EncDate: 17/09/21

EncSeq: 1

Enc#: 75

ObservBegin: 05:49 PM

ObservEnd: 06:50 PM

Vessel: Mike 1

Staff: Mark Malleson

Pods: Transients

LocationDescr: South west of Race Rocks

Start Latitude: 48 14.0

Start Longitude: 123 35.6

End Latitude: 48 14.5

End Longitude: 123 36.2

​

EncSummary:

Mark received a report that a large group of Biggs had been spotted southwest of Race Rocks at ~ 1630. He hustled downtown to mobilize Mike 1 and departed Victoria harbour at ~1715.
As he entered Race Pass, he could see Brett Soberg on Forever Wild heading north for Victoria after recently departing the group. Brett had informed him that there were close to 20 individuals, and they appeared to be milling in two groups separated by less than a half-mile, and his crew was fairly confident that the T069's and the T137's were present along with some others that they hadn't had a chance to confirm.
Mark soon spotted a bull on the horizon, and as he slowly approached the area could see several more appear in the vicinity. He started the encounter at 1749 ~ 4 nm SW of Race Rocks and soon confirmed that the T069's, T137's, T060D, T060E, as well as all of the T046B's and B1's were present in two mixed groups.
Brett had initially spotted the bulk of them heading east in the Juan de Fuca, and others had joined them from the south. When Mark arrived, they were socializing, and it seemed apparent they had recently met up as their vocals could be heard resonating through the aluminum hull of Mike 1 as the group intermingled with each other.
Once Mark felt he had got proof of the presence of all 17 individuals present, he ended the encounter at 1850 and made his way for home as daylight was fading quickly. He drove home against the southeast swell making no more than 16 knots until the seas flattened out a few miles south of the entrance to Victoria harbour. He arrived at the dock in complete darkness at 2005, just as the predicted southeast winds and heavy rain finally arrived.