What to do when Whales ahead ?

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catmandoo

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On sail from Olbia Sardinia to Ponza 3 weeks ago was alone in great blue yonder when we spotted two fin whales ahead . Swimbo said dont go too close they might attack . Luckily they swam across our bows . However what is the correct procedure ??? And what do I do if whales start getting amourous ? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Start your engine. Under sail you may not make enough noise to warn them of your approach. We found a 60ft Fin whale 20 yds away on a converging course. As soon as I started an engine it turned away, much to our relief.
 
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what do I do if whales start getting amourous ?

Do you carry a snuffer?

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You mean one of those thingies to prevent conception ?

That was not what was on my mind at the time . I was more concerned about a playful pat from the tail , or a hump from a humpback if you get my drift . Once had a similar experience in a canoe out in the Mory firth with a school of dolphins who surfaced alongside to play patacake /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Re: What to do when Whales ahead ?

Agree echosounder running at all times is good preventative measure to keep all sorts of nasties away.
 
Re: What to do when Whales ahead ?

Interesting to hear your comments about echo sounder. I've heard that the opposite is true, especially if the whale is closeby. I've read that it can startle them, disorientate them or even make them curious. A recent ARC entrant had a whale violently 'nudge' them under the hull but went away once the echo sounder was turned off. Similarly, I've read that turning on the engine if a whale is nearby can startle them too, perhaps prevoking a defensive reaction. From what I've read (I've only seen a Pilot Whale nearby and a very large whale about a mile off), the situation to avoid at some distance is a female with a calf and many attacks are thought to be related to this protective instrinct.
 
Re: What to do when Whales ahead ?

Hi Mariposa,

We've tried our echo sounder a couple of times on our trips but it seemed to ATTRACT them despite our having read suggestions to the contrary!

We had a large orca (killer whale) circling the boat for over 3/4 hour last time, and tried the E/S, cassette player, shouting, and banging a spanner on the anchor, but it made no difference. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Frankly, we thought we were being sized up for it's lunch and it scared the hell out of us at first, particularly as the swell was large, so at times it was actually looking DOWN on us!! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

But we very gradually relaxed, as although it regularly slid just below our keel, turned and did it again, it didn't actually touch the boat. In the end, we just sat transfixed, watching this magnificent creature in it's element, and realising just how incredibly lucky we were to be allowed to witness it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

In hindsight we're glad it stayed with us for so long - a wonderful memory.

Cheers Jerry
 
Re: What to do when Whales ahead ?

Our echo sounder is on permanently and the whale didn't seem to be aware of us until I started an engine.
 
Re: What to do when Whales ahead ?

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We had a large orca (killer whale) circling the boat for over 3/4 hour last time, and tried the E/S, cassette player, shouting, and banging a spanner on the anchor, but it made no difference.

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That's interesting. The first time I ever took my three kids sailing, we were about four hours into it, in the East Kyle, we were surrounded by about a dozen porpoises for some time. They seemed to have chosen us over the alternative boats nearby - and we were the ones with "NOW 39" blasting out in the cabin, the three kids screeching and stomping around the deck. It seemed to attract them, maybe they were disco-dolphins.
Ref engine and E/S, we were motoing to Skye from Canna once in a calm, and suddenly a bloody huge minke whale popped up alongside. It stayed with us for 20 minutes, popping up alternately from port to starboard, so close you could have poked it in the eye. It had bad breath, too. It was clearly unfazed by motor or E/S.
I've got some pics somewhere.
Initially scary, but then wonderful.

Alistair
 
Re: What to do when Whales ahead ?

Can whales hear the frequency of an echo sounder? If they can, it will certainly let them know you are there. Was once in Biscay with the echo sounder on for that reason, and a pilot whale came alongside. Not the largest whale in the world but they look pretty big close up.
The water was too deep to register any depth until the whale went under the boat and the echo sounder started to read 3.00m. It didn't stay for long and was probably just curious. I don't believe they mean you any harm.
 
Things that go harrumph in the night.

We were anchored in Scalpsie Bay off Bute in about 7m, when the depth alarm went off at 0300ish, and showed about 2m. Quick flash of the torch and check of the GPS showed we hadn't moved.

Very puzzled and was just about to ignore it all and turn in, when I heard some watery beast clearing its breathing tube not far away. Presume it was a dolphin or some other mammal. When I checked the echosounder again, it had returned to 7 or 8m.
 
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