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Its whale migration season here in SoCal. On the news they spotted 26 whales in a single pod a week or so ago off the coast. They said it may have been a record as thats a huge number...
Today was a nice clear day…I decided it would be nice to take the boat out and open up the sails for a bit. It has been on the news that its whale migrating season and quite a few whales have been seen off the coast. In the back of my mind I thought it would be nice to see a few but you never know. I have seen lots of Dolphin, a few Killer Whales and of course the local Sea Lions. The wind was very light maybe 5 knots. I shut the motor off and let the light breeze slowly glide the boat through the calm water when I heard something…Not sure what it was, I turned my music all the way down..I had some jazz playing lightly in the background. Then I heard it again. Yup thats a whale! I scanned the horizon and about a mile away I say the whale breaching! I started the motor and headed that way. I got to about the area I saw the whale and nothing…completely calm. Stapped the motor and again let the gentle breeze fill the sails. A few minutes later…WHOOSH right next to the boat! Scared the S___ out of me! It literally was 20 yards away. I saw the whale submerge and swim away from the boat…I grabbed my iPhone and recorded the rest…just a whale swimming and blowing his spout. To some that may be old hat, to me its just the coolest thing to be that close to nature.
Nice, just be careful of them, give them plenty of room, and leave them to it. You can get into a fair bit of trouble if you go motoring (or sailing) across to see them and end up harassing them. The definition of harassing is fairly grey, it can mean as little as making them change direction.
Another reason to keep your distance is that if you upset them in any way one may decide to perform a halyard inspection and drop 36 tons on your deck.
Very cool. We've seen a Right Whale around here as well. Cool to see but it does conjure up images of the whale getting too close, or are we too close? Only in America could I be accused of harassing a whale that is bigger than me and the boat combined.
It's a big deal to protect them around here. There are flights squadrons that go looking for them, ocean monitors, etc. Must be all the guilt from the significant industry in New England that essentially wiped them out in the 1800s.
That would indeed be exciting. I imagine those are grey whales headed north to BC and Alaska? Haven't seen them yet from our sailboat but planning on getting out in March with eyes peeled. Traditionally that's when they go through our waters.
You are fortunate that no one from the DEP observed your actions. One must be very circumspect when observing/coming upon whales incluidng shutting down motors and electronic noise generators (fathometers, stereos, etc.) that pump sound into the water when within 100 yards of a whale. For more infomation on requirements/limits see (click on) Guidelines | Pacific Whale Watch Association . These guidelines are important for the safety of the whales and your own.
I get the harassment thing. There were actually 2 other boats closer one on the whale watching tours. Another looked like a bug inflatable. They are heading south to Mexico from what understand. Last year a HUGE one surfaced behind me then went under and you could see the entire whale underwater. Wow was it big!
The Festival of Whales is first part of March, I'd recommend Capt. Dave's dolphin safari, sometimes the whales will swim between the hulls, also got underwater view areas. Whale Watching Excursions | Dana Point Festival of Whales
I saw them on a tour in Mexico a few years ago. It was impressive being in a RIB and having them all around you. I would have to all it almost a life altering experience.
Not on a sailboat, but these from a 20ft panga in the Sea of Cortez.
*edit* I don't recommend getting this close of course. I was lucky enough to be along with a whale researcher as part of his work. He is very experienced and above all very respectful of these amazing animals.
We got a glimpse of a couple in the Santa Monica Bay 2 weeks ago. They're majestic creatures. That pod off the coast of Palos Verdes was apparently the largest on record, as the OP states. I was returning to the harbor under sail alone when the whale broke the surface heading right at us. Moving at about 1 knot there wasn't anything I could do, it's really up to the whale how close we're both going to get. But of course, behind the whale were about a dozen paddleboarders and kayakers chasing it out into the ocean. Following them were a couple sailboats just motoring.
It's a shame some people really do harass them like that. Animals don't have a clue what we are and what we are doing. As spectators to an animal simply breathing and traveling, people should leave it alone. I totally understand how "awesome it feels" to be so close to it,and how "epic it is" but really, it's an unpredictable, huge, marine animal.
During this season you see the flyers at boat store counters displaying the safe viewing radius around sea animals - I'm sure almost all SailNet-ers know the rules already, so maybe we can just spread the word to tourists/rental boats, too.
Never for a second did I think "I haven't had enough of seeing this whale take a breath, I gotta go chase it so I can see it one more time" It was more like "I draw 5'6" deep right? It's going that way? Okay, okay good."
We got a glimpse of a couple in the Santa Monica Bay 2 weeks ago. They're majestic creatures. That pod off the coast of Palos Verdes was apparently the largest on record, as the OP states. I was returning to the harbor under sail alone when the whale broke the surface heading right at us. Moving at about 1 knot there wasn't anything I could do, it's really up to the whale how close we're both going to get. But of course, behind the whale were about a dozen paddleboarders and kayakers chasing it out into the ocean. Following them were a couple sailboats just motoring.
It's a shame some people really do harass them like that. Animals don't have a clue what we are and what we are doing. As spectators to an animal simply breathing and traveling, people should leave it alone. I totally understand how "awesome it feels" to be so close to it,and how "epic it is" but really, it's an unpredictable, huge, marine animal.
During this season you see the flyers at boat store counters displaying the safe viewing radius around sea animals - I'm sure almost all SailNet-ers know the rules already, so maybe we can just spread the word to tourists/rental boats, too.
Never for a second did I think "I haven't had enough of seeing this whale take a breath, I gotta go chase it so I can see it one more time" It was more like "I draw 5'6" deep right? It's going that way? Okay, okay good."
Agreed....once he surfaced, and went his own way...I just watched....I was shocked he surfaced so close to me initially...I was doing maybe 1 or 2 knots under sail and assumed he had left the area.
Couple of years back we spotted a whale (humback) tail slapping fairly close by. We headed on a course that would take us behind the whale and then parallel but at a safe distance. Next thing we know the whale disappears, only to reappear right on our stern. She sat there for five or ten minutes following us and then disappears again and returns with her calf. They then proceeded to dance around the boat, diving under and reemerging the other side sometimes so close one could almost touch them, the mother quite happy for the calf to be right alongside us while she loitered slightly further away.
After half an hour or so they waved a cheery goodbye and put many boat lengths on us in a matter of a few moments. We could not have outpaced them if we tried.
I was reminded of this thread while racing Saturday. We were headed back from Palos Verdes (Los Angeles) in very light wind when we spotted a whale about 400 yards off our beam. He was near a fishing skiff. The skiff sat there, then as son as the whale re-appeared, it motored to where the plume was. We watched it do this for 15 minutes. That couldn't possibly be legal.
very cool. never gets old seeing wildlife in their natural habitat. we seen tons of dolphins/manatees/rays etc in FL everytime was as exciting as the first time.
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