[CINC] Fri 11Jul08 IPCO, Island Adventure

[Kenneth A. Tatro]

Hi Folks,

Out of Ventura, Island Packers, Island Adventure, with Captain Anthony  
and Crew of Andrea and Katie did a great job of getting us out to see  
the whales today.

Forty-five passengers from San Diego, Santa Monica, Camarillo,  
Pasadena, Seattle, Pittsburgh, PA, and Austria joined us for the fun.

Sightings:

Many pods of Common Dolphin from a few to hundreds in each.

Then, 4-5 Blues, ... BLUES folks, and by the hand full, thus far, so  
the Blues are in (some debate on actual count, viewed as two pairs and  
one single, all adults for sure, by crew and myself, Dick felt it was  
four and reported it as such with an asterisk to this note).

However, who's counting? Well, of course, we are.

The beauty of it was the very nice, long and beautiful day's run from  
VTA to Santa Rosa's Carrington Point and beyond for our first and only  
sighting of whales.   Calm seas, somewhat overcast, mild temperatures  
and not much wind made for a very pleasant run.  It was broken up with  
several nice pauses for Common Dolphin viewing with all the passengers  
up with cameras a clicking.  Many with babies, who were keeping up  
just fine and learning the finer skills and fun of bow and wake  
riding.  Waters were very clear, with nice crisp viewing of them  
underwater as well as the usual up and in surfacing for a quick gulp  
of air.

So it was looking kind of thin for whale watching until we final  
arrived off Carrington, sliding, some, on into the gap between SRI and  
SMI.  As we would look south, SMI is what we saw. And a nice clear  
view of it to boot.

Condor Express, out of Santa Barbara, came up to join us and was the  
first to spot one right in front on her, soon to be a pair of Blues.   
Then two more Blues showed near us and all these began moving about.   
Another showed, as it seemed, and the count became 5.  But this was  
really a challenge to absolutely verify as these guys were moving  
about quite a bit, but not really leaving the area.  So the one more,  
could have been one of the four, just drifting off to itself on  
occasion.  The show went on for a good hour to 1-1/4 hour.  Not much  
in the way of spectacular activity, but as they rose and slid through  
the water following the blow, you could easily see the size was huge.   
It took some time for their long body to follow through, glistening  
richly from the high afternoon summer sun, their sleek beauty, as  
always, awesome.

Only two or three fluke displays as these guys were just milling  
around, scoping us out, but hanging in there for the duration of the  
show.

Actually, the Condor had to break off, earlier than we, to return to  
port as we hung in there for a good bit longer before we, too, had to  
move on to SCI, and the good visit to Painted Cave.

ALL, were very satisfied for their fine day on the Channel and a solid  
peek at the beautiful Blues.

Dick Bellman and I hit it off great, for our first run together, with  
him keeping the sightings log tight and I giving the presentation at  
the start.  Many a good chat with the folks was had by us both.

Thanks Captain Anthony, Andrea and Katie for a great run.

Ken Tatro