All Aboard Sailing

08/27/2024

Biggs/Transient orca T49A3 hunting near Yellow Island 8/20/24
The close passes are used to stimulate the fight or flight instinct until they stampede into the water. A short while later only two harbor seals remained on the sand spit while the two youngest family members in the T49A's circled Yellow Island numerous times for over an hour.

08/10/2024

Aug 9, 2024 - Our first sail of the year to Smith Island and we found about a dozen tufted puffins and one of the two rare horned puffins that have been documented here! Exciting day for us

08/09/2024

July 31, 2024 - Short sail with a visit to Yellow Island Nature Preserve

July 31, 2024 – Short sail with a visit to Yellow Island Nature Preserve

08/08/2024

July 30, 2024 - After casting off from Friday Harbor we sailed towards Upright Channel with interest to see an orca who was near the intersection of Cayou and Upright Channel. It was Biggs/Transient orca T65A5 aka “Indy” and he spent much of the afternoon playing with crap pot floats in Wasp Passage. After sailing around Canoe Island we met the 10 year old orca as he was southbound in our direction....

July 30, 2024 – After casting off from Friday Harbor we sailed towards Upright Channel with interest to see an orca who was near the intersection of Cayou and Upright Channel. It was Biggs/Tr…

08/08/2024

July 30, 2024 - It felt like August aka “Fogust” arrived early because the harbor was socked in thick with fog. After casting off we set sails with limited visibility and made our way north with plans for a shore excursion at Yellow Island. A bald eagle watched us through the fog as we made our way up to Point Caution....

July 30, 2024 – It felt like August aka “Fogust” arrived early because the harbor was socked in thick with fog. After casting off we set sails with limited visibility and made our way north w…

08/08/2024

July 28, 2024 - Earlier in the day we saw so much amazing wildlife on our southerly trip so we decided to head south again on our evening trip. Harbor seals were basking in the sunshine with their new pups as we passed the rocks south of Turn Island State Park. Winds were looking good and we had a great sail down the channel....

July 28, 2024 – Earlier in the day we saw so much amazing wildlife on our southerly trip so we decided to head south again on our evening trip. Harbor seals were basking in the sunshine with …

08/08/2024

July 28, 2024 - Distant hazy fog was in the air as we went south. Many harbor seals were hauled out during the low tide resting on the rocks. A bald eagle stood in the dead tree overlooking Deadman Island. An adorable sea otter was resting in the bull kelp forest at Whale Rocks. We’re noticing more male Steller sea lions are returning to Whale Rocks (typically we see them returning around September after their trip up north to mate with females)....

July 28, 2024 – Distant hazy fog was in the air as we went south. Many harbor seals were hauled out during the low tide resting on the rocks. A bald eagle stood in the dead tree overlooking D…

08/08/2024

July 27, 2024 - With a report of Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s coming down President Channel we headed North quickly. We noticed there is quite a number a harbor seals on the west spit of Yellow Island through the pupping season. Close to shore on the West side of Jones Island and up to White Rock National Wildlife Refuge where we met the orcas....

July 27, 2024 – With a report of Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s coming down President Channel we headed North quickly. We noticed there is quite a number a harbor seals on the west spi…

08/08/2024

July 27, 2024 - We met a bald eagle eating something on a rock outside Friday Harbor. Continued inside Turn Island admiring the harbor seals hauled out on the low tide. We sailed and tacked our way down to a fog bank and then hugged the coastline of Lopez Island down to Cattle Pass. Out to Whale Rocks still in the fog watching the Steller sea lions having a good time....

July 27, 2024 – We met a bald eagle eating something on a rock outside Friday Harbor. Continued inside Turn Island admiring the harbor seals hauled out on the low tide. We sailed and tacked o…

07/30/2024

July 23, 2024 - Super low tide and we went south on the tail end of the ebb. Sailed through Turn Island Pass passing harbor seals resting on the rocks. Tacked our way through Cattle Pass passing cormorants on Goose Island and Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks. Drifted inside the calm waters inside Long Island out to Iceberg Point. We met a humpback whale whose tail flukes had been amputated probably after entanglement by derelict fishing gear....

July 23, 2024 – Super low tide and we went south on the tail end of the ebb. Sailed through Turn Island Pass passing harbor seals resting on the rocks. Tacked our way through Cattle Pass pass…

07/30/2024

July 24, 2024 - We sailed north pretty quickly with a good wind. Came through Spieden Channel close to the San Juan Island side to escape the flood current. After rounding Battleship Island we were on the lookout for Southern Resident J pod orcas, but none were seen. Returning to New Channel there was interesting light from patches of smokey haze....

July 24, 2024 – We sailed north pretty quickly with a good wind. Came through Spieden Channel close to the San Juan Island side to escape the flood current. After rounding Battleship Island w…

07/30/2024

July 24, 2024 - After leaving Friday Harbor we had a fast sail on the ebb current and a good push up Upright Channel. We kept our speed up with news of Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s northbound in Rosario Strait. After exiting Peavine Pass we saw the orcas passing Spindle Rock. They took Obstruction Pass and we re-entered Peavine Pass to meet them on the other side....

July 24, 2024 – After leaving Friday Harbor we had a fast sail on the ebb current and a good push up Upright Channel. We kept our speed up with news of Biggs/Transient orcas T34’s and T37’s n…

07/29/2024

July 26, 2024 - We had a special sail with a beautiful couple who just tied the knot before the sail. It was an honor for us to share in their wedding day!

July 26, 2024 – We had a special sail with a beautiful couple who just tied the knot before the sail. It was an honor for us to share in their wedding day!

07/29/2024

July 26, 2024 - Short sunset sail with a drop off at Orcas Island

July 26, 2024 – Short sunset sail with a drop off at Orcas Island

07/29/2024

July 26, 2024 - Short sail through the Wasp Islands and around Jones Island

July 26, 2024 – Short sail through the Wasp Islands and around Jones Island

07/29/2024

July 25, 2024 - Full day sail north to Turn Point Lighthouse and Mandarte Island. Wildlife highlights included bald eagles, an eaglet, harbor seals with pups, Mouflon sheep, cormorants, harbor porpoise and more.

July 25, 2024 – Full day sail north to Turn Point Lighthouse and Mandarte Island. Wildlife highlights included bald eagles, an eaglet, harbor seals with pups, Mouflon sheep, cormorants, harbo…

07/29/2024

July 22, 2024 - Great sailing conditions as we sailed south to Whale Rocks. Lots of wildlife including great blue herons, harbor seals, our favorite naked seal without pelage ("the black matte naked seal"), bald eagles, belted kingfishers, sea lions, cormorants, and more.

July 22, 2024 – Great sailing conditions as we sailed south to Whale Rocks. Lots of wildlife including great blue herons, harbor seals, our favorite naked seal without pelage (“the blac…

07/29/2024

July 21, 2024 - Evening short sunset sail Turn Island to Yellow Island

July 21, 2024 – Evening short sunset sail Turn Island to Yellow Island

07/29/2024

July 21, 2024 - Afternoon short sail to the Wasp Islands

July 21, 2024 – Afternoon short sail to the Wasp Islands

07/29/2024

July 21, 2024 - Today we had three short sails. Highlights from our morning sail south to Whale Rocks and back. Many harbor seals, bald eagles, Steller sea lions and more

July 21, 2024 – Today we had three short sails. Highlights from our morning sail south to Whale Rocks and back. Many harbor seals, bald eagles, Steller sea lions and more

07/29/2024

July 20, 2024 - Evening half day sail north to Flattop Island and New Channel. Many harbor seals with new pups were hauled out resting and warming up in the sunshine. Pigeon guillemots were flying back and forth to their nests on Flattop Island. Bald eagles were scattered around the islands in the trees. Cut through the narrow pass by Ripple Island and through the Cactus Islands....

July 20, 2024 – Evening half day sail north to Flattop Island and New Channel. Many harbor seals with new pups were hauled out resting and warming up in the sunshine. Pigeon guillemots were f…

07/29/2024

July 20, 2024 - Today we planned a route to head south on the ebb tide. There were many harbor seals hauled out with the low tide. Cormorants and gulls were tending to their chicks on Goose Island. On Salmon Bank we found two minke whales. One of them is one we’ve known for years and has a nick on the leading edge of her dorsal fin....

July 20, 2024 – Today we planned a route to head south on the ebb tide. There were many harbor seals hauled out with the low tide. Cormorants and gulls were tending to their chicks on Goose I…

07/29/2024

July 19, 2024 - Half day sail to New Channel and Flattop Island

July 19, 2024 – Half day sail to New Channel and Flattop Island

07/29/2024

July 18, 2024 - With news of Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s milling in Haro again we chose a route in that direction. Passed by a nice group of harbor seals on the reef by Yellow Island. We hugged the northern San Juan Island shoreline to keep out of the fast moving flood current in Spieden Channel. As we rounded Battleship Island a pair of eagles was circling above in tandem....

July 18, 2024 – With news of Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s milling in Haro again we chose a route in that direction. Passed by a nice group of harbor seals on the reef by Yellow Island. We h…