[CINC] IPCO Island Adventurer. Sat 15 Jan

[Kenneth A. Tatro]

HI folk,

What a great day, calm seas AM & PM.

AM
9 Grays
150 Common Dolphin
Many Birds

PM 
4 Grays
(1 maybe 2 ghost Humpbacks)

Another great day on the water. Soooooo clear we could see both Santa Barbara and Catalina Islands from the back side of Anacapa. A bit hazy at that distance but definitely there. Total 13 Grays. In the morning we had 150 Common Dolphins racing into a feeding frenzy, birds, birds no where to be found, the seas totally empty of birds. And we were just commenting about that when suddenly they appeared out of no where to join in the frenzy. Crazy how the word gets out instantly and I saw not one iPhone on any of them.

In the afternoon, about mid channel, we all saw one if not two straight up spouts well ahead. Moving steadily, and slowing as we approached the area, no show for better than 30 minuets. So off we went, thinking they would pop up on our leaving. Sure enough, about five minuets they came up well aft of us. Capt Lee made the big U turn heading back, spouts agin seen by all, but again, on approach, they were gone. 

Folks from many places in the US, and very locally were aboard the two runs, with one couple from Germany in the afternoon. Two Navy Sea Bees and, separately, one Navy Fire tech, ship board rocket trouble shooting technician were also enjoying the beautiful day at sea, searching for whales.

It was a fun day with Laura Shelton keeping books, Captains Lee and Steve with Lorri doing their superb job of driving and running the Island Adventurer.

Ken Tatro