Casting off from the Southport Yacht Club marina on Sunday the 29th June, what a stunning day on the Gold Coast! Destination unknown – out to sea to see what we could see. The Southport bar was very busy with lots of boaties doing the same thing, so the outgoing tide made it a bit of a bumpy ride. Half an hour later about 10kms straight out from Main Beach and there they were, two of the most spectacular animals in the world.
We had come across two whales on their yearly migration north to the warmer waters for breeding. As they go they have no reservations about performing for the on-lookers. I can hardly find the words to describe the sight of seeing them jump out of the water and crash down with an almighty thump. These animals were approximately 40 – 50feet in length and I could not guess what they would weigh. During the month of July several operators run boat trips out to see the whales (a couple of times a day). We were lucky enough to have our own skipper which meant our own timetable. After keeping them company for and hour or so and becoming totally enthralled with their shenanigans, a decision had to be made. Not knowing what they thought about our keeping them company, should we leave them in peace or continue enjoying a small window in their long migration?
We decided it was time to leave them journey on in peace and maybe return another day to again enjoy the incredible sight of more of these enormous mammals in their journey north. Like the enormity of watching water flowing over Niagara Falls , so too the sight of these enormous creatures in mid air as they frolic in the ocean, one finds it hard to verbalise adequately the sight we found before us. It’s hard to comprehend anyone deliberately harming such magnificent creatures. For now though, we are blessed to be able to witness such fabulous creatures doing what comes so naturally as they pass us by and touch our lives, if only for an instant.