Orca Thrill Sailors, Rowers And Onlookers

Thursday, November 15, 2007
NELSON, NEW ZEALAND - Young sailors and rowers got up close and personal with a pod of orca feeding in Nelson Haven on Tuesday evening.

Excited onlookers gathered on the waterfront and at the end of the Sealord wharf to watch the spectacle as about seven orca played and fed among surprised boaties.

Callum Foley-Logan, 10, out sailing his Optimist dinghy with the Nelson Yacht Club sail training team, said one of the whales came within touching distance of his boat.

"It came real close. One even touched the centreboard of my boat, freaked out and went away. It was kind of scary, but not really."

Fenn Anderson, 15, who sails a black and white P Class, and at one stage was surrounded by the orca, said it was "pretty cool".

Yacht club coach Mike Judd said the dorsal fin of one orca was higher than the hull of Fenn's boat.

Maisie Blackwood screamed when one took her by surprise. The 12-year-old said it was "awesome" and "freaky", but definitely an experience to remember.

"I was looking the other way, and one went `whoosh!' I screamed a little bit."

Anita Holmes, 13, said the orca were "huge". At one stage, she had five around her boat.

Mr Judd said the whales posed no threat to the young sailors. Orca had once swum among his coaching class in Auckland.

"It wasn't a worry at all. They're beautiful animals just gorgeous."

Natalie Gallagher and Sarah Woodfield arrived at the waterfront with children Jessica and Alex just in time to see the pod swim past Sunderland pier.

"We saw them coming through and thought, `My God, they're big'," Ms Gallagher said. "We saw a kayaker back-paddling rather fast."

Onlookers watched as the orca swam slowly up the channel on the incoming tide, beyond the baches on the Boulder Bank.

Department of Conservation marine specialist Andrew Baxter said they were most likely feeding on eagle rays. Malcolm Anderson said he got close enough to see the rays' wings "flapping against the shells and rocks".

Mr Baxter said orca were regular visitors to Tasman Bay. "They might stick around for a day or so, but they will just be passing through."

Source: www.stuff.co.nz