[CINC] IPOC Feb 26th

[Debbie shelley]

Totally, amazing, awesome, day.
 
9 humpbacks
24 common dolphin
2 ballons
 
About 30 passengers.  Spotted the humpbacks about 1/2 hour after departure. Had some close up views of about 4 humpbacks, then they decided to go off to the Ranger 85 and really gave them a show by breaching several times right next to them.  We ventured on to Anacapa, and found a young whale in the shipping lanes rolling and pec slapping.  It was a little scary because there were 5 container ships all in a row.  Luckily he moved out of the way.   Everyone very pleased with their encounters with the whales.   
 
Second trip
11 humpbacks
100 common dolpin
 
About 45 passengers.  Spotted whales again.  This time we had 4 whales that stayed with us about an hour.  They would keep going under the boat, behind the boat, in front of the boat.  They rolled around. trumpeted, scared one passenger, as she grabbed me in fear, but got over that quickly.  We all got the wonderful whale spray on us as a souvenir.  We were unable to leave because of the close encounter of the whales, finally the Ranger 85 got the whales attention and we were off to Anacapa.  There were whales breaching all around us.  We changes course to get a closer look at one of the breaching whales.  He put on a great show also, tail lobbing, pec slapping a 2 breaches close to the boat.  With only 1 hour left Captain Lee made sure we got a close up of Anacapa ant the Arch.  Most of the passenger asked if we were chumming or did we train the whales.  Everyone was in total awe and are all coming back for more.   Thanks to the crew Paige, Luke and Captain Lee.  Debbie Shelley and Lisa Rizzo   Another awesome day in paradise.   We are so very lucky for all these great encounters with these gentle giants. 		 	   		  
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