Sail to the South in October

October 17, 2020 – A rather grey October day with black clouds to the North and a silver lining to the South. We went for the silver lining. Winds were stronger than predicted and we had a good sail out of the gate to Turn Island and then drifted through a magical looking Turn Island Pass.

Passing the harbor seals on the rocks of Reef Point we picked up wind for a fast close hauled sail straight down to Cattle Pass. Pulling in the head sail at Deadman Island we quietly passed the resting harbor seals. Some gull action brought our attention to a Steller sea lion who as in the process of devouring a large salmon. Whale Rocks was busy with Steller sea lions and cormorants with the Olympic Mountains rising on the horizon.

After coming around Long Island we made haste for Middle Bank where there was a report of two minke whales. A fast sail in chunky seas was fun and we caught a brief glimpse of Dall’s porpoise but the minke whales disappeared just before our arrival. We returned to Cattle Point Lighthouse and Goose Island catching the flood tide North. We took Upright Channel and the Shaw Island coastline to drop two passengers at Orcas Island. Circumnavigating Shaw Island we arrived back in Friday Harbor at twilight.