2022 07-29 SB Channel – West
Excellent whaling conditions prevailed across the northwester Channel. Sighting included: 2000 long-beaked common dolphins and 1 humpback whale.
Then dolphins were more spread out across several miles of ocean surface than they have been earlier this week. South of Hondo, and on the edge of the northbound Lane, we encountered a huge (female?) humpback. It turned out to be an “ambassador whale.”
As we slowly motored into the area, the beast swam a bee-line directly to the Condor Express. It then continued to mug us for over an hour. During this mugging, it swam up and down the sides of our twin hulls and spent time lounging the jet wash, the port, starboard and bow areas. It seemed to be intent on meeting its whale-watching fans all around the boat rails…another equal-opportunity whale. Much of this interaction seemed to be in slow motion, including some spy-hopping where it seemed to take forever for the beast to sink down into the water during the final stage of the spy-hop. This was our highest quality humpback interaction so far this season!
On the way home, we passed more dolphins and took the time for the crew to remove a single, deflated, floating Mylar balloon from the ocean surface.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com