I was sailing off Bower Road Semaphore around 2pm last Friday. I was off shore by about 200 metres heading out to sea when I saw a great big whopping fin go up then down about 50 metres directly ahead of my line of travel. It was too quick to tell what it was. Thought it may be dolphin because it went up and down within a short distance but the size and dark colour really concerned me. The fin was heading upwind so I decided to head well down wind. I eventually turned around, walked my board back up the beach and called it a day. I did tell one of the other fellas who'd come down for a sail what I'd seen.

I saw this article today - I'm very confident that this was the critter that I'd nearly crossed paths with.

Long story short, the shark was seen and photographed around Semaphore on Tuesday. Clearly this thing is hanging around so take caution.

www.adelaidenow.com.au/nocookies?a=A.flavipes

Ive been Sailing @ Semaphore 2 times in the last week as well, and both of the times sailing ive had a pesky dolphin following me around. It freaks you out when the fin pops up 5m from you, only to realise moments later its "only" a dolphin.

I must admit though that I have had a bad feeling this last week, I didnt feel comfortable falling off in the deep at all, and got back up fairly swiflty.

Now that I think about it, the dolphin was circling me for ages on 2 occassions last week at Semaphore. This may sound stupid, but could it have been warning me/ protcecting me from the hidden danger as this seems like the same timeframe as when the GWS was spotted off Sem.

It's just that I rarely see them and to have them circle me 2 days in a row , maybe its more than a coincidence, or all those Youtube "kayak+ great white shark" clips ive been watching :(

I still think you were more likely to die on the way to the beach in your car even if you saw one.

I don't know which is riskier percentage wise. There's certainly alot more fatalities on the roads but then again you couldn't really compare the amount of people and time spent on the roads to the very small amount of people realistically exposed to a shark attack. All that said and done, the risk as you say is relatively low and the next time the wind blows there's a really good chance that I'll be out sailing in it.

"Just sail with Sharkbiscuit, and you`ll be ok"

Hey hey.. Boggy is sounding good

Today, me and Kym see a flock of seagulls dive bombing the water out the back. me: "Hey look. Something is getting chomped on". Kym: "hey, lets go check it out !". Off we go, slugging at the rate of 5 knots.

J

Ive been windsurfing for almost 15yrs. surfing for more.
sailing boats for the same time.

I kite, SUP, surf, fish and snorkel and have never seen a shark in SA.

SA meaning Catcus, west coast, yorkes south, mid and metro.
Ok i might waterstart a little quicker in some places but im with fletchK.

The odds are more likely to die driving to the beach or dying when my downhaul snaps and i die from a blow to the head by my spreader bar, whilst rigging.

If your worried im sorry and hope you can see beyond it but.

The percentage of missing a sweet season, easily outways the chance of dying.
sorry to be blunt but i love windsurfing and the ocean.

There is a saying in the motorcycling sport. "Don't let your imagination spoil a good ride". Same applies to this sport.

Hate to be a girl but dont particulary want to hear any shark stories. Ignorance is bliss and a whole lot of fun. I too, have an irrational fear of such beautiful creatures that doesnt need any encouragement.
(perhaps i should avoid such posts)

Sorry Karina, but I figure if we've got people like Big Kym and Sharkbiscuit out there sailing towards the action we should be okay. Mind you, I'm no giant at 77 kg but I reckon I'd still have a couple of kilos on Sharkbiscuit. Me thinks that after a feed of Sharkbiscuit the noah's ark may still be a little peckish!

Gotta sort out these water starts real quick

its a long time since i encountered one at boat harbours between victor and jervis. mates and i seen it at the eastern point of the beach and we were up the other end on the wedge, we all walked on water to shore and it went passed us heaps close, just outside the breaking waves.
thats my only ever sighting anywhere.
fingers crossed i never have one play with me

Tiny compared to the enormous one I saw at Middleton during winter...

In fact I saw a log like shark on the inside on Friday. It looked like a log, swam like a log, sunk like a log and I think it was a log. Definately not a shark..

Hi Shane, now that your cranking your gybes in all conditions these creatures shouldn't worry you!! The day you saw this thing it was me spending most of the time in the water.

geoff, this was not a tiny shark, mate of mine Paul took the photo tuesday from his 5.85m boat the shark was about the same size as the boat. photo taken about 1500m out from where we were sailing friday.

Maybe 'Objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are' syndrome? Maybe it is this one back for desert...

www.adelaidenow.com.au/nocookies?a=A.flavipes

it only needs to eat a couple of you then it should full for a while

The Noah was about 2km out from Bower Rd around all the boat at Semmie reef where heaps of boat were out putting baits in the water. I was out there on the work boat around the same spot and I didnt see it... and I am spewing. I havent looked at all the underwater video we took so we may get a suprise.

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MastaBlasta said...

Hi Shane, now that your cranking your gybes in all conditions these creatures shouldn't worry you!! The day you saw this thing it was me spending most of the time in the water.

Hey Richard, you weren't exactly the Lone Ranger last Friday. That was a pretty strong wind and I spent plenty of time in the water. No harm done, physically and mentally good to go when the wind pops up again...I think!

That's a really good link Geoff thanks. Good on the Fisheries to have some sort of tracking system (even if it's subjective).

Looks like I picked the right time to be unable to sail for another 4 weeks considering Bower roads my local. But seriously, sharks are always there, they come and go. In 25 years of windsurfing ive seen three, and two of them were prob more scare of me. Geoff has in some ways been lucky to see the ones that he has cause the occurance is so rare, especially seeing big ones, but yes agree with all, the thought of getting eating is not nice. Happy sailing

bondy, you missed bower road session in years.

Anyone concerned about sharks don't watch channel 10 at the moment. Jaws is on. They used some of the footage from semaphore's sighting the other day.

We need Roy Scheider. Roy will sort him out.