[CINC] CX 12/12: first Grays of the season

[Morgan Coffey]

For real.
 
(disclaimer: I like my posts short, but there's a story to be told today).
 
Headed west until Capt. Lee from the Islander called, "Just left some black and whites off Chinese Harbor".
Capt. Mat turned east.
 
Got to that part of the island with all eyes peeled--saw a couple of spouts just inside the cove, but too bushy to be the orcas we came for.
Turned out to be the titular Gray whales.
 
Unaware that the crew had something else in mind, the passengers were perfectly pleased with two mature whales providing plenty of fluke shots. 
 
Up top, all eyes were searching for orcas, with Captains Mat and Dave enlisting the skills of naturalist Dino Dal Bon, who has earned a reputation for being a great spotter.
Ultimately, Dino pointed us in the direction of a 7 orca pod--six adults and a juvenile about the size of a common dolphin.
 
With big rafts of sea lions everywhere and a couple of Grays nearby we anticipated carnage, but the orcas kept swimming toward an active pod of about 1200 commons off the east end.
We cruised alongside the orcas until they picked up speed and charged into the center of the dolphins, who bolted like lightning in all directions.  
Awesome.
 
With that accomplished, the orcas finally turned their attention to us, making some very close passes across the bow and under the boat, with tail lobs, rolling and some breaches by the calf. 
Spectacular.
 
A truly marvelous day with fellow CINC Carol Celic and Dino Dal Bon, Captains Mat and Dave, Matt in the galley, and seventeen (!) very lucky passengers.
 
Oh, we saw some birds too.
 
Cheers,
Morgan
 
  		 	   		  
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