Wildlife safari in the San Juan Islands

October 19, 2020 – First reef in the main today as we had moderate winds leaving Friday Harbor. Winds carried us through between Little McConnell and Coon Island where a counter current helped sail against the ebb to continue North between the Wasp Islands and Deer Harbor, Orcas Island. Taking Spring Pass and passing Jones Island State Park we saw harbor seals and a bald eagle. Sailing on to Flattop and we switched to wing on wing to slowly cruise the Flattop shoreline against the ebb seeing many harbor seals in large groups hauled out warming and resting on the honeycombed sandstone. Curling around to the North side of Flattop we drifted passed more harbor seals.

We left the lee of Flattop to sail to Ripple Island where a bald eagle roosted on the sign. Coming between the Cactus Islands into New Channel and we were surprised to find about 50 harbor seals all swimming together slowly up the channel. That was a first for us and was spectacular with their swim trail in the glassy calm emerald reflective waters. They were joined by two bald eagles and a steller sea lion. Progressing down New Channel to Green Point and today there were seven steller sea lions waiting for the tide to fall. We had a fun fast sail back to Friday Harbor.