Another Whale Collision - and Likely to Increase

by Lucy Killip, Newsmail/Sail-World on 20 Aug 2008 While professional and volunteer workers are preoccupied with saving a baby whale in Broken Bay, whale researchers say collisions between whales and yachts are likely to increase along the Australian coastline. Witness the account Skipper Andrew Johnson, whose yacht was holed this week...

Ploughing through dark, choppy waves in 25-knot winds off the Bundaberg coastline, Overdrive skipper Andrew Johnson and navigator Peter Steindl had planned their course with the kind of precision that comes from years of experience on the water.

So when the 11.5m yacht's bow smashed into two huge humpback whales and a colossal wave flooded the deck, it literally came out of nowhere for the crew.

'It was like somebody had emptied 2000 gallons of water on the boat,' Mr Steindl said. 'All we could see was dark water and two shapes that looked at least 40-foot (12m) long. 'The first thing we did was check for any damage, and that was when we found the hole.' In the pitch black conditions, early on Sunday morning, the crew began jamming towels against the crack in the boat's hull, while baling water from the cabin floor.

The decision was made to activate the EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) and get help.

Incredibly, after setting out from Coffs Harbour last Thursday, Overdrive had already hit a whale in a separate incident, off the coast of Stradbroke Island.

The EPIRB alerted Tin Can Bay Water Police to the stricken yacht, who then contacted Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg and triggered the rescue boat.

'We were very grateful to Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg,' Mr Johnson said.
Bundaberg Rescue skipper Bill Ker gathered a crew of three and, in rough conditions, they set out to locate Overdrive and tow her back to Bundaberg Port Marina.

'They were taking on water and they were worried,' Mr Ker said.
While Mr Ker had never carried out rescue involving a boat hitting a whale before, he said he had noticed an increase in whale numbers.

Associate professor Peter Harrison, from Southern Cross University Whale Research Centre, said the number of whales cruising up and back down the Australian coast each year was estimated at 10,000.

'There have been some reports of it from time to time (of boats hitting whales), but it is a problem that is going to be increasing.'

He said the impact of a sailing boat hitting a whale would cause significant bruising, but was unlikely to kill it.

According the Environmental Protection Agency the number of humpback whales visiting Queensland waters was increasing by 10% annually, and was hoped to one day reach 40,000.

Boat strikes and whale strandings can be reported to the EPA hotline on 1300 130 372.