Whale hits boat today.

[Tom]

Boaters along the waterfront in Morro Bay, California are talking about a whale that hit a boat today just south of here. Presumably a California Gray Whale because that's what we mainly get along this coast. The whale breeched and then came down right on top of a 24 foot Radon fishing boat just south of here. The last I heard the Captain is presumed killed and the Coasties are looking for him or a body around Pismo Beach where they figure he would have drifted by now. Morro Bay is in central California by the way. 200 miles north of Los Angeles and 200 miles south of San Francisco. Two guys were below sleeping at the time and they figure that saved their lives. Neither of them knew how to work the radio so it took a little while to summon help. They say there were chunks of blubber stuck on sharp things. People didn't seem to be sure whether the boat ultimately sank and the CG picked up the survivors, or whether the boat was towed back in.

My personal encounters with the California gray whales leads me to think that they are not aggressive and don't attack boats as Killer Whales are sometimes reputed to do. However they also don't fear anything in the water and proceed about their business without regard to your presence even though they may be able to locate you with their echo sounding ability. Like the legendary 600 pound gorilla they expect you to get out of their way if you have any sense.

BTW have you noticed that all the attacks by killer whales on small boats have been on wooden boats? "Survive the Savage Sea" etc. Maybe fiberglass boats give off an echo that killer whales can distinguish from wooden boats and they think that wooden boats are other whales trying to invade their territory. I like to think so at least.

Thirty years ago I was motoring up the coast near San Francisco in a fog. Suddenly I noticed an enormous 6 foot black fin sticking out of the water right behind me maybe a boat length back. I said to myself, I wonder if it's following me? So I steered a zig zag course for a little bit to see what it would do. It stayed right behind me the exact same distance back. So I slowed down and it slowed down. I sped up and it sped up. I can tell you this gives one a really creepy feeling. I began to recall stories in books about killer whale attacks on small boats and started wondering if he was putting out a call to his buddies and was just keeping track of me until they got there to help. I wondered if maybe he was just enjoying the bubbles in my prop wash like a dog sticks its head out the car window to feel the breeze, because he was dead centered behind me. A happy ending because after about 20 minutes or a half hour he peeled off and went about his business. Maybe a juicy meal swam by and he couldn't resist or maybe he just finally got bored. I've never forgotten it though.



TomCambria@mindspring.com

[Warren Kaplan]

Tom,
Brings back the story of the Whaleship Essex. She setsail from Nantucket in 1819 and 15 months later was rammed and sunk by an enraged sperm whale in the South Pacific. What the survivors went through in the life boats, including cannabalism and 3000 miles at sea, makes for a remarkable book. When they finally were rescued and got back to Massachusetts they reported what had happened to them. One of the people of the day that was given this information was Herman Melville. There is no question that the calamity that befell the Whaleship Essex influenced Melville to write Moby Dick some years later.

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, New York



Setsail728@aol.com

[BobM]

Tom,
Brings back the story of the Whaleship Essex. She setsail from Nantucket in 1819 and 15 months later was rammed and sunk by an enraged sperm whale in the South Pacific. What the survivors went through in the life boats, including cannabalism and 3000 miles at sea, makes for a remarkable book. When they finally were rescued and got back to Massachusetts they reported what had happened to them. One of the people of the day that was given this information was Herman Melville. There is no question that the calamity that befell the Whaleship Essex influenced Melville to write Moby Dick some years later.

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, New York

================================================================

Six years sailing on a bended knee we found no whales
in the sea. I lad, we seek the white whale.

Great stuff Warren, the story of legends. A cup of
grog and a good book by the fire.

Bob
Ranger #144



Ranger1442@hotmail.com

[Dennis]

FWIW
A year ago (or so) the Boat US magazine had a photo of a breaching whale right next to a sailboat off the New England coast. If I remember correctly, the caption mentions the that the whale is displaying a defensive posture ie. "go away"

Boaters along the waterfront in Morro Bay, California are talking about a whale that hit a boat today just south of here. Presumably a California Gray Whale because that's what we mainly get along this coast. The whale breeched and then came down right on top of a 24 foot Radon fishing boat just south of here. The last I heard the Captain is presumed killed and the Coasties are looking for him or a body around Pismo Beach where they figure he would have drifted by now. Morro Bay is in central California by the way. 200 miles north of Los Angeles and 200 miles south of San Francisco. Two guys were below sleeping at the time and they figure that saved their lives. Neither of them knew how to work the radio so it took a little while to summon help. They say there were chunks of blubber stuck on sharp things. People didn't seem to be sure whether the boat ultimately sank and the CG picked up the survivors, or whether the boat was towed back in.

My personal encounters with the California gray whales leads me to think that they are not aggressive and don't attack boats as Killer Whales are sometimes reputed to do. However they also don't fear anything in the water and proceed about their business without regard to your presence even though they may be able to locate you with their echo sounding ability. Like the legendary 600 pound gorilla they expect you to get out of their way if you have any sense.

BTW have you noticed that all the attacks by killer whales on small boats have been on wooden boats? "Survive the Savage Sea" etc. Maybe fiberglass boats give off an echo that killer whales can distinguish from wooden boats and they think that wooden boats are other whales trying to invade their territory. I like to think so at least.

Thirty years ago I was motoring up the coast near San Francisco in a fog. Suddenly I noticed an enormous 6 foot black fin sticking out of the water right behind me maybe a boat length back. I said to myself, I wonder if it's following me? So I steered a zig zag course for a little bit to see what it would do. It stayed right behind me the exact same distance back. So I slowed down and it slowed down. I sped up and it sped up. I can tell you this gives one a really creepy feeling. I began to recall stories in books about killer whale attacks on small boats and started wondering if he was putting out a call to his buddies and was just keeping track of me until they got there to help. I wondered if maybe he was just enjoying the bubbles in my prop wash like a dog sticks its head out the car window to feel the breeze, because he was dead centered behind me. A happy ending because after about 20 minutes or a half hour he peeled off and went about his business. Maybe a juicy meal swam by and he couldn't resist or maybe he just finally got bored. I've never forgotten it though.

[Warren Kaplan]

Six years sailing on a bended knee we found no whales
in the sea. I lad, we seek the white whale.

Great stuff Warren, the story of legends. A cup of
grog and a good book by the fire.

Bob
Ranger #144

Bob,
You've got that right. How can you beat writing like this from Moby Dick (Ahab speaking);
Aye, aye! and I'll chase him round Good Hope, and round the Horn, and round the Norway Maelstrom, and round perdition's flames, and round a lot of other scary places before I give him up. And this is what ye have shipped for, men! To chase that white whale on both sides of land, and over all sides of the earth, till he spouts black blood and rolls fin out.

So 6 years on bended knee and no whales doesn't seem too much to sacrifice for a possessed captain who is hell bent on chasing a white whale that is "as big as an island that has somehow put to sea".

Warren



Setsail728@aol.com

[yves feder W1UX]

Six years sailing on a bended knee we found no whales
in the sea. I lad, we seek the white whale.

Great stuff Warren, the story of legends. A cup of
grog and a good book by the fire.

Bob
Ranger #144

Bob,
You've got that right. How can you beat writing like this from Moby Dick (Ahab speaking);
Aye, aye! and I'll chase him round Good Hope, and round the Horn, and round the Norway Maelstrom, and round perdition's flames, and round a lot of other scary places before I give him up. And this is what ye have shipped for, men! To chase that white whale on both sides of land, and over all sides of the earth, till he spouts black blood and rolls fin out.

So 6 years on bended knee and no whales doesn't seem too much to sacrifice for a possessed captain who is hell bent on chasing a white whale that is "as big as an island that has somehow put to sea".

Warren

Who can ever forget Gregory Peck intoning these marvelous phrases, as Captain Ahab in the film? Whew.

Back to Cape Dory matters!!!!!!

)

Yves
S/V "Alphee" (18)



saltwater@tinyradio.com

[Paul Hierstein]

Six years sailing on a bended knee we found no whales
in the sea. I lad, we seek the white whale.

Great stuff Warren, the story of legends. A cup of
grog and a good book by the fire.

Bob
Ranger #144

Bob,
You've got that right. How can you beat writing like this from Moby Dick (Ahab speaking);
Aye, aye! and I'll chase him round Good Hope, and round the Horn, and round the Norway Maelstrom, and round perdition's flames, and round a lot of other scary places before I give him up. And this is what ye have shipped for, men! To chase that white whale on both sides of land, and over all sides of the earth, till he spouts black blood and rolls fin out.

So 6 years on bended knee and no whales doesn't seem too much to sacrifice for a possessed captain who is hell bent on chasing a white whale that is "as big as an island that has somehow put to sea".

Warren

Can a CD outrun a whale if it is on a beam reach?



paulhstn@aol.com

[Warren Kaplan]

Six years sailing on a bended knee we found no whales
in the sea. I lad, we seek the white whale.

Great stuff Warren, the story of legends. A cup of
grog and a good book by the fire.

Bob
Ranger #144

Bob,
You've got that right. How can you beat writing like this from Moby Dick (Ahab speaking);
Aye, aye! and I'll chase him round Good Hope, and round the Horn, and round the Norway Maelstrom, and round perdition's flames, and round a lot of other scary places before I give him up. And this is what ye have shipped for, men! To chase that white whale on both sides of land, and over all sides of the earth, till he spouts black blood and rolls fin out.

So 6 years on bended knee and no whales doesn't seem too much to sacrifice for a possessed captain who is hell bent on chasing a white whale that is "as big as an island that has somehow put to sea".

Warren

Who can ever forget Gregory Peck intoning these marvelous phrases, as Captain Ahab in the film? Whew.

Back to Cape Dory matters!!!!!!

)

Yves
S/V "Alphee" (18)

Yves,
I've got it on tape and watch it often. I'm trying to learn the words to the sea chanties (sp?) the crew sings when hoisting all that sail on the Pequod. I want to teach a short one to my crew so they can sing it when we hoist sail on Sine Qua Non! Now, if I can only find Ahab's top hat!

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, NY



Setsail728@aol.com

[Warren Kaplan]

Can a CD outrun a whale if it is on a beam reach?

Paul,
A sperm whale's huge flukes can propel it to a speed of 20 knots!! I suspect other whales, Orcas for instance, may be able to swim faster. Alas, our CDs are doomed to come up short in a race with a cetacean.

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, NY



Setsail728@aol.com

[Paul Hierstein]

Can a CD outrun a whale if it is on a beam reach?

Paul,
A sperm whale's huge flukes can propel it to a speed of 20 knots!! I suspect other whales, Orcas for instance, may be able to swim faster. Alas, our CDs are doomed to come up short in a race with a cetacean.

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, NY

Warren,
Thanks for the info!
Ha Ha, Got you!

Sinsailorly,
Paul



paulhstn@aol.com

[yves feder W1UX]

Who can ever forget Gregory Peck intoning these marvelous phrases, as Captain Ahab in the film? Whew.

Back to Cape Dory matters!!!!!!

)

Yves
S/V "Alphee" (18)

Yves,
I've got it on tape and watch it often. I'm trying to learn the words to the sea chanties (sp?) the crew sings when hoisting all that sail on the Pequod. I want to teach a short one to my crew so they can sing it when we hoist sail on Sine Qua Non! Now, if I can only find Ahab's top hat!

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, NY

Ayuh, Finest Kind Cap'm Warren, next time I'm in Nubefid I'll see if I kin find one ferya! (the ones on Nantucket are mere imported reproductions, not worthy of SQN's Captain!)
Y.



saltwater@tinyradio.com

[Catherine Monaghan]

...there are several web sites that offer sea shanties on music CDs and audio tape but probably none more comprehensive than <a href="http://www.woodenshipsmusic.com/">Wooden Ships Music</a>. So if you're looking for sea shanties/chantys it's a good place to start. You can also try <a href="http://www.seacoastmusic.com/Maritime.htm">Seacoast Music</a> and don't forget Amazon.com and BN.com.

The best CD of sea shanties that I've heard is "Pirate's Gold" by the <a href="http://www.chivalry.com/jollyrogers/">Jolly Rogers</a>, but that's only my opinion.

If you want to listen to sea shanties and print out the words so you can sing along, try <a href="http://www.contemplator.com/sea/index.html">Songs of the Sea</a>.

And if you're in New England and get a chance to visit <a href="http://www.mysticseaport.org/home.htm">Mystic Seaport Museum</a>, the museum has their own shantymen, Forebitter. They're recordings are also on CD and audio tape and can be found at the museum as well as at Wooden Ships Music.

Have fun.



catherine_monaghanNOSPAM@merck.com

[Warren Kaplan]

...there are several web sites that offer sea shanties on music CDs and audio tape but probably none more comprehensive than <a href="http://www.woodenshipsmusic.com/">Wooden Ships Music</a>. So if you're looking for sea shanties/chantys it's a good place to start. You can also try <a href="http://www.seacoastmusic.com/Maritime.htm">Seacoast Music</a> and don't forget Amazon.com and BN.com.

The best CD of sea shanties that I've heard is "Pirate's Gold" by the <a href="http://www.chivalry.com/jollyrogers/">Jolly Rogers</a>, but that's only my opinion.

If you want to listen to sea shanties and print out the words so you can sing along, try <a href="http://www.contemplator.com/sea/index.html">Songs of the Sea</a>.

And if you're in New England and get a chance to visit <a href="http://www.mysticseaport.org/home.htm">Mystic Seaport Museum</a>, the museum has their own shantymen, Forebitter. They're recordings are also on CD and audio tape and can be found at the museum as well as at Wooden Ships Music.

Have fun.

Catherine,
You never cease to amaze me! I'll certainly check out all those suggestions. Would you know if any of those sites can teach the crew to sing in tune? (HA!)

Warren



Setsail728@aol.com

[Warren Kaplan]

Ayuh, Finest Kind Cap'm Warren, next time I'm in Nubefid I'll see if I kin find one ferya! (the ones on Nantucket are mere imported reproductions, not worthy of SQN's Captain!)
Y.

Yves,
HA! Methinks you'll have a hard time finding one my size. Back in 1841 seafaring men didn't have such fat heads!

Warren



Setsail728@aol.com

[Chris Scheck]

The History Channel just ran the story of the Essex again last week. It's in pretty "heavy rotation" ... it's on every month or so. One of the most interesting things I learned was that the captain of the Essex was only 28 years old, and his First Mate, Owen Chase, was 22. They also had a cabin boy who was about 14. People sure assumed responsibility early in those days. Of course, if you lived in Fall River at that time, you might have been working in a mill at the ripe old age of 8!




cscheck@aol.com