OPT -- 2025 in Review

We have just come off the most frustrating year since Oregon Pelagic Tours began operations in 2015. On the calendar, we had a repostioning cruise and 10 pelagic trips scheduled, 11 with an attempt to reschedule. Two (Ilwaco in April and a Newport intro trip in July) failed to garner sufficient sign-up to run. Our Garibaldi boat had mechanical issues and forced us to cancel the All-Womens pelagic in August, its make-up date in September, and our September Garibaldi trip. Lastly the weather, always a consideration, prevented both our October Newport trips and our December trip from going out. Thus the only trips that made it out were August 30 (Newport), September 21 (Newport), and October 5 (Garibaldi).  Fortunately, our Spring Repositioning Cruise onboard the Zaandam was well attended and so OPT started the year well, however a success rate of 33% does not bode well for profitablity. 
Despite the difficult year in 2025, we are looking forward to a better 2026! Our 2026 Pelagic Schedule will be online before Christmas. 

Updates-- Short and Sweet

Let's start with the good news. On August 30, our Newport pelagic experienced the calmest sea conditions we are likely to see this year. Waves 1 to 2 feet, and light winds. (For seabirds very lights winds are not actually a positive, but so it goes.) We had two albatross species, and read the band on a Laysan Albatross. We have submitted that information anmd look forward to finding out where it is from. This trip also had South Polar Skua, three shearwater species, Long-tailed and Pomarine Jaegers, and even a couple of Tufted Puffins.

Also in the good news column: Our 9/14, 9/21, and 10/5 trips are full, and the 10/12 trip has only two more spots available. The December trip has decent sign-up, and I am sure we will with fill it, or come close. The only trip lagging behind is 10/25, but we still have time to get enough people to run it.
 
Now for the bad news: our 9/7 Garibaldi trip had to cancel due to engine problems on our boat. We had people coming from out of state, so there were a lot of disappointed people. Hopefully, the issue is resolved and our 9/14 All-Women pelagic will have no problems.

August 30 Newport pelagic is full!

 The 8-hour pelagic out of Newport on August 30 is now full. You may put your name on the waitlist, or better yet, join one of our other scheduled pelagics, all of which have space. 

OPT Updates

Registration for Oregon Pelagic Tours's pelagics is ongoing. 

On the positive side, the All-Women Trip scheduled out of Garibaldi on August 17 only needs four more women to run as planned. 
I am proud to say that our May cruise ship experience did fill all spaces, and should provide all attendees with a special experience. I can assure everyone that doing a repositioning cruise not only offers the chance to see amazing birds, but is also probably the most comfortable pelagic anyone is likely to take. 
Fall trips are starting to pick up. August through October offers Oregon pelagic birders the greatest diversity of birds species. 
On the negative side, two of our specialty trips are not doing so well. We did not achieve the minimum sign-up necessary to run the April 26th Ilwaco pelagic. The high cost of the boat requested by the charter required a trip cost that made this Pacific County pelagic unattractive to pelagic enthusiasts. 
Our introductory, 6-hour pelagic on July 13 is is a little early for maximum bird species diversity, and for that reason, probably not that appealing to OPT regulars. It is nevertheless a great trip for beginning pelagic birders or those who can't tolerate a long day on the ocean. This trip does need a lot more sign-up to be assured of going. 

Newport trips confirmed!

 Rob Waddell, skipper and part-owner of Newport Tradewinds, our charter company in Newport, has informed me that our proposed schedule has been confirmed. To make sure you are able to take the trip you want, sign up right away! 

OPT Updates: Women's Exclusive Pelagic, Spring Ilwaco Pelagic, Repo Cruise Full

While we are still awaiting schedule confirmation from Newport Tradewinds, Oregon Pelagic Tours is happy to announce two new pelagics in 2025. On April 26, we will be offering an 8-hour trip out of Ilwaco. This trip will concentrate on birding waters of Pacific County, WA. And on August 17, women wishing to bird with other women will have the chance to do so, as Tamara of Garibaldi Charters will be the skipper of an  all-female pelagic. (Disclaimer: if we are not able to reach the minimum number of women to run this trip, we will be opening it to people of all gender identities.)  Finally, registration is now closed for the spring repositioning cruise aboard the Zaandam May 3-7. OPT prides itself on its customer service and we have determined that 12 people is the maximum number of participants that will allow us to provide the high level of service to which we we aspire.