Whale Lands on Yacht

[TreeMounT]

Whale is well ?

[BlueSeas]

Holy Mackerel! What a photo op! I can't even get the birds around here to cooperate for a good shot!

[maxingout]

Whales jumping on boats are improbable, but are a worry when travelling in an area where the whales are migrating. When we sailed up the great barrier reef, we saw lots of humpbacks breaching all around our yacht. On two or three occasions, we saw them swim right up to the stern and then dive under the yacht. It always made me uncomfortable.

When we were in the Med, there was a mom and baby whale frolicking off to starboard and we motored over to watch them, approaching within about 10 feet. No problem. Then we noticed the male whale about 100 meters away turning in our direction and heading straight for Exit Only. That was a bit of a worry. He came up beside our yacht and surfaced under the bridgedeck making sqeaking and squealing noises echoing between the hulls. That was also a worry. After he finished checking us out, he swam away without doing anything to our catamaran. That was a relief.

http://maxingout.com/Whales.wmv

This is a bit of a hokey video, but it gives you the idea.

They may have been pilot whales, but I don't know much about whales, so I am not sure what they were.

[watchkeeper]

In 2007 or 2008 a rare adult white sperm whale took offence at a 30 - 35ft GRP bare boat charter sloop out of Cairns on the Grest Barrier Reef and threw itself on the vessel. Simular result to earlier posting, stauntions, mast, rigging all cactus, the French couple slightly injured were'nt at all impressed with Australia idea of sea food delivery, managed to get back to port and very soon after France. Probably keen caravaners now.
The whale was filmed later same day by AirSea rescue in the area leaking blood and promptly fined by Australian authorities for reef polution. First bit is true anyway, second bit who knows, Aussie watchdogs are pedantic

[PatrickS]

D**n punk rockers!

[Boomp]

Whale of a story I can envision the 'federal investigation' and 'new regulations' that would take place if it happened here....Knowing the recent history, they'll probably outlaw sailing near whales as a precautionary measure anyways

[kevingy]

If you look closely at the first photo, the whale is out of the water higher than the boom. The whale's shadow is cast on the boat. Yet, the helmsman is calmly looking straight ahead. There's not even a hint of surprise in his stance. He's not startled at all. The article says "There was hardly any wind, so we couldn't get out of the way," said Werner. The photo shows a full headsail and a flying flag.

While I can believe this actually happened, in my opinion this photo is a hoax. The before and after pictures were real. The whale was added later somewhere in between.

[mikereed100]

I would be inclined to suspect photoshop if the same thing hadn't happened here in Santa Barbara a few years back involving a Grey whale and a small powerboat. All survived but for weeks afterward you could see the boat in the marina with a stove in cabin top festooned with bits of whale skin.

Mike

[sarafina]

oh, not sayin the event didn't happen, just that that is not a photo of the event.

[paulrack]

It did happen, the boat is parked in the harbour. My understanding was that the photo was taken from a whale watching tourist boat as there had been a lot of whale activity in the area just before the whale landed on the boat. Maybe the skipper had slow reactions.

[David M]

Originally Posted by Boomp

Whale of a story I can envision the 'federal investigation' and 'new regulations' that would take place if it happened here....Knowing the recent history, they'll probably outlaw sailing near whales as a precautionary measure anyways

It already exists in the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

[dennisjay]

Wow. Whale of a tale! 40-ton mammal lands on yacht - World news - Africa - msnbc.com

[h20man]

It did happen, and according to statements from the crew, they "harassed" the whale, causing the territorial animal to do what comes naturally.

(from Mercury )

[Fezela 32]

Those so called reports also said that the yacht (a 32 foot steel sloop) was "speeding" towards the whale.... Speeding? Yeah sure. I think it's more likely the whalewatching operators in their motorboats were harrassing the whales, IF that's what happened.
Besides, I'm more likely to believe the expert views of a marine biologist, than a tourboat operator or a marine activist....

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Boomp

Whale of a story I can envision the 'federal investigation' and 'new regulations' that would take place if it happened here....Knowing the recent history, they'll probably outlaw sailing near whales as a precautionary measure anyways

Check your chart notes next time in Cape Cod Bay. Of course they can say not closer than 500 feet, but if the whale doesn't understand this what difference does it make!