Big Fish, what are they?

[Croak]

I know they are not fish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZyNbanw1rg

 

[ghostlymoron]

They look like common dolphins to me. Wonder why his headsails reefed on such a lovely day.

 

[Croak]

First time out with new(to me) furling gear. I was just using the old sheet cleats until I work out where I need the new ones. This head sail reefed is the same size as the original not reefed.

The main sheet was also a mess as I have rigged up a new system to stop the loose end disappearing down the outboard hole. It didn't work so I have reverted back to the old system

 

[PlankWalker]

They look like bottle-nose dolphins to me

 

[elton]

Porpoise.

Why do folk shoot video in that orientation?

 

[elton]

Gairloch porpoise:

 

[Croak]

Porpoise.

Why do folk shoot video in that orientation?

Cos it is new. I have enough trouble switching it on in the daylight then finding the camera to think about orientation, but I will endevour to get the next one in the correct orientation.

 

[Orion Jim]

Those appear to be atlantic white sided dolphins in elton's video. Saw them sailing singlehanded to Bermuda this spring. Never had a free hand to get a photograph or a video.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

From the shape of the dorsal fin I would say that bottlenose dolphin is more likely than porpoise.

 

[johnalison]

According to Melville, it was normal practice among whalers to call whales fish, so calling dolphin fish would have historical precedent.

 

[KellysEye]

The are Dolphins and all creatures are animals subdivided into fish, birds etc.

 

[Laurie]

From the shape of the dorsal fin I would say that bottlenose dolphin is more likely than porpoise.

Don't think they are harbour porpoise...too big, also large group by HP standards, although occasionally does happen.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

They appear to be ignoring the yacht, which is behaviour more like porpoises than dolphins. Not Harbour porpoises, though - too big. Pilot Whales look likely; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-finned_pilot_whale

 

[Sybarite]

They appear to be ignoring the yacht, which is behaviour more like porpoises than dolphins. Not Harbour porpoises, though - too big. Pilot Whales look likely; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-finned_pilot_whale

Definitely. I've seen them several times: Med, S. Brittany, Canaries and British Colombia.

 

[Croak]

Gosh, I was expecting a simple answer. They were just off the Cumbria coast. They came to visit 3 times over two hours and did play around under the boat.

 

[trapezeartist]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69fZX3Pzw8Q&list=UUtCRIVE9a6VB0AeLDrPDVtQ

 

[PlankWalker]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69fZX3Pzw8Q&list=UUtCRIVE9a6VB0AeLDrPDVtQ

These are common dolphins much smaller than the bottle-nose that Croak saw.

 

[Sybarite]

Gosh, I was expecting a simple answer. They were just off the Cumbria coast. They came to visit 3 times over two hours and did play around under the boat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globicephala#mediaviewer/File:Globicephala_melas_Cape_Breton_group.jpg

Globicéphales/pilot whales