Whale Video...

[Pauper Piscator]

Learned to post Video on the web. I am sooo high tech.

Check out this close encounter while tuna fishing off Cape Ann.

Sorry boys, no Tuna footage. Camera was neglected when they were up.

Whales. Turn up your sound. The END is as my brother says in the vid, the "money shot."

http://www.vidilife.com/index.cfm?f=media.play&vchrMediaProgramIDCryp=9B180A58-DE2D-4DF8-BFF8-2&action=10

[Jacob K.]

great shots! thanks for sharing.

[e-sea-e]

hey man, that whale video was cool, but that video labeled sexy was ALOT better! Friend of yours? single? If so, I want her Number !!!! ;)

[Pauper Piscator]

no it isnt.

Yah I should mention that the free video host format attracts a somewhat...shall we say...questionable demographic.

[Bob Parsons]

It appears that whale is being chased to get the close up video. Some whale watching regulations include: Fines
A violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act or the Endangered Species Act may result in fines or civil penalties of up to $10,000 or criminal penalties of up to $20,000 plus IMPRISONMENT and/or SEIZURE OF VESSEL and other personal property.
When in Sight of Whales Two miles to one mile away




Reduce speed to 13 knots.


Post a dedicated lookout to assist the vessel operator in monitoring the location of all marine mammals.


Avoid sudden changes in speed and direction.


Aircraft observe the FAA minimum altitude of 1,000 feet over water.




One mile to one-half mile away




Reduce speed to 10 knots.


One half mile or less




Reduce speed to 7 knots.


Maneuver vessel to avoid a head-on approach to a whale.




Close Approach Procedure (600 feet or closer)




Parallel the course and speed of moving whales up to the designated speed limit within that distance.


Do not attempt a head-on approach to whale.


Approach and leave stationary whales at no more than idle or "no wake" speed, not to exceed 7 knots.


Do not intentionally drift down on whales.


Vessels in multi-vessel approaches should monitor radios and communicate with each other (channel 9, 13, or 16 for hailing) to coordinate viewing.


Take into account the presence of obstacles (vessels, structures, fishing gear, or the shoreline). All vessels in close approach must stay to the side or behind the whales so they do not box in the whales or cut off their path


Stand-by Zone (within 300 to 600 feet)




Maximum of two vessels in the 300- to 600-foot Standby Zone at any one time.


Close Approach Zone (100 to 300 feet)




Only one vessel at a time. l When one vessel is within 300 feet of a whale, up to 2 other vessels can be in the Stand-by Zone at least 300 feet from the whale; any additional vessels should remain outside the Stand-by Zone.


If more than one vessel is within 600 feet, the vessel within 300 feet should limit its time to 15 minutes in close approach to whales.


No Intentional Approach (100 feet away or closer)




Do not approach within 100 feet of whales. If whales approach within 100 feet of your vessel, put engines in neutral and do not rengage propulsion until whales are observed clear of harm's way from your vessel.


Departure Procedures




All vessels should leave the whales following the same speed and distance procedures described above.


All vessels should begin their return to port and cease whale watching 15 minutes before sunset.

[Hoffer]

"That's some sort of whale."

[lhonda]

Our esteemed moderator beat me to it. Great video, but I thought to myself 'they're getting *way* too close'.

All fun until a whale calf loses an eye on your prop! ;)

[boba]

Ditto our moderator. Way too close in all senses of the phrase.

[Howie]

Ditto lhonda, don't want that thing thinking you are threatening her calf!!!


Call me Ishmael....

[Pauper Piscator]

Ok you got me. While I was deliberatley trying to ram the whales and poke out the eyes of the babies (soooo...close...maybe next time!), I am just glad the Rainbow Warrior and CG (working together in peace and harmony) did not speed over and confiscate my boat.

The close ups are largely the magic of zoom lens. Safe distance and idle speed at all times except perhaps the last shot. Mea Culpa.

In the last shot the whale just cut across our straight course. Did not see him and we had 4 sharp lookouts. If you will note we immediately cut throttle and shifted to neutral.

No calf. Several whales in the area but the ones we observed that day looked like a smallish humpback and a good sized finback tackling a big cloud of krill. Definitely 2 different species. (Any cetacean experts want to chime in?)

I will make a note of the regs more carefully but lighten up. When is the last time ANYONE hit a whale (at idle speed) or got "attacked" by a whale in the Gulf of Maine. (Oh boy now I have asked for it.)

I assure you, a collision was not a huge concern for me OR the whales. Anyway hope you enjoyed the vid and YAH they were pretty close. Amazing creatures.

In my next film, I feed some stem cells, a manatee, a white rhino and a baby bunny to minks at a Russian fur farm. Got the regs, on that Bob? ;)

[Bob Parsons]

That's a humback whale off the bow. I'm sure there are many boaters on this site that do not know the regulations. It would be a shame if someone lost their boat and paid the fine. It's a public service to heighten awareness. Soo PP lose the sarcarsm.

[lhonda]

No calf.

Not anymore there's not; I'm guessing your evil presence and radio signals confused her, and she probably *drowned*!

Oh, the humanity (and for the hu-manatees, naturally)... :)

[mattdaga]

I agree with the moderator and think your excuse of zoom lense is crazy. I guess your pulpit extends 30 or so feet when it was overhanging the HUMPBACK

Be careful and respectful.

[RedHeadKevin]

Gawd. I can't believe how evil you are driving near whales. God knows your 21 foot boat is the biggest threat to them in the ocean. It probably pollutes too.

But that cameraman has a sexy voice.




By the way, I was the cameraman. We were trying like hell to be very careful around the whales. PP is correct when he says the humpy that went right in front of us was a big surprise. As you can hear, I said "STOP STOP STOP" (6 times, i counted...) quite loudly as soon as I saw the animal, and we did. We were trying hard to be very careful around them, and that one just plain snuck up on us. Our bad. And NO, there was no calf. Calves can be harder to spot, but they still have to breathe, folks. We watched these whales for at least a half an hour, and only saw the Humpy and a finback. Half an hour...that's one heck of a breath-hold for a calf.

By the way, how common is it for 2 species of big whales to swim and feed together?

[Bob Parsons]

If that was where the food was then both species will feed. Both are baleen feeders

[mattdaga]

you could back up. this way no one would be telling you you are crazy....

leave the whales alone...

[pescador1]

PP,

Cool video.
All the whale and regulation Yodas weren't there. Nice job not killing the whales or yourselves.

[clambelly]

I agree with the moderator and think your excuse of zoom lense is crazy. I guess your pulpit extends 30 or so feet when it was overhanging the HUMPBACK

Be careful and respectful.

i clearly noticed the cameraman zoom in quickly on one occasion. why do you assume that they were deliberlitly chasing the whales? i take their word for it..

[Bob Parsons]

Guys its a cool video. I just felt it was important the people be aware of the regulations. Your beating a dead horse with all this other nonsense.