July 30, 2023 – Today was a spectacular full day sail. Every trip is epic and full of special moments. We left the dock and headed north on account of some Biggs/Transient orcas known as the T34’s and T37’s northbound in Rosario Strait. We moved quickly, but stopped to sail through the Wasp Islands to check out the wildlife including harbor seals on the rocks. Continuing up President Channel we made our way along the coast of Orcas Island around Point Doughty and over to the top of Matia Island. The orcas were hunting and milling with lots of tail slaps and pectoral flipper slaps. The orcas continued towards Clements Reef where a lone Steller sea lion was hauled out and maybe a hundred or more harbor seals rested. The orcas were still hungry and circled the reef a bunch of times. At one point the Steller jumped into the water, but quickly climbed back onto the reef. He growled at the orcas as they swam by. The sheer number of harbor seals on the reef was incredible to see especially when they stampeded up the rock to get to higher ground as the orcas came closer. Unfortunately for some they didn’t survive the encounter. When the orcas appeared to move on we did the same cutting through the narrow pass above Ewing Island and cutting through some of the fingers of Sucia Island. We had a great sail back to Pt Doughty where we found a black oystercatcher with a young chick – so cute! We made our way back down the Orcas Island coast with warm, afternoon light spotting bald eagles and a hawk circling above us. Another fast sail across the channel to Pt Caution before returning to Friday Harbor.
Harbor seals hauled out
Historic Lime Kiln on Orcas Island
North coast of Orcas Island by Turtleback Mountain
Sailing by the South side of Sucia Island
Biggs/Transient orca T37
Biggs/Transient orca spy peep
Biggs/Transient orca inverted tail lobs
Biggs/Transient orca tail slap
Biggs/Transient orcas T37B with T37B3
Matia Island
Biggs/Transient orcas hunting by Matia Island
Biggs/Transient orca doing pectoral flipper slaps
Matia Island
Biggs/Transient orca headstand
Biggs/Transient orca tail slap
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s headed towards Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s headed towards Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s headed towards Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s headed towards Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orca T37 headed towards Clements Reef
Steller sea lion sitting on Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas swim by Steller sea lion sitting on Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas hunting harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas hunting harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas hunting harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas hunting harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas hunting harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas hunting harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas hunting harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orca T37B1 hunting harbor seals at Clements Reef
Steller sea lion growling at Biggs/Transient orcas as they swim by
Orca tail in the air
Biggs/Transient orcas swim by Steller sea lion sitting on Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orca grabbing a harbor seal
Biggs/Transient orca surfacing with Steller sea lion at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orca T37B1
Biggs/Transient orca grabbing a harbor seal
Biggs/Transient orca grabbing a harbor seal
Biggs/Transient orcas hunting harbor seals by Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orca with harbor seal surfacing beside her
Biggs/Transient orca tail in the air as they hunt harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orca tail in the air as they hunt harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s hunt harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s hunt harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s hunt harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orca tail in the air as they hunt harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orca tail in the air as they hunt harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s hunt harbor seals at Clements Reef
Line of harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s prowling for harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s hunt harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s hunt harbor seals at Clements Reef
Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s hunt harbor seals at Clements Reef
Line of harbor seals stampede up Clements Reef after orcas pass
Bi-plane flying overhead
Cutting through the gap above Ewing Island
Harbor seals with pups on North Finger Island by Sucia Island
Harbor seals with pups on North Finger Island by Sucia Island
Harbor seals with pups on North Finger Island by Sucia Island
Harbor seals with pups on North Finger Island by Sucia Island
Harbor seals with pups on North Finger Island by Sucia Island
Sailing through the Fingers of Sucia Island
Family sailing adventure of a lifetime
Pt Doughty, Orcas Island
Black oystercatcher with chick at Pt Doughty, Orcas Island
Black oystercatcher with chick at Pt Doughty, Orcas Island
North coast of Orcas Island in President Channel
North coast of Orcas Island in President Channel
Bald eagle in Pacific Madrone tree on Orcas Island
Hawk flying overhead
Hawk flying overhead
View looking west from President Channel
View looking west from President Channel
Route map 7/30/23