Dolphins off the port bow!


        Many times during passage plunks heading south to Mexico we ran into dolphins. At night when the water was full of phosphorescence and glinted like some kind of elvish brew the fish would be a bunch of streaks of light and dolphins would be a massive blur as they streaked behind them. Every now and then the flying fish ( fish with gliding appendages) would flop onto the deck and every morning there would be squid plastered to the deck in their fateful flight from the enemy. Sometimes right before my morning watch would begin someone would call out "Dolphins off the starboard and port bow!" I would hop on deck and rush to the bow and watch the dolphins as they played with the vessel, jumping and diving underneath. Then I would go as close to the hull as I could get inside the forward cabin and listen to them give their high pitched wails. It sounded like a bunch of Meeps... It was quite impressive and it gave one a very happy feeling considering the squeaks were very sweet sounding. 

            By the time I got back on deck the sun was just rising ( Southern sunrises are VERY spectacular) and it was time for me to lounge on deck and keep a weather eye out for USO's ( unidentified swimming objects) and crab pots as the rest of the crew had breakfast.

     At least three times on the way down the coast with the wind off the stern, we glided by three majestic Manta rays that had a wing span of about fifteen to twenty feet. At first you might think there were two sharks, as they liked to show the tips of their wings out of water, but soon you could make out the massive blue tinged hulk that just hovered below the surface. They were the most graceful sea creatures I had every seen, and even on the third sight of another large one it never ceased to amaze me. Here we were, at least twenty miles off shore and look what we could find that landlubbers could only spot through 7x binoculars at the least! To be able to sail and see these creatures without scaring them is a privilege, and even motor yachts will only catch a glimpse before the creatures dive, scared of the vibration. 
                   Probably the most unusual thing we ran into was in Avalon ( Catalina Island, CA) was when a large pod of migratory Orcas paddled through the anchorage, their massive fins flopping above the water as they fed. 

         If you ever get a chance to Sail or even power boat, Take It! It may be a once in a lifetime chance for some, and just another day out sailing for others.
     One things for certain, that it's more gratifying to be there when the picture is taken then to see it in a magazine! 

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