We've just returned from 3 months cruising, Brisbane to Whitsundays and return. A fantastic time as always. We have been cruising this area for 10 years, but this time in particular I was amazed at the number of whales seen, sometimes much too close for comfort. The biggest numbers were during our return trip (the last fortnight), with particular hotspots between the Percies and Keppels, and then further south between Mooloolaba and Moreton Bay.

Despite keeping a lookout, on a number of occasions we first saw them within a couple of boat lengths; and at least twice there probably would have been a collision if we had not altered course. This seemed to mainly happen while we were sailing - I'm pretty sure they're more likely to hear you when motoring, and keep out of your way.

The numbers transiting the east coast have been increasing at around 10% per year with no sign of reaching a limit, and currently stand at about 25,000. The northern migration is usually June/July to August, and the return is from September to November.

Given our close encounters this year, and the damage one of these animals could do if it reacted violently to a collision, sailors are advised to keep a keen lookout. And we won't be traveling at night.

Might need to get some Japanese whale boats over

I spotted a humpback whale in gulf of Carpentaria this year that was rare I wonder what it was up too....a long swim home.

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QLDCruiser said.

Despite keeping a lookout, on a number of occasions we first saw them within a couple of boat lengths; and at least twice there probably would have been a collision if we had not altered course. This seemed to mainly happen while we were sailing - I'm pretty sure they're more likely to hear you when motoring, and keep out of your way.

Interesting observation about the possible effect of the motor noise QC.
Got me wondering whether a forward looking SOANAR transmitting whalespeak for "please move over" or "please can I have right of way" or "watch out, I'm coming through!" would be worthwhile .

What do others think...?

regards,
allan

Just put A/C / DC on in the cabin and close the hatches and turn the volume up

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HG02 said..
Just put A/C / DC on in the cabin and close the hatches and turn the volume up

Woah HG, that's so crazy it might even work....just so long as they don't start dancing and doing pirouettes ni front of the bow!...

Glue a big arse woofer in the bilge and give them Jimmy Barnes, may even help with anti fouling.

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HG02 said..
Just put A/C / DC on in the cabin and close the hatches and turn the volume up

That might help with the whales, but some boffins last year proved that AC/DC attracts GWS

Diesel or loud music seems to work.
When we had our whale strike I can attest I had neither the diesel or the radio going, and it was at night.
The boat was planing (quiet), doing about 10 knots, and the rudders were giving off a noticeable hum, that a member of the crew commented that same day " sounds just like a whale"
Probably sounds like a mating song knowing my luck....
We think the whale gave us a big slap with his tail as he sounded after the first hit which caused all the scratches on the side.
After that, we kept the radio on all night when we weren't motoring. We had a few close sightings after that, even yesterday coming back from Moreton we had 3 or 4 , one breaching less than 100mtrs from the boat.
I love whales, but it's not much fun kissing one.

I was off Mooloolaba and was motoring when I saw 2 whales in the distance. I went a long way off course to give them a wide berth but they changed course and came either side of me. The came out of the water to have a look as we passed each other. I have no doubt it was intentional. I think any noise made would notify them you are in the area and if they choose to come near you or avoid you, it is up to them.

I've been anchored up at the reef and they actually come into the anchorage and circled under the boat and gone out the same way they came in. Maybe they are just as curious as us.

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shaggybaxter said..
Diesel or loud music seems to work.
When we had our whale strike I can attest I had neither the diesel or the radio going, and it was at night.
The boat was planing (quiet), doing about 10 knots, and the rudders were giving off a noticeable hum, that a member of the crew commented that same day " sounds just like a whale"
Probably sounds like a mating song knowing my luck....
We think the whale gave us a big slap with his tail as he sounded after the first hit which caused all the scratches on the side.
After that, we kept the radio on all night when we weren't motoring. We had a few close sightings after that, even yesterday coming back from Moreton we had 3 or 4 , one breaching less than 100mtrs from the boat.
I love whales, but it's not much fun kissing one.

I have not had that hum or rudder vibration since me catamaran days planing

Interesting about whales !! ............... Dolfins love to play in the bow wave ........ So maybe the Whales are the same , but not as ajile?

I have always thought that leaving the sounder going may help to warn them you are coming.Had one come over and surface 3 m away from our rudders last year mid Tasman, just having a look.

Love this video of that whale in middle harbour playing with a yacht on a swing mooring :)

I was just about to start a thread on the same topic.

Have just spent a couple of months cruising in the Whitsundays and now heading south. We have literally seen hundreds of whales. We always start an engine when we see them close by. In the Whitsundays, this worked well with whales visibly altering course to go around us.

Our last couple of whale encounters were just North of Great Keppel. In both cases we had to make last minute course corrections to miss them. They didn't seem to be at all interested in getting out of the way.

Interestingly, people who have been cruising here a lot have said that 10 years ago it was rare to see whales at all.

Just imagine what it will be like in another 10 years - there were a lot of calves this year!! At an increase of 10% pa , this would mean nearly 65,000!

They're curious, that's for sure. A few years ago we were crossing from Hayman to Bait Reef, and stopped when we saw a whale surface maybe 200m behind us. We stopped the engine and watched the last spot we saw him for a while, but no more action. We were just about to continue on when I caught a glimpse of white, way deep directly below us. Slowly he came up to the surface, then popped his head out of the water (its called spyhopping), only a few metres away, and stared at us. We stared at him. Then he was joined by another. They were with us for maybe 20 minutes, gently swimming around and crossing under the boat, more spyhopping, and giving us a fantastic show. They had a good look at our dinghy, which I had pulled in really close in case they got tangled in a line. I'm sure they were just as entertained by us as we were by them. They were always within 5m of the boat. Finally one bumped the (spade) rudder, quite gently, as he was swimming under the boat - I felt it through the wheel. I decided it was time to go.

It was a fantastic experience, but I have the feeling it could easily have gone wrong and resulted in major damage, and I've always tried to keep a respectful distance away from them since.

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David88 said..
Love this video of that whale in middle harbour playing with a yacht on a swing mooring :)

Maybe giving itself a back scratch on the fin.

Great pics QLDC. I read a story of a scuba diver who got between a Humpback and her calf (not the place to be).
He could see the muscles rippling under her skin, and although her tail fluke was 90 foot from her eye she new
exactly where it was and passed it just over the top of his head. He felt honoured by the encounter and awed by
her gentleness.

My grand father was a professional fisherman out of Noosa many years ago before the Tangalooma Whaling station almost wiped them out. After the Whaling station closed I remember him saying they will become a nuisance again in the years to come. The whales caused nothing but problems taking out their fishing line from under their boats. To deter them they would place an old kerosene drum over the side a belt it with a stick. The Whaling nearly wiped them out. In the late 60s and early 70s I did a lot of offshore fishing off the Sunshine Coast and never saw a Whale and it is amazing to see how many there are now, but as my old grand father said 30 years ago "They will again become a nuisance" As we can now see his words have come true. There is an argument for controlled Whaling. Only a couple of day ago 2 blokes off the Gold Coast were lucky to be rescued by another fisherman after hitting a Whale an sinking.

No predators aye except humans so theyre gonna multiply.

increadable pics QLD Cruser !!! Must have been a real hoot of a day !!! But I share your concerns about damage !!

It's their ocean. I'd rather see population control on humans.

This planet controls all populations no matter what creature

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HG02 said..
This planet controls all populations no matter what creature

Very perceptive HG.

"Marine Rescue have confirmed that a boat split in half and rapidly sank after hitting a whale off Evans Head on Sunday morning (October 2). Marine Rescue NSW Northern Rivers regional controller Stephen Reading said the incident happened around 6am Sunday morning. He said passengers of the boat, believed to be a fishing vessel, were wearing lifejackets and were quickly picked up by another fisherman nearby. The incident has prompted warnings for fishers and pleasure-boat users to log their trips with Marine Rescue NSW. This can now be more easily done with the advent of the Marine Rescue phone app."

Is this what happened to that multi million dollar cruiser that was on the news last night.
It's taking on water and the steerings gone.....did it hit a whale ????.