Words & Photos - Ava G. & Jason L.
Our third expedition day started in the classroom with Mr. Kerr, learning to read charts. We used dividers and protractors to plot exact locations using latitude and longitude as well as degrees relevant to other landmarks. We also tested our knot tying skills, creating reef knots, sheet bends, round turns and two half hitches, finally attempting to tie bowline knots behind our backs. We all look forward to putting these skills to use during our final sailing expedition.
In the second half of our day we went whale watching with Eagle Wing tours. The skies were grey and misting, but thankfully it didn’t rain for our three hour tour. The boat was a large catamaran with plenty of outside space as well as a cozy, indoor compartment. Just as we were leaving Fisherman’s Wharf, the captain received a radio transmission about whales nearby. Within fifteen minutes, we found a pair of humpback whales feeding in a bay. We watched as they surfaced between dives for krill. It was really incredible to see these massive animals up close as they gracefully navigated the waters despite their grand size. The crew on the boat were quite excited about one of the humpbacks, as it was a juvenile they hadn’t identified before. After following them for some time, we changed directions and went south, further into the Juan de Fuca Strait. We were looking for pods of orcas. Although we didn’t find any, it was really fun to look at Victoria and the island from our unique perspective. On our way back, we went along the coastline, waving at hikers along the East Sooke Park trail. Our last stop was Race Rocks, a cluster of islands just off the the southernmost tip of the island. There we saw Harbour seals, California sea lions and Steller sea lions. Overall, the day was really eye opening and we learned a lot on and off the water.