was sailing from wide bay to mooloolaba (boat not windsurfer)when two humpback whales surfaced about 3 metres from the boat.I reckon they were sussing me out. AMAZING. now know why people go on these whale watching tours.

Its been awhile but seen dolphins and seals windsurfing, luckily no close encounters with sharks. But years ago when I used to ocean race have seen lots of wildlife, not so much in recent years. Best include:

Sailing in light winds we ended up creeping up to what appeared to be a sleeping whale in our path - got within about 2 boat lengths when it suddenly realised and took off with an amazing commotion.

Sailing back from Rotto when I was a young kid on a 24" yacht and had a shark cruise about 10" off our side - was huge - about 2/3rds the yachts length - stayed with us for several minutes.

On a long race, again in light airs had the skipper over the stern emptying and cleaning a bucket (of you know what). He jumped back into the cockpit in a huge leap - a large shark poked its head out of the water just a few feet away from him and was looking at him - truly amazing - though I only saw his reaction and the shape of the shark as it slipped away.

Other encounters include huge dark moving objects in the water - shape gives them away as probably sunfish. Always was great returning from Geraldton in stong southerlies and having whales breaching nearby.

Shame though - there didn't appear to be as much large wildlife around in my latter years of ocean racing.

quote:

---

Originally posted by TonyC
Sailing back from Rotto when I was a young kid on a 24" yacht and had a shark cruise about 10" off our side - was huge - about 2/3rds the yachts length - stayed with us for several minutes.

---

Wow, a 16 inch shark? I'd be scared too!

Years ago when i used to sail Woodies a fair bit, there was a seal that popped his head up in the shallows on the northside as i was heading in. scared the **** out of me.

seen nothing whilst sailing the GC, and i will be happy to keep it that way.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sailhack

.
The biggest was a 5m great white, my wife actually leant over and patted it!!!

---

I heard it call a lot of things, but never that

quote:

---

Its been awhile but seen dolphins and seals windsurfing,

---

Not that I don't believe you but is it possible some form of hallucinagenic substances were being consumed at the time.

Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck.

Sitting in a 10ft tinny, fishing and minding our own business, dead flat windless afternoon in a pretty remote spot in the NT (Coburg Peninsula) a Manta Ray launches 4' to 5'out of the water and lands bellyflop style about 10 metres from the boat making a huge noise/splash and scaring the absolute b'jesus out of everyone present.

This happened a few times over the 3 years we were up there but I've never seen or heard of it happening since.

J-P

quote:

---

Originally posted by sin101

Salties, box jellies, drunk idiot TERRITORIANS in tinnies with tinnies. All this with 12knts and 5m tides. Why do I even bother rigging......2 more months till I'm outa here. Sandy pt bring it on!!!!

---

A-FRIGIN-MEN!

quote:

---

Originally posted by jquigley

quote:

---

Its been awhile but seen dolphins and seals windsurfing,

---

Not that I don't believe you but is it possible some form of hallucinagenic substances were being consumed at the time.

Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck.

---

Yes octopuses would have a better chance, unless somebody had put velcro on the end of the seal's flippers and boom.

In the past week - 1 whale, 2 dolphins, a coupla jellyfish and a small shark. Doing my civic duty, I told the lifeguards about the shark and they just smiled at me. Like they were stoned or something.