June 7, 2024 – Today was our longest sail to date of 49 miles. Our 8 year old passenger was wearing a custom made humpback t-shirt and had an ambition of seeing humpback whales so that was our mission. After leaving Friday Harbor we had a nice sail across the channel passing a bald eagle on Reid Rock continuing around Turn Island spotting raccoons and harbor seals. At Whale Rocks we enjoyed watching the Steller sea lions and saw black oystercatchers and great blue herons flying by. A bald eagle stood on the rock, too. A minke whale was reported only a mile away so we branched out to Salmon Bank, but it was heading away from us at 5 knots. With news of a pair of humpback whales northbound south of Deception Pass we realised we didn’t have time to include both, so we resumed course to the humpbacks.
We hugged the spectacular Lopez coastline enjoying mountain views as we went. We caught up with humpback whales at the bottom of Cypress Island. We sailed with them through Bellingham Channel. One has been identified as “Fukuro” CRC-20877 (born to BCY0885 in 2021) and the other was possibly “Poseidon” BCX2078. In Bellingham Channel winds picked up and we reefed the sails and had some great sailing. Crossed the top of Cypress Island admiring Eagle Cliff and cut across to Peavine Pass. Winds picked up again passing East Sound again giving us a great sail and again from the bottom of Shaw Island back to Friday Harbor. A successful day with mission complete.
Route map 6/7/24
Bald eagle on Reid Rock channel marker
Bald eagle on Reid Rock channel marker
Raccoons on Turn Island
Harbor seals on the rocks by Turn Island
Cormorants in the water
Bald eagle, San Juan Islands
Juvenile bald eagle soaring, San Juan Islands
Purple ochre sea star by Deadman Island
Steller sea lions by Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lions with Mt Baker
Steller sea lions by Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Black oystercatchers
Five Great Blue Herons in flight
Large male Steller sea lions by Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Bald eagle on Whale Rocks
Sailing along the south Lopez Island coastline
Sailing along the south Lopez Island coastline towards Castle Rock
Sailboat with Mt Baker
Pair of humpback whales in Rosario Strait
Possibly Humpback whale “Poseidon” BCX2078
Possibly Humpback whale “Poseidon” BCX2078
Humpback whale “Fukuro” CRC-20877
Humpback whale “Fukuro” CRC-20877
Humpback whale “Fukuro” CRC-20877
Possibly Humpback whale “Poseidon” BCX2078
Possibly Humpback whale “Poseidon” BCX2078
Humpback whale “Fukuro” CRC-20877
Humpback whale “Fukuro” CRC-20877
Humpback whale “Fukuro” CRC-20877
Possibly Humpback whale “Poseidon” BCX2078
Possibly Humpback whale “Poseidon” BCX2078
Possibly Humpback whale “Poseidon” BCX2078
Humpback whale “Fukuro” CRC-20877
Humpback whale “Fukuro” CRC-20877
Humpback whale “Fukuro” CRC-20877
Pair of humpback whales swimming alongside Guemes Island
Humpback whale “Fukuro” CRC-20877 by Guemes Island
Humpback whale “Fukuro” CRC-20877 by Guemes Island
Possibly Humpback whale “Poseidon” BCX2078 near Guemes Island
Possibly Humpback whale “Poseidon” BCX2078 near Guemes Island
Tankers at anchor
Cone Islands
Cypress Island
Cypress Island
Mt Baker
Lopez Island coastline near Upright Head