Magic in an arcing rainbow across the Strait, Orcas and Humpback Whales and beautiful viewing!
It was a fabulous day beyond question where the beauty of the area was evident from the onset! Shortly after leaving Alder Bay this morning with rain clearing and the sun shining, a huge full arc of a rainbow stretched across the Strait just west of Lewis Point, breathtaking and magical, we knew it was going to be a fabulous day for whale watching! Magic was most definitely in the play when we encountered the I15's spread across Johnstone Strait in their matriline group's. Their blows we picked up well ahead of seeing them in the harsh glint of sun shining early on in our tour, we were therefore surprised to see orca fins just ahead of us as we were nearing Blinkhorn. How wonderful it was to sail with the whales as we did while trailing our hydrophone and listening to their G-Clan calls. It was exceptional watching the interactions between the younger calves as the mothers were resting, they would spy hop and nudge one another, tail slap and lie on their backs. As they vocalized and we observed, they turned and began swimming back to the east, simultaneously and so beautiful to watch.
We cruised through the Plumper Islands enjoying the scenic wonder and out into Blackfish Sound where we could see two humpback whales near Swanson Island, another was directly off our bow and it was this humpback whale that we travelled towards, meanwhile the A42's (as they were later identified as) we could see had rounded Donegal Head and were soon nearing Stubbs Island, moving rapidly in the flooding current. Our passengers decided that they would linger instead and enjoy viewing the humpback whale and soon it was two humpbacks as we encountered Guardian foraging where rhinoceros auklets and common murres had gathered on the south side of Stubbs Island. Our day's outing was absolutely extraordinary, enjoyed to the very last moment! Also seen: dall's porpoises, stellar sea lions, harbour seals, marbled murrelets, bald eagles and gull species.
Today's penned comments: "What a wonderful day, my wife and I loved every minute of it. Especially the sailing aspect. Seeing both orca's and humpback whales was truly amazing. Thank you!" Christin & Roxy,USA (Netherlands and Denmark)
"Wonderful! x 10! Rainbows, whales socializing surrounded on all sides with views. The ship is fantastic. Your personalities exude with enthusiasm and the tea and scones just took the whole experience over the top! Sipping tea watching humpbacks! Thank you so much! Linda and John, Winnepeg.