[CINC] Caharter WW Condor/Sapphire Princess

[Kenneth A. Tatro]

Hi folks,

Cetacea:
500 Common Dolphin (100, 100, 300)
1 Humpback (juvenile, with show time)

Birds:
Brown Pelican
Western Gulls
Sooty Shearwater

A little different run in that this was a charter run on the Condor Express for the folks on the visiting cruise ship, Sapphire Princess.

Security was very tight, even though the Condor Express had my name ready for the Sapphire Princess security folks, still an office person of CX had to come out and say I was OK to go down the ramp to the Condor, before they would let me go through.

Other than that, it was a beautiful and warm day, even on the water for the 47 Sapphire Princess folks, they came a board and we were off.  We gave our usual presentation, with all our toys top side, and milled with the folks all across the run.

We visited the group of California Sea Lions on the outter buoy and talked about the differences between them and seals. The folks were pleasantly surprised to here of the distinction.

On our way heading for the gap of SCI and SRI, it wasn't long before we came on our first pod of Commons, many scurrying about the boat, and bow wave surfing. Several young ones were sighted in the group, again to the delight of the folks on board.

A good ways further and our second pod of Commons, with the usual similar action as the first, but with some getting some good air. More ohs and ahs.

On out, the winds were picking up a bit, along with the swell and a couple folks feeling the qweeeezies. 

We plodded on for a good bit, slowing to reduce the bounce effects and … finally, a blow, ...off about a mile ahead. We were about 4-5 miles off shore, say, ... out from about Moore Mesa. 

Not sure what species, yet, that bow seemed tall to me, so I was thinking Blue. Needing to catch up and still keep the boat at the smoothest ride as possible, Capt Mat, gently increased our speed. Finally, after about four breathing cycles, we pulled up with our whale, a Humpback, small, a juvenile, yet its had already had its battle scars on it back and dorsal fin. 

Interestingly this Humpback, acted very much like a Blue in that it did not show a fluke when diving for the entire time we were with it, which was a good long while.

Yet, after about 3-4 breathing cycle with it, … BOOOM!!! out of the water it came in a ¾ breach. Capt Dave, on the mic, told the folks to "keep your cameras up as it might do it again," and sure enough, no sooner than that, it did it again, another ¾ breach. OH boy, what a treat for the folks and all aboard, and we told them so. We do not always see a breach.

Then it was back into its regular breathing cycle for a couple more sessions, and then, BOOOM!!! … again, this time a full ¾ tail lob, body about half about of the water, with a follow-on tail slap, BIG slashes, both, … quite a show for the Sapphire Princess folks.Yet even still, this was the only time we saw its Fluke. Back into its breathing cycle, … no fluke, not one.

We stayed on with it a good bit more, hoping for more show, but it was content with just moving slowly west. The swell was picking up more and more, far too windy out by the islands to attempt to go there, with, already, a few folks now on the stern.

So we turned, going with the seas, and our final group of Commons came in around the Humpback while making our turn. We took note and bid them farewell. 

It was very slow gentle ride east, still looking for more Cetacea, and then nice tour of the oil platforms, rounding DCOR's Platform C with very good info commentary by Capt Mat.

A nice warm day, not too cool on the Channel, seas were not bad but coming up a good bit in the west, and all the Sapphire Princess folks were very pleased with what they saw.

Folks were from the UK, New Jersey, Tennessee, and many from the LA, Long Beach area, for their nice cruise to here, SF, Catalina, Ensenada and back to LA.

Capt Mat, Capt Dave and Crew Matt did a fine job of narrating and keep the boat and folks a comfortable as possible, and of course, scoring again, finding our very playful juvenile Humpback.
 
Ken Tatro