Whale Watching Incident

[FWT]

Highly likely to be a captain error.

Lots of power there and not to be messed with.

 

[Comodave]

Long time ago we were going down the Pacific coast in heavy fog. Our boat had twin Detroits in it so it certainly wasn’t quiet. The fog opened up a bit and there was a whale dozing on the surface directly in front of us about 100’ away. I started turning the boat and we passed beside the whale about 20’ off. I thought it would have heard the boat a long ways off, but apparently it didn’t.

 

[C lectric]

Whales are NOT very aware of us. As their numbers increase there are more close calls and collisions happening here.
They , even if they hear you, may not understand the meaning of the noise.

 

[SteveK]

I have been along side a grey whale, have had an orca approach and dive under the boat, tail on one side head on the other. One time in an aluminum cartopper was surrounded by feeding orca in 15 feet at river mouth. They were very aware we were there and would look at us before diving again.
From my experience they are very aware of you if you are slow moving or stopped. Noise in the water travels fast and loud, they need time to know where you are.

 

[Comodave]

We were doing about 8 knots when it happened to us.

 

[SteveK]

We were doing about 8 knots when it happened to us.

Dave 8 knots is not slow. walking speed is slow.
Have you ever dove and heard sounds but could not tell from what direction?

 

[Comodave]

15NM out in the Pacific 8 knots is pretty slow.

 

[SteveK]

15NM out in the Pacific 8 knots is pretty slow.

UNCLE

 

[slowgoesit]

15NM out in the Pacific 8 knots is pretty slow.

Dave, I'm CRUSHED! I just discovered that our cruise speed (7.5 kts) is not only slow, but SLOWER than slow . . .

Crushed, hurt and dismayed . . . I think I need a drink . . .

 

[Comodave]

Well that was 12 boats ago. Our current boat cruises at about 24 knots. But it does use a bit more fuel…

 

[Porgy]

Doesn’t take much effort to learn whales have excellent hearing, can hear outside the range of humans and can hear for hundreds of miles. Guessing they hear a boat but don’t think they have to move out of the way. Maybe they think that thing making a noise is smart enough to get out of their way. Maybe not. When I’m walking down the road and hear a car coming I don’t flee to the nearest building. I see it, know it’s there and assume it will stay away from me unless it appears it will not.

Whales may have evolved not needing to respond by running away since they are not prey. They weigh up to 90,000 lbs and can swim up to 30 mph. Unfortunately their evolution didn’t keep pace with man’s ability and propensity to kill everything in sight.

 

[Hippocampus]

Was sailing a 37’ cutter to Bermuda from Marion. Totally convinced a whale wanted to make love (or had a itch to scratch) to our boat. Would approach and attempt to rub against us. Was racing so didn’t want to turn on the motor which would be a DQ so banged pots, blasts from airhorn and changed direction. Fortunately (s)he didn’t touch us and swam away after some tight sphincter moments. Thing was considerably longer than the boat. Maybe she thought we were a calf as we had black bottom paint. Who knows.
We’re fortunate as whales are common off race point of P’town but rarely cause troubles. Bigger issue is the apparent major increase in the number of seals in our area. Whenever they come near you all fish disappear. They seem smart enough to follow the birds just like you and know the good spots. See them around you might as well move on as you rarely catch fish near them. Still it’s their world. We’re the visitors and should be good guests

 

[Mischief Managed]

We’re fortunate as whales are common off race point of P’town but rarely cause troubles. Bigger issue is the apparent major increase in the number of seals in our area. Whenever they come near you all fish disappear. They seem smart enough to follow the birds just like you and know the good spots. See them around you might as well move on as you rarely catch fish near them. Still it’s their world. We’re the visitors and should be good guests

The seals attract fish too. They are typically great and white.


We love P'town, it's a pleasant 6.5 hour cruise away from us and there's always plenty of room to anchor.

 

[psneeld]

Lots of whale sighting reports where the whale surfaced under or near a boat.

Sure they may hear your, doesn't mean a thing in many cases...why?...... don't know .

With many years on or over the water I have seen thousands of whales and kin. Some pods had hundreds in them.

Staying away from dolphins and orcas is a joke as they come right to you many times.

Right whales are called right whales for a reason...look it up.

The mysteries of nature have eluded us for centuries.... but we are slowly understanding a few every year.

 

[Hippocampus]

Don’t worry about dead whales floating. Do worry about my boat if we hit them. They can have 1/2 brain asleep other 1/2 awake. Sleep on the surface. You really don’t want to hit one sleeping on the surface. Remarkably hard to see night watch on passage.

 

[Osprey69]

Was sailing a 37’ cutter to Bermuda from Marion. Totally convinced a whale wanted to make love (or had a itch to scratch) to our boat. Would approach and attempt to rub against us. Was racing so didn’t want to turn on the motor which would be a DQ so banged pots, blasts from airhorn and changed direction. Fortunately (s)he didn’t touch us and swam away after some tight sphincter moments. Thing was considerably longer than the boat. Maybe she thought we were a calf as we had black bottom paint. Who knows.
We’re fortunate as whales are common off race point of P’town but rarely cause troubles. Bigger issue is the apparent major increase in the number of seals in our area. Whenever they come near you all fish disappear. They seem smart enough to follow the birds just like you and know the good spots. See them around you might as well move on as you rarely catch fish near them. Still it’s their world. We’re the visitors and should be good guests

Hippo...which Marion to Bermuda race were you in and on what boat? I have done about a dozen of those races on my boat and others...

 

[lwarden]

I nearly it a blue whale just off Catalina in my previous 26' boat going 20 knots. I was on my own and if I'd hit it expect I would be thrown from the boat. Installed a lanyard kill switch after that an wore an inflatable PFD when on my own.

I'm sure some of you saw this, but there are some pesky orcas off Spain which are causing damage to boats. Maybe getting their own back on us humans for messing up their home....

https://youtu.be/Y-CYjFy_Alg

 

[Hippocampus]

Also done them often. Over 20 + years alternate Newport with Marion so at least 10. That event was on another hippocampus a Tayana 37. Mid 1990s.

 

[Benthic2]

If you would like to see a story about how intelligent and intuitive whales can be, here's a story of a pod of Orcas helping whalers.

https://blogs.scientificamerican.co...f-old-tom-and-the-gruesome-law-of-the-tongue/

 

[AZ2Loop]

In the video in post 1 I love how they say: "an official said the vicious bump may have come as a surprise to the captain." Yeah, I'm pretty sure it did!

 

[ronobrien]

I have been along side a grey whale, have had an orca approach and dive under the boat, tail on one side head on the other. One time in an aluminum cartopper was surrounded by feeding orca in 15 feet at river mouth. They were very aware we were there and would look at us before diving again.
From my experience they are very aware of you if you are slow moving or stopped. Noise in the water travels fast and loud, they need time to know where you are.

I have been on 2 sail deliveries when we saw whales. One was about 100-150 YDS away. I think it was a sperm whale with the large flat tail. I am not a marine biologist, I can only tell you that it was a BFW.

 

[rgano]

I was OOD on USS Denver, a steam-powered 570-foot, 17,000-ton amphibious warfare vessel in the middle of the Pacific on a clear, calm day. We were doing about 16 knots when I spotted (the only time in my years at sea) a sperm whale mother and calf crossing our path from starboard to port. The water was crystal clear, and the sight was just astounding. It quickly became apparent that they believed that I was the give-way vessel and were not about to either dive or alter their course. I did not have time to argue that they were not powered vessels and thereby not eligible for stand-on vessel status - I just called for hard right rudder, and everybody came away clean.

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

Under the category of: “Can’t we move the Deer Crossing signs down the road where it’s safer”…

Shouldn’t whales be outfitted with nav lights??

 

[rgano]

Under the category of: “Can’t we move the Deer Crossing signs down the road where it’s safer”…

Shouldn’t whales be outfitted with nav lights??

Or at least the flashing yellow light subs display when surfaced.

Hey, how about a radar reflector?