I couldn't believe my eyes!

[Halcyon Yachts]

I was on a boat yesterday afternoon, just approaching Dartmouth. Some huge splashes came into view - I wasn't sure at first what I was looking at!

A bit wobbly, I was on full zoom.

So what type do we think it is?

Pete

 

[Rumtotty]

get out your copy of yatching monthly and check!

 

[TiggerToo]

I would have said a Minke whale. It would fit with sightings in the area, however I read here that "Minke Whales do not fluke"...(http://wildwhales.org/minke-whale/) so it was something else, or a Minke which had not read the manual

 

[jac]

How fantastic to see that so clearly.

 

[Wandering Star]

Shame you didn't have a harpoon handy, a missed opportunity for a lifetime supply of margarine.

 

[Plevier]

Sailed (well, motored; head wind all the way from Portland) past there into Dartmouth at 05.30 yesterday but didn't see it!

 

[Ripster]

That is our regular sailing area so will keep a sharp look out, What is the correct nautical phrase for spotting a whale?

 

[Seven Spades]

Whaleshing

 

[Davy_S]

Can I hazard a guess at a Sperm whale, we have a few in the Ionian that seem to behave like that, the ferry hit one a few years ago and killed it.

 

[jac]

What is the correct nautical phrase for spotting a whale?

I believe it is "Holy shit - that better not land on our boat"

 

[RichardS]

Fantastic.

I just showed it to SWMBO and she says it might have been her in her bikini! :ambivalence:

Richard

 

[KellysEye]

We were sailing in the Canaries and a whale came in from our port side and turned to follow us quite close. It was awesome to watch.

 

[Kelpie]

Unlikely to be a Minke, they don't do that. How about a Humpback? Have been a few around up here of late.

 

[Homer Simpson's Lovechild]

Almost certainly a Humpback. Not resident but often seen round the UK . ( once saw one off the pier at Fort William )
Lucky to have bounced back after the Soviets undereported their Humpback catch up to 1986 by a staggering factor of 18.
Google "Soviet Whaling " for the environmental crime of the century.

 

[Harpsden]

That looks like Humpback behaviour to me having seen them before in various parts of the world. Wonderful creatures.

 

[Woodlouse]

I believe Right whales also go in for tail slapping but given their rarity a humpback would seem more likely.

 

[horatio_nelson]

Wow, that's fantastic, Pete

 

[jordanbasset]

Great video, but don't think it was a minke, this is a minke
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93ZDOcU2TL4

 

[Ripster]

I believe it is "Holy shit - that better not land on our boat"

 

[alan_d]

I believe Right whales also go in for tail slapping but given their rarity a humpback would seem more likely.

Right whales have a characteristic V-shaped blow, which the whale in the video did not.