Was out at Green Point yesterday on the foil. Great day for it, probably a bit overpowered with a 5.5, but kept me flying pretty well. Something in the water caught my eye, a dark shape under my board. I only caught a quick glimpse, but it looked awfully like a shark.

Didn't have to wait long to know for sure. Not a shark, a dolphin. Swam with me for about 1km, ducking under my board, literally inches from my foil. I was sure we would collide, but the dolphin knew exactly what it was doing. Popped up next to me a couple of times. Once my heart rate dropped back a bit it was a pretty awesome experience.

I got knocked off my foil by the dolphins yesterday. Two of them came racing up underneath upside down and nudged the foil as they passed. I was in the water as half a dozen dolphins were swirling around. It was sort of scary and amazing all at once.

It's happened to another foiler and it's the third time I've had dolphins cruising along upside down underneath my foil in recent weeks. It happens all the time in a friend's big cat, but has never happened on boards until foiling came along.

I have been playing on the bay since 1983 and seen lots of dolphins. They always continued on their way and didn't interact. Since I've been foiling they actively come over and check me out and interact a little.

With the upwind angle of the foil I can match the pace of seabirds. There is a lot more contact with gannets and terns and I can sometimes cruise along just metres from a bird in flight.

Gorgo, I have had dolphins chase me on Slalom and Formula gear a couple of times..once at Ricketts Sth and another at Balnarring, the one at Balnarring knocked me off, his dorsal fin hit my back.
And have also seen a real shark at Green Point...well actually more down near Sandy Yacht Club and quite a way off shore, was well bigger than my board, went right under me then turned to come back for a second look....I pumped like s..t and got out of there.
The scariest one was at Ricketts Sth years ago..Winter Westerly and right out the back. Fluffed a gybe and was setting up a water start when I had that weird feeling that there was something there, like a sixth sense. I looked over my shoulder and right next to me was a Fairy penguin just sitting checking me out...scared the crap out of me.

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Gorgo said..
I got knocked off my foil by the dolphins yesterday. Two of them came racing up underneath upside down and nudged the foil as they passed. I was in the water as half a dozen dolphins were swirling around. It was sort of scary and amazing all at once.

It's happened to another foiler and it's the third time I've had dolphins cruising along upside down underneath my foil in recent weeks. It happens all the time in a friend's big cat, but has never happened on boards until foiling came along.

I have been playing on the bay since 1983 and seen lots of dolphins. They always continued on their way and didn't interact. Since I've been foiling they actively come over and check me out and interact a little.

With the upwind angle of the foil I can match the pace of seabirds. There is a lot more contact with gannets and terns and I can sometimes cruise along just metres from a bird in flight.

Where have you been foiling? I was wondering if it was the whistling of the NP foil that attracted him.

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mr love said..
Gorgo, I have had dolphins chase me on Slalom and Formula gear a couple of times..once at Ricketts Sth and another at Balnarring, the one at Balnarring knocked me off, his dorsal fin hit my back.
And have also seen a real shark at Green Point...well actually more down near Sandy Yacht Club and quite a way off shore, was well bigger than my board, went right under me then turned to come back for a second look....I pumped like s..t and got out of there.
The scariest one was at Ricketts Sth years ago..Winter Westerly and right out the back. Fluffed a gybe and was setting up a water start when I had that weird feeling that there was something there, like a sixth sense. I looked over my shoulder and right next to me was a Fairy penguin just sitting checking me out...scared the crap out of me.

Saw a penguin about 10 minutes before the dolphin.??