[CINC] Orcas at Anacapa 4/2/08

[JOANNA GUTTMAN]

4/2/08. The Ranger 85 left the Maritime Museum at CI Harbor at 10am with 45 fourth and fifth graders on board.  As we were entering the open water, Captain Frank questioned the teacher about their deadline for returning to school.  He explained that he had a report of Orcas, as many as 30, feeding on a Gray Whale close to Anacapa Island. We headed straight toward Anacapa, pausing only briefly to watch a small (4-500), not very active pod of common dolphins.  Captain Frank said he received another report that the Killer Whales had left the Gray Whale.  We passed Arch Rock and saw a boat with specks of black in the water close to it. There were about 15 Orcas spread over a 1/4 -1/2 mile, headed west.  There was one very large, very black and white male with a spectacularly tall, erect dorsal fin. There were three small calves in a tight group with their mums, some inter-play with one was going on. There were a few leaps that thrilled us all but these whales seemed intent on traveling.  We did not see the unfortunate Gray or any other whales, sea lions or seals.  The day was wonderful, calm seas and Captain Frank kept the Ranger at a slow speed so there were only a couple of children that were woozy but no bad seasickness.  The program that the Museum runs provides an hour of orientation about the area  before the kids get on the boat.  It is worth going early and sitting in on this part of the program. The art and boat models in the museum are certainly exquisite. I hope you all get a chance to see the Orcas but I guess we won't see much else while they are in the area. Joanna
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