Dolphin Encounter lower Chesapeake Bay

[thomm225]

So I had a nice sail this weekend and on the first day a dolphin surfaced right beside the boat and scared the crap out of me.

So I was thinking I wish I had my camera ready but then he/she surfaced again so I grabbed my old camera (wish I had something better for what was about to occur) and turned it on hoping I had it on video record. I don't use it often and the Sun makes it hard to see the settings.

So I recorded these guys for about 30 minutes from the cockpit of my boat and saw their pattern of coming up from behind port side then crossing the bow.

So I decided to go forward to get better video and this is it but I wish it was better.....anyway, I think they saw me when I went forward because they or she maybe would come up like before but would turn her head sideways to look up at this being on this floating object. I was slow to realize what she was doing at first but when she looked directly at me I knew what was going on. Just like me, they were curious. I say she from watching them earlier and how they reacted to each other.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1n7hNqyVIE

[Orion Jim]

Nice that you were able to get video of those bottlenose dolphins. I’ve tried to get photos over the years but my results are frequently splashes and tails.

[chris mac]

In the spring we had a pod playing at the bow, shortly after sunrise. We hadn't noticed them yet and one swam alongside, repeatedly jumping out of the water high enough that we saw it above the lifelines!
As we went forward it joined the rest of it's family at the bow.
In 2 years of cruising, I've lost count of the number of times a pod has swam alongside us. I do know that it's just as exciting every time!

[Fore and Aft]

thomm225 we love our dolphins and never get sick of them. This year for the first time ever we had a dolphin follow us right into the marina and only dive under us and leave as we turned into our marina berth. Talk about awesome.
Cheers

[Zugbug99]

Fantastic day had by all! Dolphins look like they are having fun. Thank you for sharing!

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Fore and Aft

thomm225 we love our dolphins and never get sick of them. This year for the first time ever we had a dolphin follow us right into the marina and only dive under us and leave as we turned into our marina berth. Talk about awesome.
Cheers

That does sound awesome! They seem to be very smart and want to know what's happening "up there."

[daviddiscenza]

There is a group from the University of Maryland studying dolphins in the Bay. They would probably welcome this video and any information you can share. Here's the link to their site: https://chesapeakedolphinwatch.org/

[Flatswing]

Great vids.
We often have dolphins follow us. They seem to love the place besides our trawler at our Naiad fins. They, like yours,often swim on their sides. We can’t decide if they are curious about the fins or whether that location allows them to surf the break between our bow & stern waves at our usual 7-7.5 knots, they hardly seem to move their tails.

[LouK]

Last summer we saw a pod of dolphins as far north on the Chesapeake as Thomas Point Light (6 miles south of Annapolis)- a real thrill.

[caffel]

Nice video.
I do see that occasionally they seem to turn sideways yo the boat to wait for the bow wave.
You may want to sail faster to keep their attention:smile

[nortonscove]

My wife refers to them as the ocean's go-go dancers because when they show up it's party party party. Had about half a dozen on our last sail home prior to hauling out. Good end to the season.

[dannc]

Knock on wood but every time we go out sailing we see dolphins! It never gets old seeing them.

Sometimes it is just one or two but usually a few more go swimming by. They always seem to in a hurry to go somewhere.

A few times they do play on the bow but not for long. They have some thing to do, somewhere to go and they speed off to that something and somewhere. Love to know what they are up too.

We have stayed at a high rise condo that can see the ocean where we are sailing. Every morning we have seen the pod cruise the beach feeding. Then we have seen the same pod while sailing. They certainly have a routine they follow.

Wish a few of them would carry a GoPro and Spot so we could see what they are doing and where they go.

Later,
Dan

[Bill Seal]

"Dolphins and Porpoises
Viewing dolphins in their natural habitat is an educational and enriching experience if done safely and responsibly. As human interactions with wild dolphins increase, the risk of disturbing or injuring them also increases. Never feed a dolphin—it’s harmful and illegal. Always stay at least 50 yards away from dolphins (1/2 a football field) when viewing from watercraft. In some locations, the minimum distance may be 100 yards—know before you go."

Apparantly, dolphins don't know how to read.

Or "experts" don't know how to think.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by daviddiscenza

There is a group from the University of Maryland studying dolphins in the Bay. They would probably welcome this video and any information you can share. Here's the link to their site: https://chesapeakedolphinwatch.org/

Will do.

Thanks.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Bill Seal

"Dolphins and Porpoises
Viewing dolphins in their natural habitat is an educational and enriching experience if done safely and responsibly. As human interactions with wild dolphins increase, the risk of disturbing or injuring them also increases. Never feed a dolphin—it’s harmful and illegal. Always stay at least 50 yards away from dolphins (1/2 a football field) when viewing from watercraft. In some locations, the minimum distance may be 100 yards—know before you go."

Apparantly, dolphins don't know how to read.

Or "experts" don't know how to think.

Good one!

I couldn't have stayed 50 yards away from these guys if I tried.

Winds were light and even if there were strong winds I believe they (the dolphins) can swim at speeds close to 19 knots for short periods anyway