Sailing passed Friday Harbor with Biggs Orcas T68C's and T75B's

November 23, 2020 – Our passengers arrived today with news of seeing Orcas from the ferry 20 minutes prior. I shared the news on our radio and we quickly left Friday Harbor raising sails and catching the back eddy to Turn Island. Meeting the flood tide we crossed to Shaw Island and waited. Coming down Upright Channel we met 7 whales: the T68Cs ( 4 whales – T68C born 1992 and her 3 offspring T68C1, T68C3 and T68C4 of 13, 8, and 4 years of age) and T75Bs ( 3 whales – T75B born 1995 and her 2 juveniles T75B2 and T75B3 of 5 and 3 years of age). We were able to drift nearby as they were engaged in a hunt, probably a harbor seal, and there was much excitement in the group with breaches and tails in the air.

Continuing North West they passed the entrance to Friday Harbor and hugged the shoreline of the University property towards Point Caution. Suddenly the mood changed and they charged towards us in a line. A Steller Sea Line surfaced next to our boat and began high speed swimming to and fro the length of the hull. Whales breached and lunged inches from the bow as we drifted on the calm waters. They appeared to be hunting 2 Steller sea lions and appeared to be successful with at least one of them.

After sharing their meal they came close to shore and headed North inches from the shoreline beneath the watching university students. Again they appeared to be having fun with pec slaps and tails in the air. Passing Point Caution we crossed the channel and found a bald eagle roosting on the sign on Low Island. The sun had set and temperatures were dropping as we sailed into Friday Harbor at dusk.