Posted on 01/10/2020 11:20:12 AM PST by steveben
Isn’t that amazing? Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish reality.
Years ago when we were sailing as a family, about 9 miles off the coast of Maine, near Monhegan and Matinicus Islands, my youngest son and I got in a motorized skiff to see Common Puffins in that area. (I am a birdwatcher) The rest of the family sailed around the island.
All of a sudden there was a giant WHOOSH sound behind me. I turned to look and a Humpback was diving back down into the water. Scared the heck out of us as it was about 50 to 75 feet away and in a low boat like a skiff, it looked huge. My son started the motor to get away, but I stopped him as whales came in pods and there could be more around. Sure enough we saw more a short distance away, but not like that close one.
When we got back in the schooner, my son popped a can of soda and the sound made me jump!!
That whale was a small one : )
I actually know of a man who was killed by a whale. He and a friend were in a small fishing skiff in Morro Bay when it was hit by a whale. Has been quite a few years ago and don’t really remember exactly what happened but he died from it.
We have a tour boat in Ventura called Island Packers. The lady that owns it lives in our marina and if there’s space on board she’ll let you just jump on board. They are excellent at finding orcas, whales, etc. Last year I was on board and we wound up right in the middle of a bunch of humpbacks. One surfaced right beside the boat and blew. It was so close I could’ve leaned over and touched it. And yeah....wow the stink! I had never thought about the smell before because I’d seen them multiple times but had never been that close.
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