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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>4/2/08. The Ranger 85 left the Maritime Museum at
CI Harbor at 10am with 45 fourth and fifth graders on board. As we
were entering the open water, Captain Frank questioned the teacher
about their deadline for returning to school. He explained that he had a
report of Orcas, as many as 30, feeding on a Gray Whale close to Anacapa
Island. We headed straight toward Anacapa, pausing only briefly to
watch a small (4-500), not very active pod of common dolphins. Captain
Frank said he received another report that the Killer Whales had left the
Gray Whale. We passed Arch Rock and saw a boat with specks of black in the
water close to it. There were about 15 Orcas spread over a 1/4 -1/2 mile,
headed west. There was one very large, very black and white male
with a spectacularly tall, erect dorsal fin. There were three small calves
in a tight group with their mums, some inter-play with one was going
on. There were a few leaps that thrilled us all but these whales seemed
intent on traveling. We did not see the unfortunate Gray or any other
whales, sea lions or seals. The day was wonderful, calm
seas and Captain Frank kept the Ranger at a slow speed so there were only a
couple of children that were woozy but no bad seasickness. The program
that the Museum runs provides an hour of orientation about the area before
the kids get on the boat. It is worth going early and sitting in on this
part of the program. The art and boat models in the museum are certainly
exquisite. I hope you all get a chance to see the Orcas but I guess we
won't see much else while they are in the area.
Joanna</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>