While kitesurfing off the Northern Australian coast, a camera attached to kiteboarder David Sheridan’s sail captured this image of a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) breaching near the kitesurfer. The massive marine mammal’s fluke knocked the surfer off his kiteboard. From the Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom:

“It all happened so fast that all I could do was crouch down as the whale swam under me,” Mr Sheridan told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.

“I saw the huge shape and my reaction was to duck while remaining attached to the flying lines from the sail above me.

“The next thing I felt was its tail come up and hit me on the back of the head.

“I honestly thought I was gone – it was such a forceful blow – but then the whale eased off and I was able to sail away.

“But my legs were really shaking. I’ve never been through anything like that before and probably never will again.”

Mr Sheridan’s camera was attached to the kite and programmed to take photos every ten seconds. He was kiteboarding near Valla Beach, off the north coast of New South Wales, with two friends.

“The camera was set to start firing off shots every 10 seconds as soon as I hit the water. When the sail was at full height the camera was about 25m above the surface.

Another windsurfer recently had an encounter with a marine mammal, or a pod of orcas actually. From Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand:

“A couple of the local guys, Olly and Keith, noticed them and said `come on, get back out there’ … to be honest I was bricking it. I know them as killer whales and I thought no way am I going out there with killer whales,” Mr Taggart said.

“But I went out and was taking it quite carefully when the mother popped up right in front of me.

“I never thought I would ever do that … it was crazily intense. She was literally metres away.”

Mr Taggart was out on the water with the orcas for about 15 minutes, but lack of wind meant it was difficult to stay with them.

“I was just trying to enjoy the moment. I was absolutely blown away.

“They came through so quickly … I guess I was fortunate to be there at the right moment.”

Locals had told him orcas came in close to shore to flush out stingray before circling and eating them.

Image Found Here
Image Found Here

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::