When a 45-tonne Sperm Whale is on starboard tack, it has right of way. It also has right of way when it’s on port tack!
A Sailing Sailor’s Nightmare
The thought of sailing in the open ocean brings out the thrill-seeker in many, but the reality is far from romantic. Ocean sailors have long known that they’re vulnerable to marine life, but the spectre of crashing into a large, solid sea creature has haunted them for centuries. In 2012, during the Miami to Lisbon leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, skipper Chuny Bermudez narrowly avoided a collision with a whale, which was traveling at 20 knots. Bermudez said, “It would have been a bad day for both the whale and for us. With reflexes like a cat [Bermudez] narrowly missed what would have been the equivalent of a runaway freight train colliding with a truck.”
The Risk of Whale Strikes
According to Damian Foxall, co-founder of the Marine Mammal Advisory Group (MMAG), the risk of whale strikes is often underestimated. Foxall states, “Through my own experiences, I think I’ve had about 10 or so collisions or strikes of various types, certainly some with big marine mammals. I reached out to the International Whaling Commission and asked for their current marine strike log related to the sailing sector, and I received reports of 60 strikes, which went way back to the 1800s. I realised, well, I’ve got 10. So it’s not that we’re not even underreporting. We’re not actually reporting at all.”
Current Logging System
The current logging system for reporting whale strikes is the Marine Mammal Advisory Group’s database. The database contains over 1,000 incidents, including 111 collisions and 57 near misses, as recorded by German marine biologist Dr. Fabian Ritter in 2012. The database also includes seven reported incidents of sailing vessels sinking after collisions.
Avoiding Whale Strikes
Foiling advances means that IMOCAs and Ultims are sailing faster than ever before, but also with more vulnerable hull protrusions. Foiling also highlights the need for sailors to be more aware of their surroundings and the potential for underwater collisions. Foxall states, “It’s a perspective [change] for the sailing community to move from ‘We can sail wherever we want to’, to being ocean stewards rather than ocean users.” This perspective shift is crucial for sailors to avoid whale strikes and to reduce the risk of accidents.
Several technological advances are being made to mitigate the risk of whale strikes. For example, the Hazard Button reporting system has been created for Adrena and Expedition navigation systems. The system alerts other skippers nearby, as well as race organisers, and geo-tags the incident. Foxall states, “We’re all exchanging the same bit of information and meaning the same thing.” Another major project is the development of an NMEA protocol to improve reporting, which will enable sailors to share information and data more effectively.
Orca strikes have become a significant concern for sailors in recent years. The well-publicised incidents of orcas biting or hitting sailing yachts off Spain and Portugal are not random collisions. Instead, they are the result of orcas seeking and deliberately making contact with rudders and keels. Foxall states, “The same principles – applying data to keep yachts away from orcas rather than the reverse – can mitigate the risk. The Grupo Trabajo Orca Atlantica and Cruising Association have been asking sailors to report strikes or safe passages without strikes, and the results are fascinating.”
If you’re planning to sail in areas where orcas are known to be present, there are several precautions you can take to reduce the risk of an encounter. Firstly, it’s essential to stick to the 20m contour line to reduce the risk of encountering orcas. Secondly, it’s recommended to transit the busiest areas in daylight to reduce the risk of entanglement with fishing gear. Thirdly, it’s advisable to allow enough time to avoid inclement conditions. Finally, if you encounter an orca, there are only two legal deterrents: throwing sand into the water or making loud noises.