C-Dory vs. Friendly Humpback whale video on You tube

Jasongalbavy

Hello folks!

It has been a while since I've checked in here.

Since I've got some more time on my hands as of late, I wanted to share a little video with you all taken on our C-Dory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFg1iJVWS8g

Enjoy,

Jason

thataway · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 11:00 pm Post subject:

Close as any I have seen--Nice video.

Hunkydory · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 11:27 pm Post subject:

Jason, we loved it!! Over the years we've had them close around & under our C-Dory, but never quite like that. Thanks much for sharing.

Jay

JamesTXSD · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 11:48 pm Post subject:

Love that sound!

C-Val · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 11:57 pm Post subject:

Ok that was amazing! (and a bit scary)

South of Heaven · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 12:33 am Post subject:

Yes, scary. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! But scary. I seriously can't imagine what my reaction would be! And btw, we have our fair share amount of whales in the outer Boston Harbor and Buzzards Bay/ Cape Cod Bay during the season. But I don't know what I would do if I encountered one that close......(probably I'd be yelling like a school girl)

hardee · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 2:23 am Post subject:

Oh wow, That is close. Closer than I was hoping for last summer. Great pix opportunity, and glad teh boat is still afloat.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

hardee · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 7:13 pm Post subject:

I forgot to ask, did that whale actually touch your boat?

I have had Orca up close and personal once, close but never touched.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

AJF · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 7:56 pm Post subject:

I often wondered if you had this situation happen to you in Alaska, would you be charged under the Whale Viewing Regulations. https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/pr/mm-viewing-guide

T.R. Bauer · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 9:42 pm Post subject:

I have actually had that very same thing happen 2 times in the Gulf of Alaska and both times were on the hook while halibut fishing. I've been out there tons of times over 20 or so years, so twice makes it a pretty rare event. Anyway, if they swim up like that there is little you can do except wait for them to go as any other action puts them in danger. I got completed slobbered with whale sneeze/snot the first time this happened. My wife got a big kick out that, but it was really gross. Now, lesson learned, I go sit in the cabin as they are carriers of TB (so the rangers say) and I don't need that. It's certainly exciting to have happen!

thataway · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 10:10 pm Post subject:

Hunkydory · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 11:45 pm Post subject:

Jasongalbavy · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 2:54 pm Post subject:

OK, here is the whole the story...

It was Kitimat Coho derby weekend (August 30th). To get away from the masses, and since the weather forecast was good, we decided to head out to "open water" to meet some friends(who also have a C-Dory) and enjoy the weekend fishing and exploring new territory.

The run to open water is about 150kms one way. We were heading through Whale channel (we had seen literally dozens of whales up to this point) when we noticed a breaching whale close to a kilometer off our bow. The current/tide was running out and it was a beautiful day, so I shut the motor down to drift, make lunch and maybe take some photos ( I put the telephoto lens on the camera).

I noticed the whale was swimming towards us, but paid no heed as it was still several hundred yards away (maybe 5-600 yards). My son started yelling, rather frantically, "close my window, close my window!". I looked out the port side window to see a giant whale eyeball looking into the cabin of the boat at us! The whale's entire head was out of the water and her eye was about 12" from the open window!(I have no idea if it was male or female but I'm calling it a she).

I grabbed my slr and tried to grab a few shots but since the telephoto was on, only got blubber. She exhaled a few time directly into the cabin of the boat and stunk the place up, including totally greasing the lense of my camera.

She swam around the boat a few time and then swam under it, upside down. She had a flipper on both side of the boat and was scratching her chin on the skeg of my motor. You could feel the boat raising up and down and she humped the underside of the boat

My crew was pleading with me to get us out of there; but starting the motor was out of the question with a 40 ton animal scratching her chin on my prop.

I ran back into the cabin and grabbed my iphone and continued taking photos and that video.

I will figure out how to post pics on this site as I got a couple decent ones.

The entire encounter lasted 5 or more minutes, the video was of her departure.

I'm not sure I could have done anything differently. And the whale approached us, swimming against the current to meet us. We skipped lunch as I was making smoked salmon sandwiches at the time; no one was interested in lunch, let alone fish for lunch as her breath was still lingering.

I have had numerous whale experiences previously, including being surrounded by 4 or 5 humpbacks while halibut fishing (anchored up). In discussions with other more experienced seaman, we had encountered what is called a "friendly".[/i]

It was an awesome experience, but now when we see whales I ask the crew is they want to stop to check them out all I get is silent headshaking. Rolling Eyes

Anyways, now you have the rest of the story....

Jasongalbavy · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 2:56 pm Post subject:

And yes she was scratching her back on our rub rail. I guess that's what its for... Shocked

starcrafttom · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 4:17 pm Post subject:

How could your crew not LOVE this. Its what we always hope for. Nature is not a post card or video reach out and touch it.