September 29, 2023 – As we left Friday Harbor we heard the humpback whale whom we’d sailed alongside in the morning, BCX0519 “Stitch”, was on a treadmill of the incoming flood current in Cattle Pass. So we set sail through Turn Island Pass and close to shore though the back eddies to Pear Point and Harbor Rock. We made good time and after passing the cormorant rookery of Goose Island and Cattle Point lighthouse we could see the blows as the whale travelled to Salmon Bank. We met the whale and sailed alongside South of the bank before curving toward Middle Bank. Seas became glassy for a while but after leaving and heading toward Whale Rocks winds picked up a little from the North. The Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks were busy in their boisterous ways frolicking in the waters and jousting on land. In through the pass by Deadman Island seeing a bald eagle and many resting harbor seals. We hugged the Lopez shoreline in the now ebbing current of todays full moon tides.
Route map 9/29/23 pm
Sailing wing on wing downwind
Sailing by Turn Island State Park
Sailing by Turn Island State Park
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island
Harbor seal resting on a rock with strong currents passing
Harbor seal resting and warming up in the sunshine
Brandts Cormorants at Goose Island
Double-crested cormorants on Goose Island
Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Cormorants on Salmon Bank Marker
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch” right side
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch” about to raise tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch”
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch” arching back before deep dive
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch” about to raise tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch” left side
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch” left side
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch”
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch”
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch” about to raise tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch” raising tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX0519 “Stitch” tail flukes
Steller Sea Lions at Whale Rocks
Steller Sea Lions at Whale Rocks
Steller Sea Lions at Whale Rocks
Steller Sea Lions at Whale Rocks
Steller Sea Lions and Brandts Cormorants at Whale Rocks
Steller Sea Lions leaping in the water near Whale Rocks
Steller Sea Lions leaping in the water near Whale Rocks
Steller Sea Lion taking in the sunshine
Steller Sea Lions checking us out
Steller Sea Lions leaping in the water near Whale Rocks
Bald eagle by Deadman Island
Harbor seals by Deadman Island
Harbor seals by Deadman Island in sunset light with Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Harbor seals by Deadman Island in sunset light
Great blue heron on Lopez Island by Deadman Island
Big Rock on Lopez Island coastline
Sunset sail in the San Juan Islands
Mt Baker in sunset light
Sunset sail in the San Juan Islands