May 4, 2023 – Heading south picking back eddies against the current and picking up some strong wind in Griffin Bay. We met the T65A’s (minus T65A5) nearing Cattle Pass, and the seas were building in the full moon max flood. Without any troubles from the swell height and the strong currents the orcas dashed around from one side of the channel to the next and back again. At one point they went porpoising through crashing waves. After passing Cattle Point Lighthouse the orcas headed up the west side of San Juan Island.
We came about and as we sailed through Cattle Pass we were excited to find two tufted puffins in the trough of the waves before having a fast sail all the way home.
Harbor seals hauled out
Harlequin ducks with harbor seal photo bomb
Canada goose
T65A
T65A2
T65A2
T65A4
T65A6 exiting Cattle Pass
T65A exiting Cattle Pass
T65A’s exiting Cattle Pass – lots of gulls foraging
Sea state in Cattle Pass
T65A’s exiting Cattle Pass against the flood
T65A2 porpoising
T65A2 porpoising
T65A’s riding the waves
T65A’s riding the waves
T65A’s riding the waves
T65A’s with Cattle Pt Lighthouse
T65A’s pushing offshore south of Cattle Pt
T65A’s pushing offshore south of Cattle Pt
T65A2 pushing offshore south of Cattle Pt
Tufted puffin in Cattle Pass
Tufted puffins in Cattle Pass
Tufted puffins in Cattle Pass
Tufted puffin in Cattle Pass
Tufted puffin behind the wave in Cattle Pass
Tufted puffin behind the wave in Cattle Pass
Route map 5/4/23 pm