[CINC] IPCo WW Dec. 27

[Catherine French]

Two boats, two harbors, but worth the effort.

Day's Totals:
9 Grays
1,000 Common dolphin

Started the day out of CI Harbor on Vanguard with 77 passengers, 50 to hike on AI. 
We found first gray before reaching AI, so the entire group got to see it. Not an active whale, but everyone got to see it. Then it snorkeled for a long time, we saw it once more and headed to the island.

Found another gray on the back side of AI, but was really shy, so we headed for the barn. We also were visited by 100 common dolphin. Happy whale watchers all.

In the afternoon, I raced over to Ventura Harbor for the afternoon WW and about 80 passengers. What a watch! We found 200 common dolphins just 3 miles out, then headed to the gap between AI and SCI. Behind AI we headed northeast and ended up with three whales. They showed themselves well enough for everyone to get a good look. Then when it was time to head closer to shore the whales surprised us with major breaching! Two of the whales were swimming very close together and suddenly one breached; not one, not two, but three times. Then the second whale breached four times. I could make out a white spot on the second whale's left pectoral flipper, so I knew it was not the same one. Unbelievable!

So, we headed back toward the harbor with a brief stop to view the sea lions on the south side of AI and found 700 commons with at least 100 calves! They were very acrobatic and thrilled everyone. Just when we thought it was over, we found four more grays 12 miles off of the coast and they decided to provide a fluke show. Well, that was it! After ten years of doing this type of outreach and 35 years sailing, I am still overwhelmed by these creatures and look forward to the next opportunity.

One more thing, on the way to and from ESCI on Dec. 26, we saw four grays, 100 common dolphins and about 15 Risso's. 

Thanks for the two days of WW ops to: Capt. Lee, Joel, Steve S.; Capt. Jason, Joel, Thomas and, Capt. Dave, Jean and Luke. Wow!

Calm seas,

Catherine French

Writer, naturalist
Cfrench1366 at aol.com
805.570.0432

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