June 5, 2023 – On our afternoon sail a family of orcas known as the T49A’s who had come inter-island through Thatcher Pass but were going back out to Rosario Strait though Peavine Pass as we left the dock. They were hunting outside of Obstruction Island which tempted us to sail the Shaw coastline, which was beautiful, and attempt to catch up; however when the orcas started moving north we turned back north in San Juan Channel with the aim to meet the orcas at the top of Orcas Island.
We took President Channel and saw a helicopter collecting water for a forest fire. Many bald eagles dotted the coastline. Seas were a little lumpy with a north wind and we had a fast sail to Matia Island meeting the orcas as they crossed the chuck towards Sucia Island. With long dives we found the orcas had gone into Echo Bay, and at one point seemed to take interest in a hat that had blown off my head. Exciting to see them in the calm waters and against the honeycombed coastline. We left them to sail down one of the North Finger Island before returning on our sunset sail home.
Sailing wing on wing
Ferry in Wasp Pass with Mt Baker
Harbor seals on the rocks
Helicopter collecting water for fire
Helicopter collecting water for fire
Bald eagle
Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orcas T49A’s
Biggs/Transient orcas T49A’s
Biggs/Transient orcas T49A’s
Biggs/Transient orcas T49A’s near Sucia Island
Sucia Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T49A’s near Sucia Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T49A’s near Sucia Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T49A’s near Sucia Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T49A’s near Sucia Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T49A’s near Sucia Island
Sailing around Sucia Island
Sailing around Sucia Island
Interesting geology on Sucia Island
Bald eagle on Parker Reef
Bald eagle on Parker Reef with Mt Baker behind
Pt Doughty, Orcas Island
Bald eagle
Bald eagle
Bald eagle
Sailing towards the north coast of Orcas Island
North coast of Orcas Island and Turtleback Mountain
Historic Lime Kiln
Great blue heron in tree top
Sunset sail back to Friday Harbor
Sunset sail back to Friday Harbor
Bald eagle
Sunset sail back to Friday Harbor
Sunset sail back to Friday Harbor
Pacific Madrone tree in sunset light
Yellow Island in sunset light
Sunset sail back to Friday Harbor
Little McConnell Island with reflections
Island reflections
Nob Island with reflections
Sunset sail in the San Juan Islands
Black oystercatcher resting at the sunset
Madrone tree on Yellow Island in the sunset
Sunset sail in the San Juan Islands
Family sailing adventure
Sunset sail in the San Juan Islands
Sunset sail in the San Juan Islands
Sun going down over San Juan Island
Sun going down over San Juan Island
Sun going down over San Juan Island
Sun going down over San Juan Island
Route map 6/5/23 pm