[CINC] Condor X: 4/10

[paul jr petrich]

Bill,
Yes, I'm on. Got it on my calendar. Originally we were scheduled for rain, but not now? What time do you want me at dock side? At Oxnard IPCO, right? What is our restoration project this time?  Paul
On Apr 10, 2012, at 10:51 PM, paul jr petrich wrote:

> Ocean People,
>  Today Captains Matt and Dave alternated in guiding 71 passengers on the solo noon trip out of Santa Barbara Harbor.We counted:
> 5 Humpbacks; and 350 Common Dolphin.
>  Today was truly the "Calm before the Storm." Our first stop going west along the coast was off Goleta to view nothing more than the ocean bottom at 30 to 40 feet below us, in very clear detail. Skipper Matt said the water clarity was the best he could recall in recent years. The sun shone brightly, the surf was near nil along the coast, and the ocean surface looked like a velvet tablecloth. However, no Gray whales chose to discommbuberate this calm.
>   Our skippers headed south toward the Santa Cruse Island and Santa Rosa Island gap. We saw a pod of 300 active Common Dolphin very soon, not far from the coast. They seemed to enjoy the especially clear water conditions as we could see many of them playing deep (turning over) under others who enjoyed riding the bow's pressure wake. 
>   Humpback blows were spotted prior to getting to the Gap, and we soon enjoyed watching 3 Humpbacks feed and fluke. Not long after turning for home we saw a Mamma Humpback and her large  calf fluke and one actually breach twice.  Fifty more Common Dolphin approached us to play not more than 2 miles from the coast.
>  Passengers aboard came from distant places like Sweden, Norway, Germany, England, and the landlocked states of Nevada and Colorado. We had a large number of local Californians aboard who had never been whale watching before, including over 15 young children with separate families, who were all totally delighted with the days experience! All of them knew the difference between a seal and a sea lion before we landed at a sun baked dock, as too!   Bob Perry was aboard taking photos, and relayed grid readings to me from the the top deck where most of the skippering was done this fine day. Kelly handled a busy galley.  Paul Petrich
>  
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