(above: nautical chart showing our path today and the whale zone)
2022 11-13 SB Channel
The good part about today’s conditions was the blue sky. Otherwise, there was quite a residual west swell from overnight and another east swell from the northeast winds. It was a wild ride until Captain Devin got out into The Lanes (purple strip on chart), when he headed east for a smoother ride. Sightings in the otherwise choppy seas were phenomenal: 12+ humpback whales, 300 long-beaked common dolphins and 100 California sea lions.
By the time the Condor Express moved into The Lanes, there were spouts everywhere. Given the conditions, there was no way to watch them all! There were not large groups, and for most of the trip, it was “one and done,” a single breath followed by a dive. We did see a lot of individuals and their tails, and for me, it is always a wonderful experience to be out there with the whales in their element.
Around 1pm, after a look at a dolphin pod, we found the same pair of whales that mugged the boat yesterday. These exceedingly friendly beasts did the same thing today. We had a wonderful close-up interaction for over 30 minutes…all this in not-so-calm waters. That is why I called it phenomenal. Wow!
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry
Condor Express, and
CondorExpressPhotos.com
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