Sunny skies and bumpy seas with a mother humpback and her calf
Image: a mother common dolphin with her calf in the Santa Barbara Channel
2026 11–04 SB Channel
It was a sunny day with a light breeze. Captain Eddy reported a moderate 5-foot bump from the W that kept things interesting. Total sightings: 2 humpback whales, 20 common dolphins, and 1 ocean sunfish (Mola mola).
We were headed SW when our deckhand Isabel, was able to retrieve a floating, disintegrating, green Mylar balloon from the ocean surface.
7 miles out we encountered a mother humpback with her calf. The pair did quite a few course changes in random directions that made it difficult to follow them. We spent about a half an hour watching them. During this encounter, a very small group of common dolphins came through the area. There were several calves in the pod. (See today’s photo for an example.)
After the humpback whales headed E, we stayed for a bit of quality time with the dolphins.
On the way back to the harbor, Isabel retrieved another bit of interesting debris: a very large canvas bag.
You never know what mother nature has in store.
Bob Perry
