[CINC] Fraiday, 12/12 Condor

[garydel at aol.com]

Count:

2 Blues
about 10 Pacific White Sided Dolphin
Thousands of Commons
1 Sea Otter
1 Blue Shark

Naturalists: Rae Emmett and Gary Delanoeye

With about 13 passenger, Captains Matt and Dave double-teamed the Channel with predictable results; variety! The lone otter was rather far from shore, about a mile and swimming and diving casually. The White Sided Dolphins hung near the boat for a while and everyone got very good views. These treats were followed by a mega-pod of commons, widely dispersed and swimming slowly all about the Condor. The two Blues were spotted in the usual vicinity,and our Captains noted two additional, but distant spouts. Could these be the same four Blues last spotted the previous Saturday? An aggressive swell prevented a close view of Painted Cave, but in my opinion, a more dramatic and wild impression of Santa Cruz where the surf meets the cliffs. Halfway back, another mega-pod of commons, or perhaps the same one as seen before.? Nevertheless,this group was in tighter formation and engaged more in dolphin-like things... riding the bow and the wake, jumping and being otherwise charismatic.? How the Captains spotted the 4-foot blue shark is a mystery to me, but as it was a cooperative little beast, it remained near the surface long enough for all to see.

15+ miles visibility;? Beaufort in the 1-2 range and generally light winds. All passengers disembarked quite satisfied with their day at sea.

Gary Delanoeye
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