Orcas T90's and T49A2 pass Friday Harbor

April 18, 2021 – We cut through the pass inside Turn Island State Park and as the view to the Olympic Mountains opened up so did a fresh Southerly wind. With sails close hauled sailing was fast and peaceful. We made it down to Harbor Rock in two tacks against the wind with ebb current in our favor. Just as we made a third tack to come into Cattle Pass we received a report of Biggs orcas close by off Salmon Bank. We made quick time towards them passing Goose Island cormorant rockery and Cattle Point Lighthouse.

We met the orcas, the T90’s and T49A2, as they came towards the pass from Salmon Bank. They passed by with Mount Baker in the background. We took some time to visit the Stellers sea lion haul out of Whale Rocks before re-entering Cattle Pass by way of Deadman Island. At Sharks Reef we rejoined the orcas and travelled parallel as they made quick travels to the North. At one point they stepped inside Friday Harbor before following very close the shoreline towards Point Caution. At this point they engaged in a hunt with breaches and spyhops while the coastline gave us a view of their backlit blows. A spectacular day.