2017 08-15 SB Channel
Skies were clear and sunny and a light breeze picked up every so often which made for an ideal day on the Santa Barbara Channel. Sightings for the day included: 8* humpback whales and 900 long-beaked common dolphins. Captain Dave took the Condor Express into the mouth of the world-famous Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island as a bonus.
Southwest of Santa Barbara Harbor, a mother humpback and her calf located the Condor Express. The calf has been seen several times and has a distinctive white tail and a matching set of long white pectoral flippers. Dolphins were all around the boat at the same time.
Continuing to the southwest, a single whale was watched near the Mid-Channel NOAA Buoy (aka, “East” channel buoy). A bit further and into The Lanes four additional whales were encountered. *Additional whale spouts were seen in the area.
As Dave headed home from the Island, a whale was seen breaching repeatedly about 3 miles ahead. This turned out to be our friend “Scarlet,” a whale that regular readers of this report will recognize. [See crew photos above] Scarlet continued to breach, sometimes close to the boat. She spy-hopped, slapped her mighty tail and pectoral fins, turned upside down and, most uniquely, gave off a large bubble stream path on one of her very shallow dives beneath our twin hulls. Wow!
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express
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