Monday, July 21, 2014

better than sailing all day : )



We left Bandon this morning and headed south.  Wind was supposed to be 5-10 from the north.  We raised the sails just in time for it to change from the south.  On the nose so we cranked the ‘iron genoa’ otherwise known as the engine.  We left the sails up (aka ‘San Jauning’) because it gives the boat more stability and we found new value.
I looked out and saw another ‘San Juaner’ then said no two at the same time…  Doug said he saw a whale no two.  He was mostly right.  They were humpback whales a long ways off.  We killed the engine and floated.  The whales were comfortable after that and we realized we were surrounded by them and their show, at least 30 of them.  It was like they were courting our boat.  They circled in right often within 10 feet of our boat, circled, rolled, sprayed and flipped their flippers, dove, etc.  This began at 8:50 and they are still going!  Later we realized they had been around us for a long time.  They were the ‘noise’ on the radar.  

It is dark and foggy so we can’t see anything more so left the engine off, took down the sails and are still being rocked by whales.  We can hear them breathing or whatever it is called.  Pretty sure they are also scratching their backs on our keel given the amount of bob with no wind waves.  WOW!!!  God has made so many amazing creatures!!!  Even Maui came out to watch.

We are bobbing a safe distance of 5 miles offshore with no wind to speak of, radar and every other electronic to tell us if we have to worry and keeping a good watch.  Although the show did disrupt our take turns routine.  Lol  Doug is catching a nap then will likely write a much more technical account and post the best of his million plus pics and videos.
 
Love to all!

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