Image: a fog bank in the Santa Barbara Channel
2024 07-31 SB Channel
On the positive side, the seas were flat calm all day. On the more challenging side, we had dense fog for most of the trip. It opened up and got sunny while we were on the edge of The Lanes. Total sightings: 2000 common dolphins and 1 humpback whale.
Captain Dave and the crew spent the first part of the trip heading southwest in the general direction of Platform Gilda. Later, we would backtrack and run directly west to the edge of The Lanes adjacent to the middle of Santa Cruz Island.
We first watched scattered pods of dolphins just 1 mile out from The Harbor. As we passed Platform Hillhouse, we started to pick up larger groups. There were more dolphin pods out near The Lanes.
It was on the northern edge of The Lanes the sun began to break through the fog. We found and watched one humpback whale. It was in a slow travel mode, moving to the west very directly. It put up its tail flukes once in a while, otherwise it was all business.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry
Condor Express, and
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