Date: 08-Apr-18

Sequence: 1

Encounter Number: 26

Enc Start Time: 14:03

Enc End Time: 15:04

Vessel: Chimo

Observers: Ken Balcomb

Pods or ecotype: Transients

Location: Satellite Channel

Begin Lat/Long: 48 44.529N/123 23.14W

End Lat/Long: 48 42.787N/123 23.602W

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Encounter Summary:

Ken’s family was visiting for the weekend and the plan was for them to take “Sea Hunt” to Roche Harbor and give the boat a good spring-cleaning with the grand-kids applying the “elbow grease” while Kelley and Carlene supervised. Just as we were about to depart Snug Harbor for the test-drive of “Sea Hunt” by 16 year-old Kyla (who drove 65’ motor-yacht “Teal” to Desolation Sound last summer), a call came in that the T49A family of Bigg’s Transient killer whales was located near Moresby Island, Canada. After some deliberation, Ken headed out in “Chimo” at 1329 and went to the whales while the rest of the family took “Sea Hunt” on a leisurely ride through Mosquito Pass to Roche Harbor. “Chimo” arrived on scene with the T49s in Satellite Channel at 1403, and was pleasantly surprised to see that T49A1 (see Encounter 25) was now back with his family and playing around with his brother T49A3. Mom (T49A) and her other two offspring (T49A4 and T49A5) were a half mile away at the beginning of the encounter, but soon joined up and the group meandered generally west and southwest toward the BC Ferry dock in Sidney. They did not seem to be conducting any predation during the encounter, but as soon as “Chimo” left the whales were reported to be after an unlucky harbor seal. “Chimo” arrived back at Roche Harbor at 1558, just as “Sea Hunt” was coming in to fuel up. This was a good family day all around!