EncDate: 10/06/21

EncSeq: 1

Enc#: 37

ObservBegin: 14:10

ObservEnd: 14:22

Vessel: Chimo

Staff: Ken Balcomb

Pods: Transients

LocationDescr: Rosario Strait

Start Latitude: 48 24.57N 

Start Longitude: 122 47.58W

End Latitude: 48 24.14N 

End Longitude: 122 47.26W

 

EncSummary:

Ken left Port Angeles in “Chimo” at 1215, bound for the San Juan Islands and home after months at the Big Salmon Ranch getting boats and property ready for summer. About thirty minutes into the crossing the PWWA App indicated that there were two groups of Biggs Transient killer whales to choose from with minor deviation from a bee-line course home: The T65As coming south in Rosario Strait, and the T123s heading north up San Juan Channel nearing Speiden Island. A quick check of fuel, weather, and time suggested that perhaps two encounters were possible, if there were no glitches in the machinery operation. “Chimo” had not left its boathouse yet in 2021, though its engine started up immediately yesterday and it was purring along beautifully at 25 knots in the glass calm Strait of Juan de Fuca.

A course change to the East toward Davidson Rock brought Ken and “Chimo” to the T65As at 1410, and twelve minutes were spent with 5 whales that surfaced twice on a zig zag course toward Smith Island (and to Puget Sound by the next day). They were T65A, T65A2, T65A3, T65A4 and T65A6, in a group going about their family business of unpredictable travel with long dives. No predation events were observed.