharp in crystal clear skies as sailed out of Friday Harbor. North wind and main sail at first reef we made good time tacking our way up the channel against the wind. Close hauled and heeling we passed Yellow Island and came through Spring Pass. The wind increased as we sailed across the mouth of Presidents Channel easing out the sails for a fast beam reach towards Flattop Island National Wildlife Refuge.

We continued to push on as a humpback whale MMZ0004 ‘Zephyr’ who’d been southwest bound from Skipjack had now turned to face North. We were able top catch up and sail peacefully alongside as she surfaced and fluked traveling North above Waldron Island. We had good views with the sound of her blows. Zephyr is a female born 2011 and her mother is BCX1057 “Split Fluke’.

After we left the whale we headed towards Sandy Point with a fast sail into Waldron Island for a close pass wing on wing sail along the high cliffs of Point Disney. Changing to a beam reach a peaceful sail took us across Presidents Channel with views of the forests. Warm colors as the late afternoon sun lit the Wasp Islands. As the sun sank over San Juan Island the moon rose over Lopez close to full and colored like a ripe peach.