[CINC] CX March 24

[Ken Macdonald]

9am   2 gray whales heading west to Alaska
Noon  2 pairs and 1 single gray whale heading west; ~800 common dolphins
heading in every direction.

The morning trip was under slate gray skies.  Alerted by the ASC whale
watchers near Devereaux point we headed north and followed a pair of gray
whales about 1/2 mile offshore from Bacara.   They appeared to be juveniles.
They surfaced 5 times during the 40 minutes we followed them.  Some nice
fluking.

The afternoon trip brought sunny skies and more people.  Followed a pair of
adult grays about 1/2 mile offshore of Hope Ranch.  Good fluking.  One more
pair briefly, about a mile south of campus point.   A pod of several hundred
common dolphin showed up, and their buddies a mile south of us joined in for
a big pod of about 800 much to the thrill of both kids and adults who
quickly became like kids.  Finished off the trip with one more gray a couple
miles offshore from the Mesa.
Both groups had lots of good questions (about 30 in the am, 52 in the pm).
They from New Mexico, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Los Angeles
and some locals too.  3 of the kids, ages 6, 11 and 14 are eager to become
oceanographers!

Naturalists Ken Macdonald and Sally Eagle (PID)
Great work by Capt Dave, with Bob Perry doing photo, Dennis on deck and Matt
in the galley.


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