[CINC] IPCO Islander, 12 Feb '11

[Kenneth A. Tatro]

Hi folks,

AM

500 Common Dolphin
7 Grays

PM 

1000 Common Dolphin
4 Grays

2 nice, long distance view.

The day continued the fantastic weather and sea conditions, we have been having, with hardly any swell, almost glassy surface.

In the morning, we came on the Dds a little more than mid way to the Gap of AI and SCI. Playful with several full breaches and some jumping to the delight of the folks and kids on board. Babies were seen by many.  Approaching the Gap, spouts were seen toward AI and sure enough, we had two, three, no five running together south. Steady as they went, with many nice blows and good flukes for the photo buffs of all stripes. Any kind of device that had a camera on board was out and shooting away. Followed them for some time then broke off to search for others. Well into the gap, two more south bounders heading east (heh, heh). Again, nice blows and consistent flukes on a very clear day.  Folks, 82, from many local areas, Ventura, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Santa Clarita joined some from Minnesota, Massachusetts, Japan and India to take in this just spectacular day on the Channel.

In the afternoon, we were delayed coming out of the harbor by the Dredge support vessels maneuvering the Dredge in place, with the Harbor Patrol blocking traffic for about 10 minutes or more. Finally out of the harbor into the same day as the AM, flat seas, no wind, nor swell, we were off. In a similar area as in the AM we came on a larger pod of Common Dolphins, pretty much on a mission east, but several still pealed off to come over to play the boats pressure wave and wake. Yep, the photo frenzy was on as well, as was the squeals of the kids and the "bigger" kids. Toward the Gap up came two Grays, but at a distance and long down times. Tracked them for a bit, then on to more. Off and well into the Out Back of AI and about to make the turn back, two more Grays surface for us, and again at a distance, rather shy and not too interested in the boat, today. We figured being they are late to the party in Baja, they were determined to get there, ... at least for the final hurrah. 

Again, Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands were visible from the AI Out Back. That is some distance to be seen.  Then as we turned toward home, we had the South side of AI, the Santa Ynez Mountains and Figueroa Mountain all stacked nicely and distinctly one on top of another, with an ocean foreground. Very cool what a very clear day can lay out before us. 

We had another good group of folks, nearing a full boat, many locals as from the AM, two families from England, one family from New Zealand, and Indian (India) family from Redondo Beach and may kids all having just the best of times.

Captain Anthony, Crew of Steve and Zac, did their usual great job of finding our little ocean critters, with fine narration, keeping the galley running at full speed with no one on either run getting acquainted with the green faced whoas. (of course, did we mention, flat calm seas? They may have contributed, just a bit)

Ken Tatro,
	lone Naturalist on these two runs, still a whole bunch of fun, never getting old.