Sailors' Encounter Of The Orca Kind

Wednesday, November 15, 2006
NEW ZEALAND - Sailors had a chance encounter with a pod of orcas in the Tamaki River last weekend.

“Initially I thought it was a dolphin as I only saw the small dorsal fin, but as it surfaced it quickly became evident it was an orca,” Jolly Boat sailor Paul Linton says.

Up to eight orcas were spotted “playing” in the estuary by Mr Linton and fellow sailor Dave Weston.

“There was one big one, a slightly smaller one, a calf and some brothers and sisters,” Mr Linton says.

“I’m not sure if the big one was part of the pod or not, it seemed to be a bit further away from them, almost like it was watching over them,” adds Mr Weston.

Mr Weston was first to spot the whales when he was coming back from a morning of fishing with his son and friend.

They followed the pod for up to an hour as it drifted up the estuary before finally leaving out towards Rangitoto and Point England.

“It was fantastic to see them playing about in their natural habitat. They were just cruising about and minding their own business,” Mr Weston says.

Both sailors got very close to the whales.

“I got to within three or four metres,” Mr Linton says. “At one stage one went under the boat and all I could see was a huge shadow.”

Another came very close to the back of Mr Weston’s powerboat.

“But I missed getting that photo because I was too excited!”

Although it is unnatural for orcas to visit estuaries, several sightings are reported from the Tamaki River each year. Both sailors remain hopeful of seeing more soon.

Source: The Times Newspapers Online