[CINC] CX, WW 2/19/13

[John Kuizenga]

Following are the numbers, or perhaps I should say lack of them:

9:00 am trip:
cancelled
12:00 pm trip:
no sightings 
3:00 pm trip:
cancelled

Today¹s coastal ww trip was a rather abbreviated foray along the coast, and
while Captains Mat, David and Mate Matt did their utmost to locate cetaceans
of any stripe, mother nature was to prevail today. As we headed out the
breeze freshened and within a half an hour the wind had elevated to the
twenty knot range with gust even higher. Fortunately, even though we were
heading directly into (West) the swell it was rather benign at 2¹ feet.
However, by the time we reached Coal Oil Pt. the wind had elevated to 25
kts. with gust in the thirty range and the close period swell, with caps
galore, was now 4¹.  Capt Mat reported Michael Smith and his Gray Whale
Count Folks had seen two Grays moving West several hours earlier, but their
substantial lead and the weather prevent us from giving chase.  At this
point we headed South briefly and then to the East to work the ³outside²
track in hopes of an encounter with Grays heading West, but it was not to be
today. Noted some birds working an area and thought perhaps some Commons
might appear, but that too didn¹t pan out. Pelagic Birds were also at a
premium although sharp-eyed Mat spotting a lone Jaeger and with the aide of
binos, I saw a group of Brant Geese, well enough to see their tell tale
³necklace².  As conditions deteriorated Mat decided it was time to call it a
day and head home early.
Never have I had so few (five) log entries as today.

Twenty folks, mostly from out of the country, representing: Norway, England
(2 couples) Germany (also two couples) with the remainder from CA.

Rae Emmett, who is always pleasure to work with, was the Naturalist and I
worked PID, although I never lifted the camera. The all-star crew of
Captains Mat, Dave and Mate Matt performed with panache!

John Kuizenga 

  
 


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