[CINC] IPCO's Islander, WW AM/PM 27Dec11

[Kenneth A. Tatro]

Hi Folks,

Sightings:
Cetacea -
	Gray				3, ...1 in AM, 2 inPM 
	Risso's Dolphin		200, PM, across three pods
        Bottle Nose Dolphin,	40, PM 

Pinnipeds -
	Sea Lion		3 on the VTA Harbor outer bouy and a few scattered across the channel. 
 
Birds - 
	Western Gull
	Brants and Pelagic Cormorants
	Sooty Shearwater

People from -
	Austria, New York, South Dakota, Colorado, San Francisco, Modesto, Santa Barbara, San Frenando Valley, 

But of course, another beautiful day on the channel, with good sightings.  The morning started off with a mild swell and about a third of the 90 folks fell ill to the "Greenies." As we pulled in near SCI (north, channel side) we were in the wind shadow and it mellowed out very nicely. The Island Adventure had spotted a gray on its way to Scorpion and relayed that info to us and we were on our way. Cruising well passed Scorpion we came on a gray, steadily heading toward Baja. This one ever use many a good looks and a couple o flukes. Not much else, sea mammal wise, was sighted in this AM run,  but the folks were quit happy with the lone, yet good long sighting. the seas by this time had quieted very nicely all across the channel, for the smooth ride back to port.

The afternoon run boarded 123 folks, ready for many a sightings. With calm seas, not many fell ill, and the sightings were good. Into the AI/SCI Gap, sighting the two masted schooner, Bill of Rights, on its day's cruise, we stayed focused on looking for whales. Looping in and out of the gap and again on the north side of SCI, some friendly fishing folks in their private  boat, just off SCI reported one near them, so again we were off to see it. 

Well, it was not a Gray Whale, rather it was two, blowing also in tandem, and both of good size, trekking on toward Baja. So we hung with them for a very good bit, and these two were show boaters as far as flashing their flukes. Many a fluke were offered to the delight of the folks and of course the cameras were all a whirr. I'm not sure in have seen, in my 5 years, so many flukes offers by the grays. It was, of course, very nice. 

Turning toward home, up popped our first group of Risso's, then as they were fading, along came some more, no these were our Bottle Nose Dolphins, and of course, much more playful than the Risso's. Captain Dave gave thenma nice circle of wake to play with, and they did not disappoint. Again the cameras were a buzz. Then another pod of Risso's showed, glissening nicely in the late afternoon sun. Shortly after that, and heading home, we came on yet another pod of Risso's, much to the delight of the folks thinking they had already seen it all.

Much thanks to Captain Dave and his crew of Mike and Andrea in the AM, and Captain Michael, joining us in the afternoon. My good CINC Naturalist side kick for the day, Maria Ornelas kept the sightings report in good order, while I gave our presentation at the beginning of each run. A good team for sure.

Ken Tatro


Gentle winds, mellow seas, and always,
	     … a fresh breath of salty air, ... to ya.