whale jumps on sailboat

14 Amazon end-of-summer problem-solvers, from $10

• Share this —

• Watch Full Episodes
• Read With Jenna
• Inspirational
• Relationships
• TODAY Table
• Newsletters
• Start TODAY
• Shop TODAY Awards
• Citi Concert Series
• Listen All Day

Follow today

More Brands

• On The Show
• TODAY Plaza

Video captures ‘insane’ moment whale breaches and lands on boat

A boater had a whale of an encounter off the coast of Massachusetts on Sunday that was caught on camera.

A stunning video captured a humpback whale breaching the surface and landing on a 19-foot boat in a wild scene that occurred off the coast of White Horse Beach in Plymouth, according to NBC10 Boston .

The whale slammed into the bow of the boat before bouncing back into the water. A photo also captured the frightening moment before impact.

No injuries were reported, and the boat only sustained light damage and was able to return to the boat ramp without any assistance.

"It was insane, the guy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, that’s all," bystander Ryder Parkhurst told NBC10. "Pops up, bang ... right on the bow of the guy’s boat.

“I just saw the boat go freaking flying, it was crazy,” he continued. “It was nuts. I couldn’t believe the thing was still floating.”

Another boat was bumped by a whale in the same area two days earlier, according to NBC10. An abundance of bait fish attracted the whales along with several boats filled with people fishing.

Scott Stump is a trending reporter and the writer of the daily newsletter This is TODAY (which you should subscribe to here! ) that brings the day's news, health tips, parenting stories, recipes and a daily delight right to your inbox. He has been a regular contributor for TODAY.com since 2011, producing features and news for pop culture, parents, politics, health, style, food and pretty much everything else. 

Influencer who popularized 'very demure' trend says trademark controversy is 'getting handled'

Former ‘Real Housewives’ husband Tom Girardi found guilty of wire fraud in embezzlement case

Simone Biles says she wants ‘justice’ for Jordan Chiles amid medal controversy

Paris olympics.

MLB player becomes the first in history to appear in same game for both teams. Here's how

Caitlin Clark is in her first season in the WNBA. How to watch her next game

Kate Middleton’s cancer timeline: Diagnosis, treatment and the latest updates from the palace

Health & wellness.

Kate Middleton makes rare appearance at church near Balmoral Castle in Scotland

High school football player, 16, dies after suffering brain injury during game

Macklemore says he canceled Dubai show over UAE arming Sudan paramilitary forces

When will NASA astronauts stuck at the space station come home? Here’s what to know

Video shows efforts to free whale that was tangled up in ropes in Sydney harbor

Watch: California sea lions have taken over a beach in Monterey

Sphen the penguin – who became a gay icon – has died

Police searching for woman who enticed tiger at New Jersey zoo

NBCUniversal Local 'Clear the Shelters' campaign begins

Watch: 2014 news report of dead bear cub found in Central Park

Whale smashes boat, capsizing vessel in New Hampshire

First look at new giant pandas at San Diego Zoo

A look inside world's first VIP airline for dogs

Shark attacks along Texas coast prompt Coast Guard warning

Over 100 dolphins saved after shallow tide left them stranded off Cape Cod

The Maryland Zoo keeps animals cool during heat wave

Beluga whales evacuated from Ukraine in complex mission

Watch: Moose calf rescued from between a floatplane and a dock in an Alaska lake

Video shows rodeo bull hopping arena fence into crowd seats in Oregon

'Paws of War' reunites soldiers with rescued pets

Watch: Bull jumps out of Oregon arena into crowd injuring three

Back-to-back Florida shark attacks startle start to summer season

Watch: Tranquilized black bear falls from tree

Shark attack closes California beach

Dramatic video captured the moment a whale breached and capsized a boat off the coast of New Hampshire. The boaters were rescued by good Samaritans. No injuries were reported. July 23, 2024

Best of NBC News

NBC News Channel

San diego officer and driver of car that triggered chase die in crash.

NBC News NOW

Florida mother goes viral for coaching son in work clothes.

California adds coast guard plane to wildfire fleet

Video appears to show Ohio officer kicking kneeling man

Nightly News Netcast

Nightly news full broadcast (august 27th).

Nightly News

Growing concern amid spread of mosquito-borne viruses.

latest in US News

Baby left in hot car rescued by roper at fair while mother was...

Inmates whip up five-course meal from prison garden for 60...

Cigarette butt helps crack cold case murder of Boeing instructor...

House panel probes if Harris-Biden admin officials...

Cause of death revealed for Massachusetts dad found dead...

Philadelphia police say child as young as 10, among 2 sought in...

Texas assistant principal left blinded, may lose eye after...

Dog breeder killed, 10 Doberman puppies stolen: 'His dogs were...

Breaching, ‘pissed off’ humpback whale topples boat, throws fishermen into sea off new hampshire coast: video.

Whale, they didn’t see that coming.

A pair of fishermen were tossed into the chilly New Hampshire waters Tuesday when a “pissed off” humpback landed squarely on their boat.

The thrilling video shows the magnificent beast soar above the surface just beyond the stern of the small vessel anchored a half-mile off the coast of Portsmouth.

With nowhere else to go, the leviathan’s head smashed onto the 23-foot boat, dragging it down into the water as it made its hard landing.

The two fishermen — who were not wearing life jackets — were catapulted into the sea as the vessel flipped over, the video shows.

“There is a pissed off whale patrolling the waters of Portsmouth NH today. Head on swivel if you’re out there,” former NHL player Ryan Whitney wrote in an X post accompanying the viral video.

Fortunately, one of several other fishing boats in the area raced to the rescue, the US Coast Guard said.

All parties escaped the terrifying incident without injury — including the whale.

According to experts, the incident was nothing more than a near-tragic coincidence — and had nothing to do with the ill temperament of the humpback.

“It was an accident,” Dianna Schulte, co-founder and director of research for the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation, told The Post.

The Portsmouth-based marine researcher said the video proves that the 30-foot-long juvenile was feeding when it broke the surface of the water.

“The whales will come up through schools of fish with their mouth wide open and close their mouth, either right before they break the surface or even after they break the surface,” Schulte said.

“The boat was in the wrong place.”

The marine mammal has become something of a local celebrity for becoming the first humpback to hunt its meals in the Piscataqua River.

Minke whales are known to swim through the channel, but humpbacks tend to stay around 15 miles from shore, Schulte said.

A population boom in Atlantic menhaden — a favorite among whales, dolphins and sharks — could be the reason the juvenile is coming closer to the coast, she said, adding that it could be using the shallow waters to its advantage as it builds up its hunting skills.

The humpback’s unusual presence has drawn plenty of gawkers in the last few weeks — meaning the fishermen should have been aware that there was a whale lurking below.

“The boaters that are in the video, they should have known better to not be fishing with a large whale in the area, because [an accident] can happen,” Schultz said.

The idea that the whale was “pissed off” or may have been acting maliciously — like how orcas are attacking sailboats in Europe — is preposterous, she continued.

“The whales, when they’re feeding on the fish schools, when they’re that dense, they just can’t see through the fish school, so they don’t know what’s above them, especially on a cloudy day like today. So the whale had no idea that the boat was even there,” said Schultz.

“I’ve been watching whales and researching whales for 30 years, and I’ve never seen a humpback whale purposely hit a boat.”

As long as the trailblazing humpback is swimming in Portsmouth’s shallow waters, Schultz warned that boaters and fishermen should give the animal as much as 100 yards of space, especially when they catch it at mealtime.

Humans aren’t the only ones being put in harm’s way when fishing too close to the massive mammals: Whales can become entangled in fishing lines and lobster equipment, which could greatly hinder their ability to feed. 

Advertisement

Brothers film wild moment as whale jumps on and capsizes boat off N.H. coast: ‘I can’t believe that actually happened’

T wo boaters escaped injury after a whale lunged onto their vessel and caused it to capsize in a remarkable scene caught on video in the waters near Portsmouth, N.H., on Tuesday morning.

The Coast Guard was notified at about 8 a.m. Tuesday that a vessel had capsized following “an interaction with a whale” that left two people in the water, according to Lieutenant Junior Grade Matthew Bartnick, public affairs officer for the US Coast Guard Sector Northern New England.

The Coast Guard launched a crew from Portsmouth to assist the boaters, Bartnick said. Tow Boat US also responded and was able to right the vessel and towed it back to shore, Bartnick said.

Bartnick said the vessel is a 23-foot Pleasurecraft center console. He said the whale was not injured.

Two teenagers from Eliot, Maine, who were fishing in the area caught the scene on video and then helped the two men who’d been thrown off board. Tobin Yager said his sons, 19-year-old Wyatt and 16-year-old Colin, were fishing for striped bass when they saw the whale.

Tobin Yager said his son Colin pulled out his phone and started recording when the whale breached and came down on the stern of a vessel nearby, sending the boat’s bow up into the air before coming down on its port side and capsizing, sending two people into the water.

Tobin Yager said his sons called him shortly after.

“They called me rather excited,” he said. “They were catching 50-inch stripers, an amazing fishing day, but this certainly takes the cake.”

The brothers said they had only a moment to process what they had just seen before turning their attention to the two boaters who were thrown in the water.

“It was complete shock,” said Wyatt Yager, who is a student at the University of Maine. “At first, I was like, ‘I can’t believe that actually happened.’ But then it was like, we got to get these people out of the water.”

He said the two men seemed to be in “good spirits.”

“They were kind of laughing it off, like ‘Wow, that was crazy,’” Wyatt Yager said.

Colin Yager, a student at Marshwood High School, said he had his phone in one hand recording and his fishing rod in the other, which had just hooked a striped bass when the whale breached. He said he cut the bass from his fishing line so he could focus on helping the other boaters.

“There were plenty of other boats there that would’ve done the same thing, we were just the first ones” to reach them, Colin Yager said.

Yager said his sons told him there was a school of menhaden fish, also known as pogies, swimming in the area where the whale emerged. When the whale breaks the surface in the video, several small fish can be seen soaring into the air.

Pete Reynolds, the captain and owner of Granite State Whale Watch, saw the whale video circulating on social media Tuesday. He said it was not unusual to see whales near shore feeding on bait fish this time of year, but it was “very unusual” for a whale to crash into a boat.

“The whale appears to be feeding on the bait fish so probably it was feeding and unaware of the boat being there,” he said.

Whales breach as part of their feeding: After corralling fish together, they swim up from underneath them to get a big mouthful of fish.

“Certainly it’s nothing whales would do intentionally,” he added. “Self preservation is key for them.”

Bartnick, the Coast Guard spokesperson, said federal law requires boaters to maintain a safe distance from marine mammals and not to drive toward them.

“The safer distance you can maintain for marine mammals like that, the better,” he said.

UK Edition Change

• UK Politics
• News Videos
• Paris 2024 Olympics
• Rugby Union
• Sport Videos
• John Rentoul
• Mary Dejevsky
• Andrew Grice
• Sean O’Grady
• Photography
• Theatre & Dance
• Culture Videos
• Fitness & Wellbeing
• Food & Drink
• Health & Families
• Royal Family
• Electric Vehicles
• Car Insurance Deals
• Lifestyle Videos
• UK Hotel Reviews
• News & Advice
• Simon Calder
• Australia & New Zealand
• South America
• C. America & Caribbean
• Middle East
• Politics Explained
• News Analysis
• Today’s Edition
• Home & Garden
• Broadband deals
• Fashion & Beauty
• Travel & Outdoors
• Sports & Fitness
• Climate 100
• Sustainable Living
• Climate Videos
• Solar Panels
• Behind The Headlines
• On The Ground
• Decomplicated
• You Ask The Questions
• Binge Watch
• Travel Smart
• Watch on your TV
• Crosswords & Puzzles
• Most Commented
• Newsletters
• Ask Me Anything
• Virtual Events
• Wine Offers
• Betting Sites

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

Dramatic video shows humpback whale landing on small boat: ‘It was insane’

The 19-ft fishing vessel sustained minimal damage and there were no injuries reported by the two people on board during the splash, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday

Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the us, thanks for signing up to the evening headlines email.

Video footage captured the shocking moment that a humpback whale burst through the water in Massachusetts and landed facedown on an unsuspecting fisherman’s deck.

On Sunday at around 10am local time, Plymouth Harbormaster Chad Hunter says that the giant mammal was seen splashing around close to moored boats off the coast of White Horse Beach in Cape Cod Bay, according to NBC 10 Boston .

The 19-ft fishing vessel reportedly incurred a minimal amount of damage to the bow of the boat and was able to return to shore without the need of assistance.

There were two people onboard the vessel at the time of the big splash, and neither reported any injuries from the incident.

“The Plymouth Harbormaster Department recommends a distance of at least 100 yards to minimize potential interactions with whales,” said Plymouth officials in a Facebook post after the incident. “This interaction, while rare, is a reminder that these interactions can be dangerous for both boaters and whales.”

Witnesses who saw the splash unfold told NBC 10 that they’d never encountered a sight such as the one they were treated to on Sunday.

“All of a sudden, full breach, ten feet out of the water, slams on top of his guy’s boat, like his bow goes down, basically, into the water, engine out, full thing pops off, whale rolls over the side of it, totally fine, but his boat was messed up,” Ryder Parkhurst told the local news station.

“It was insane, the guy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, that’s all. Pops up, bang...right on the bow of the guy’s boat,” he said, adding that he “saw the boat go freaking flying, it was crazy.”

The Massachusetts Environmental Police are reportedly investigating the incident as well, according to WCVB.

The area where the breaching occurred on Sunday has become a hotspot for spotting humpback whales in recent weeks, with several sightings being reported over the last month.

Humpback whales, which can measure up to 55 ft and weigh up to 40 tonnes, pictured at this shoreline are oftentimes engaged in what’s called “lunge feeding.” The Whale & Dolphin Conservation group describes this as when the mammals bait fish by gulping large mouthfuls of water to corral fish into their mouths.

Just last week, a paddleboarder at Manomet Point, located just 1.5 miles down the beach from where the breaching occurred on Sunday, was treated to the sighting of a humpback whale bursting out of the water just metres away from where he stood.

"The thing comes out of the water, thing is like 25 ft in the air, there’s fish flying out of its mouth,” Michael Manfredi told WCVB last week. “It’s just amazing, it’s incredible. It’s just one of those moments you’ll never forget.”

The paddleboarder added that he “was so happy when I got home.” Fortunately, photographer Craig Picariello was nearby and managed to snap a picture of the pair on the water in the rare moment, helping cement the memory Mr Manfredi is likely to not forget to permanent art.

“He just seemed to be at the right place at the right time, so I kind of just followed him, and that’s where I got the pictures. It was crazy,” Mr Picariello told WCVB after snapping the iconic picture.

Humpback whales are found around the world, but the groups that are found frequenting the Massachusetts shores are part of the Western North Atlantic Humpback population. The mammals are classified as an Endangered species in Massachusetts, as there remain about 10,000, with 5,700 frequenting the western North Atlantic, according to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife.

The humpback whale, its food resources – such as shrimp-like crustaceans (krill) and small fish – and its habitat are all threatened by human-influenced factors, such as pollution, entanglement with fishing gear and crashing with fishing vessels.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

• My Independent Premium
• Account details
• Help centre

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Newsletters
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Video Captures ‘Insane’ Moment Whale Breaches and Lands on Boat in Massachusetts

A boater had a whale of an encounter off the coast of Massachusetts on Sunday that was caught on camera.

A stunning video captured a humpback whale breaching the surface and landing on a 19-foot boat in a wild scene that occurred off the coast of White Horse Beach in Plymouth, according to NBC10 Boston .

The whale slammed into the bow of the boat before bouncing back into the water. A photo also captured the frightening moment before impact.

“IT WAS INSANE!” #NEW pictures show a whale breaching this AM outside #Plymouth , landing on a 19 foot boat. Harbormaster: No one injured. Witnesses say this was the most INTENSE thing they’ve seen on the water in decades. @NBC10Boston pic.twitter.com/Cm8MzymnU6 — Eli Rosenberg NBC10 Boston (@EliNBCBoston) July 24, 2022

No injuries were reported, and the boat only sustained light damage and was able to return to the boat ramp without any assistance.

"It was insane, the guy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, that’s all," bystander Ryder Parkhurst told NBC10. "Pops up, bang ... right on the bow of the guy’s boat.

“I just saw the boat go freaking flying, it was crazy,” he continued. “It was nuts. I couldn’t believe the thing was still floating.”

Another boat was bumped by a whale in the same area two days earlier, according to NBC10. An abundance of bait fish attracted the whales along with several boats filled with people fishing.

Recommended Stories

Mortgage and refinance rates today, august 27, 2024: rates back below 6%.

These are today's mortgage and refinance rates. The 30-year fixed rates on both home purchases and refinances are under 6% right now. Lock in your rate today.

Little League World Series: Florida wins extra-innings championship thriller over Taiwan on chaotic walk-off bunt

The championship is the first for a team from Florida in nine trips to the LLWS final.

Danny Jansen makes MLB history by playing for Red Sox and Blue Jays in same game

Boston Red Sox catcher Danny Jansen became the first MLB player to play for two teams in the same game when he batted in Monday's matchup vs. the Toronto Blue Jays.

Aaron Judge does it all, this time with a home-run-robbing, double-play gem

Judge can do it with his glove, too.

Final predictions for every AFC team: Jets, Titans, Steelers & more | Football 301

Nate Tice and Charles McDonald join forces to preview every team in the AFC. For each team they discuss win totals, give a player to watch and try to predict why each team could under- or over-perform expectations this season.

Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong zooms around bases in 14 seconds for inside-the-park home run

Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete-Crow Armstrong showed serious speed in running out an inside-the-park home run

Commanders take down Sean Taylor memorial after criticism, working on replacement statue

The Commanders' first memorial for Sean Taylor, which looked similar to a department store mannequin, drew harsh criticism when it was first unveiled in 2022.

Zion Williamson's apparent weight loss draws attention on social media

New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson appears to have lost notable weight during the offseason, based on photos taken at his basketball camp in South Carolina.

Kerr out at Team USA, Zion slims down & our favorite under-the-radar offseason moves | No Cap Room

Jake Fischer and Dan Devine talk their way through the late August NBA news cycle and list off their favorite under-the-radar moves from this NBA offseason.

Apple reportedly announcing iPhone 16 lineup and more on September 10

Apple will be unveiling new products on September 10, with the announced phones going on sale on September 20, according to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The phones should also support Apple Intelligence, the company’s suite of AI features announced earlier this year. The event could also include announcements of the Apple Watch Series 10, which will be thinner than past models, with a larger screen, as well as new AirPods, with noise cancellation coming to more models.

Aaron Judge’s pursuit of 74 HRs, Shohei Ohtani looking at 50-50 | Baseball Bar-B-Cast

Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman discuss if Aaron Judge could one day set the MLB single season record for home runs, if Shohei Ohtani can reach the 50-50 club this season and recap all the action from the weekend in baseball.

The best store-bought barbecue sauces, according to pitmasters

Chefs and other grilling experts weigh in too — shop now and get these pro-approved favorites for your Labor Day cookouts.

Bust alert! 13 players to avoid early in your drafts | Yahoo Fantasy Forecast

It's officially 'Convictions Week' on the pod as we provide our most definitive takes of draft season. Matt Harmon is joined by Yahoo Fantasy's resident hater Dan Titus to identify potential busts in each round of your draft. While both make it clear they don't think the guys they pick will have awful seasons, they do offer reasons why each of their picks won't meet the expectations of their current ADP. The two also end the show by answering your questions in the fantasy mailbag.

NASCAR to hold 2025 Cup Series race in Mexico City on June 15

The event will be the first Cup Series points race outside the United States in over 60 years.

The Kansas City Chiefs' cheerleaders are wearing cuffs to honor former squad member Krystal Anderson following her death: 'She was always sparkling'

Anderson suffered a cardiac arrest after contracting sepsis following a stillbirth. Now her death is drawing attention to the Black maternal mortality criss.

Researchers discover potentially catastrophic exploit present in AMD chips for decades

Researchers discovered a potentially catastrophic vulnerability in AMD chips that has been there for decades. It’s called a ‘Sinkclose’ flaw.

Target may have solved one of retail's biggest problems: Theft

Target isn't alone. Walmart and Dollar General are also seeing the widely discussed issue get better.

Shohei Ohtani is 'fine' after X-rays following hit-by-pitch reveal no structural damage

"It's really scary," manager Dave Roberts said. "You always hold your breath."

MLB umpire Nick Mahrley carted off field after Giancarlo Stanton's broken bat hit him in the head

Stanton's bat snapped at the handle, and the barrel hit Mahrley in the side of his head.

What credit card users need to know if the Fed cuts rates in September

The Fed may soon cut interest rates. Here’s why you should take control of your credit card debt now.

Brothers film wild moment as whale jumps on and capsizes boat off N.H. coast: ‘I can’t believe that actually happened’

Two boaters escaped injury after a whale lunged onto their vessel and caused it to capsize in a remarkable scene caught on video in the waters near Portsmouth, N.H., on Tuesday morning.

The Coast Guard was notified at about 8 a.m. Tuesday that a vessel had capsized following “an interaction with a whale” that left two people in the water, according to Lieutenant Junior Grade Matthew Bartnick, public affairs officer for the US Coast Guard Sector Northern New England.

The Coast Guard launched a crew from Portsmouth to assist the boaters, Bartnick said. Tow Boat US also responded and was able to right the vessel and towed it back to shore, Bartnick said.

Bartnick said the vessel is a 23-foot Pleasurecraft center console. He said the whale was not injured.

Advertisement

Two teenagers from Eliot, Maine, who were fishing in the area caught the scene on video and then helped the two men who’d been thrown off board. Tobin Yager said his sons, 19-year-old Wyatt and 16-year-old Colin, were fishing for striped bass when they saw the whale.

Tobin Yager said his son Colin pulled out his phone and started recording when the whale breached and came down on the stern of a vessel nearby, sending the boat’s bow up into the air before coming down on its port side and capsizing, sending two people into the water.

Tobin Yager said his sons called him shortly after.

“They called me rather excited,” he said. “They were catching 50-inch stripers, an amazing fishing day, but this certainly takes the cake.”

The brothers said they had only a moment to process what they had just seen before turning their attention to the two boaters who were thrown in the water.

“It was complete shock,” said Wyatt Yager, who is a student at the University of Maine. “At first, I was like, ‘I can’t believe that actually happened.’ But then it was like, we got to get these people out of the water.”

He said the two men seemed to be in “good spirits.”

“They were kind of laughing it off, like ‘Wow, that was crazy,’” Wyatt Yager said.

Colin Yager, a student at Marshwood High School, said he had his phone in one hand recording and his fishing rod in the other, which had just hooked a striped bass when the whale breached. He said he cut the bass from his fishing line so he could focus on helping the other boaters.

“There were plenty of other boats there that would’ve done the same thing, we were just the first ones” to reach them, Colin Yager said.

Yager said his sons told him there was a school of menhaden fish, also known as pogies, swimming in the area where the whale emerged. When the whale breaks the surface in the video, several small fish can be seen soaring into the air.

Pete Reynolds, the captain and owner of Granite State Whale Watch, saw the whale video circulating on social media Tuesday. He said it was not unusual to see whales near shore feeding on bait fish this time of year, but it was “very unusual” for a whale to crash into a boat.

“The whale appears to be feeding on the bait fish so probably it was feeding and unaware of the boat being there,” he said.

Whales breach as part of their feeding: After corralling fish together, they swim up from underneath them to get a big mouthful of fish.

“Certainly it’s nothing whales would do intentionally,” he added. “Self preservation is key for them.”

Bartnick, the Coast Guard spokesperson, said federal law requires boaters to maintain a safe distance from marine mammals and not to drive toward them.

“The safer distance you can maintain for marine mammals like that, the better,” he said.

Nick Stoico can be reached at [email protected] . Amanda Gokee can be reached at [email protected] . Follow her @amanda_gokee .

Thar she blows: Breaching whale smashes boat in Cape Cod Bay

The vessel was damaged when the whale landed on it, but no injuries were reported.

Watch: Whale lands on boat off the coast of Plymouth, Massachusetts

Video shows a whale breaching the surface of the water and landing on a boat near White Horse Beach in Plymouth, Massachusetts. (Video courtesy: Leo Enggasser / Amazing Animals+ / TMX)

PLYMOUTH, Mass. - A whale breached the surface of Cape Cod Bay and landed on a boat over the weekend, prompting the harbormaster in Plymouth, Massachusetts to warn boaters to be aware of their surroundings.

No injuries were reported to anyone on the 19-foot vessel after the incident occurred Sunday in the waters off White Horse Beach . However, the boat was damaged.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER ON TV

The Plymouth Harbormaster notified the Massachusetts Environmental Police about the incident, which will now investigate.

GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH SHOWS GREAT WHITE SHARKS MAY CHANGE COLOR TO BETTER HUNT THEIR PREY

"This interaction, while rare, is a reminder that these interactions can be dangerous for both boaters and whales," officials with the town of Plymouth said in a Facebook post.

Officials recommend boaters give a distance of at least 100 yards to minimize potential interactions with whales while out on the waters of Cape Cod Bay.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX WEATHER UPDATE PODCAST

Be sure to download the FOX Weather app to track any storms in your area and receive potentially life-saving weather alerts issued by the National Weather Service. The free FOX Weather livestream is also available 24/7 on the website and app and on your favorite streaming platform . The FOX Weather Update podcast also provides weather information for the entire country.

• Massachusetts
• Earth & Space

Watch CBS News

Killer whales attack another sailboat off Spain, prompting complex rescue that injures crewmember

By Emily Mae Czachor

Updated on: August 26, 2024 / 4:08 PM EDT / CBS News

Orcas slammed into a sailboat off the coast of northwestern Spain on Sunday, damaging its rudder and prompting a complicated rescue operation that left one crew member seriously injured, officials said, marking the latest incident of the predators attacking a vessel in the region. 

It wasn't known exactly how many orcas — also known as killer whales — were involved in the attack near O Roncudo along the rocky cliffs of the Spanish province of Galicia. Spain's maritime rescue service said two people on board the boat, called the Amidala, sent out a mayday at around 4 p.m. GMT to the dispatch center in Cape Finisterre, an area also marked by rocky shores and, at the time, rough seas.

The man and woman who crewed the Amidala haven't been identified by name, but the rescue service described them as Belgian nationals. Their boat sailed under the Finnish flag.

Another vessel with the Spanish maritime rescue service sailed for hours to the Amidala through adverse weather, which included waves nearly 10 feet high and winds of up to 40 miles per hour, the rescue service said. While arranging the towing operation that would allow the rescue vessel to slowly pull the sailboat to a port at Camariñas, the woman on board the Amidala seriously injured her hand and was airlifted back to land. The towing mission eventually ended with the sailboat docked just before 9:30 p.m.

Manuel Capeáns, who leads the rescue coordination center in Cape Finisterre, in a statement commended the Amidala's crew and everyone involved in the recovery for successfully completing the operation in such harsh conditions. 

The incident on Sunday is just the latest in a string of accounts of orcas severely damaging sailboats in Spanish waters and across the surrounding region. In May, a sailing yacht sunk after killer whales attacked it in the Strait of Gibraltar, a narrow waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea between southern Spain and Morocco. The unknown number of orcas in that ordeal slammed into the vessel carrying two people and caused a water leak, according to Spain's maritime rescue center. Those crew members were rescued by a passing oil tanker.

Orca attacks on sailboats have apparently become more common in recent years. Reports of killer whale interactions with humans more than tripled over the last two years, according to a research group called GTOA, which documents such incidents in and around the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula. 

The group said it has recorded hundreds of those interactions since 2020, although researchers noted that orcas' behavior in the Strait of Gibraltar and Bay of Biscay — another hotspot for killer whale interactions — dropped significantly between January and May of this year compared with the last three years' average figures over those same months.

Sailors have resorted to everything from throwing sand in the water to setting off fireworks to blasting thrash metal music in efforts to ward off the encroaching predators.

• Boat Accident

Emily Mae Czachor is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. She covers breaking news, often focusing on crime and extreme weather. Emily Mae has previously written for outlets including the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed and Newsweek.

More from CBS News

Iceland police say 1 U.S. tourist dead, 1 injured in ice cave collapse

At least 23 people taken off vehicles and killed by gunmen in Pakistan

At least 35 dead, dozens hurt in Pakistan bus accidents, officials say

Israel says hostage rescued in "complex operation" by troops in Gaza

Breaching whale slams into fishing boat off Massachusetts coast: VIDEO

PLYMOUTH, Mass. -- A scary moment for a fishing boat off the coast of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Sunday was caught on video.

You can see as a whale surfaces and slams into a fishing boat.

There were several other fishing boats nearby, and the incident happened in an area where whales have been spotted several times in the past week, so cameras were rolling.

Nobody was hurt and the boat only suffered some minor damage.

The Massachusetts Environmental Police will investigate the incident.

The Plymouth Harbormaster Department says boaters should try to remain at least 300 feet from whales to minimize potential interactions whenever possible.

Related Topics

• PETS & ANIMALS
• MASSACHUSETTS
• WHALE WATCHING
• U.S. & WORLD

Whale capsizes boat, tosses passengers overboard into ocean | VIDEO

Critically endangered whale spotted off CA coast: NOAA

Pod of killer whales attacks, sinks 50-foot yacht

Beached sperm whale in Florida dies, despite rescue attempts

Top stories.

Strong storms bring damaging winds, rain; 40K without power | Radar

Mentor shot to death on North Side was trying to change lives: mother

How corn contributes to Midwestern heat waves

Woman details horror of random knife attack on face at Newark Airport

2 suburbs dealing with aftermath of water main breaks

Illinois reports first West Nile Virus death this year

Suburban cop grazed by bullet, ran toward gunfire at homicide scene

College student killed in murder-suicide was 'exceptional scholar'

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Scientists Have a New Theory About Why Orcas Are Attacking Boats

A pod of orcas damaged a boat and left its two-person crew stranded. It was the latest in a string of attacks that research suggests could be used for hunting practice.

By Lynsey Chutel

Reporting from London.

The orcas have struck again — this time ramming a sailboat off Spain’s northwest coast, rescue workers said on Tuesday.

A pod of orcas damaged the rudder of a sailboat, leaving its two-person crew stranded in the waters off Cape Finisterre Sunday, according to an emailed statement from the rescue workers. It is the latest in a string of attacks by pods of orcas swimming around the Iberian Peninsula.

While the sailboat, the Amidala, did not sink, pods of orcas have sunken several vessels in recent years. Researchers still do not know whether the attacks are playful or malicious, but a new theory based on studying the troublesome pods of orcas suggests that they could be using the boats as practice targets for new hunting techniques. Other competing theories still exist.

Regardless of the orcas’ intentions, the behavior is enough to worry sailors journeying in the highly trafficked waters around North Africa, Spain and Portugal.

The Amidala, manned by a crew of two Belgians, encountered an unknown number of orcas on Sunday afternoon. They sent a mayday distress call to the Finisterre Maritime Rescue Center, which towed the vessel back to shore, the center said.

The sailboat’s damaged rudder, and poor weather conditions in the area, made the rescue more arduous, with waves reaching up to nearly 10 feet and winds hitting speeds of 40 miles per hour. A female crew member on the Amidala suffered injuries to her hand as the sailboat was being towed, and she was transferred to a rescue vessel, the rescue center said. After more than four hours, the Amidala made it back to shore.

In recent years, sailors have shared tips about how to stop orca rammings, or at the very least deter them. Deterrents include painting the hull a different color. Another tactic is to blast heavy metal music, or to scatter sand into the ocean. There’s also an app that tracks orca activity in the ocean, letting boats steer clear of pods.

Researchers have no definitive explanations about why orcas, seemingly in this region alone, are increasingly ramming ships. One theory suggests that the ramming stems from past traumatic encounters between orcas and boats. Some scientists think it may be simpler than that — as naturally curious and playful mammals, orcas may just be having some fun.

The other, new, theory comes from the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute in Spain, which has been tracking the orca ship rammings since 2020. It has found that orca pods off the coast of Spain, who migrate in the waters between North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, have developed a taste of Atlantic bluefin tuna, according to a paper the institute will publish next month.

That species of tuna can grow up to 10 feet long and move at speeds that orcas can’t always catch, at least not without training, said Bruno Díaz López, the institute’s chief biologist. Sailboats are often the ideal size to train on — they move quickly and silently, and close to the water’s surface, not unlike the orcas’ prey.

Researchers studying the ramming incidents have found that it is mostly young orcas who go after sailboats, but sometimes adults appear to be teaching younger members of the pod how to do so. The orcas have also figured out that the rudder is soft enough to bite, and that fiberglass makes for good ramming, Mr. Díaz López said.

“This is like a training toy,” Mr. Díaz López said. “It’s a shame that we humans are in the middle of this game, but they are learning.”

Lynsey Chutel covers South Africa and the countries that make up southern Africa from Johannesburg. More about Lynsey Chutel

Around the World With The Times

Our reporters across the globe take you into the field..

Lessons From a Philosopher President:  Pepe Mujica, Uruguay’s spartan former president and plain-spoken philosopher, offers wisdom from a rich life as he battles cancer .

Taiwan’s Nightmare, Onscreen:  Some think “Zero Day,” a Taiwanese television drama that fictionalizes a Chinese invitation, helps the island confront an increasingly plausible scenario . Others say the show is alarmist.

Beekeepers at the DMZ:  The heavily fortified area separating North and South Korea is a place of deep meaning for nearby farmers whose honeybees can fly freely through it .

Scotland’s Wild Boar Problem:  Residents say the animals are roaming the roads and hills around Loch Ness , tearing up lawns and terrorizing sheep.

Mennonites in the Amazon: Seeking inexpensive land far from modern life, groups of Mennonites are carving out new colonies in Peru . There are fears they are adding to the deforestation of the jungle.

Mass. Boaters Urged to Use Caution Near Humpback Whales

The massachusetts environmental police and the department of fish and games' division of marine fisheries are asking anyone operating vessels or personal watercraft like kayaks or paddleboards to be careful near manomet point off the coast of plymouth, where three juvenile humpback whales have been feeding, by staff reports • published july 25, 2022 • updated on july 25, 2022 at 7:23 pm.

Massachusetts officials are asking people operating boats of any size to take caution off the coast of Plymouth after a series of close encounters with humpback whales.

Footage and photos of a humpback whale jumping out of the water and landing on a boat Sunday has been seen around the world. But it's just one of many whale sightings, prompted by an apparent feeding frenzy under the waves, that have caused a frenzy above the waves as well this month.

STAY IN THE KNOW

The Massachusetts Environmental Police and the Department of Fish and Games' Division of Marine Fisheries are asking people to be careful in the area "where an aggregation of three juvenile humpback whales have been feeding for at least a week."

Get top local stories in Boston delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC Boston's News Headlines newsletter.

The agencies noted that the behavior of the young whales is unpredictable while they are feeding in the shallow area.

Anyone operating a vessel or a personal watercraft like a kayak or a paddleboard is advised to be careful in the area, the agencies said.

The Plymouth harbormaster had been monitoring the area since 5 a.m. Sunday to ensure boaters' safety after a boat was bumped by a whale on Friday in another caught-on-camera incident.

While whales can be marvelous creatures, many kinds of marine life are protected under the federal laws that require people to keep a wide berth away from protected animals — including humpback whales.

"It is important to remember that vessel strikes not only can harm the whale but also be dangerous to humans and vessels as well. It is vital to stay at least 100 yards away from whales to minimize any potential interactions," the nonprofit Whale & Dolphin Conservation said in a statement Monday.

“IT WAS INSANE!” #NEW pictures show a whale breaching this AM outside #Plymouth , landing on a 19 foot boat. Harbormaster: No one injured. Witnesses say this was the most INTENSE thing they’ve seen on the water in decades. @NBC10Boston pic.twitter.com/Cm8MzymnU6 — Eli Rosenberg NBC10 Boston (@EliNBCBoston) July 24, 2022

The statement from the MEP and DMF pointed out that the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Massachusetts Endangered Species Act make it illegal to harass the whales.

"Harassment includes any act of pursuit, torment or annoyance that can injure or disrupt the feeding behavior of the animal," the agencies said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration advises boaters to follow its guidelines for viewing whales and other marine life .

The whales spotted off southern Massachusetts this July have been humpback whales, between 35 and 55 feet long and up to 40 tons, according to Whale & Dolphin Conservation, whose North American office is based in Plymouth.

Click here to read more about what's bringing the whales to Plymouth .

On Monday, signs were up reminding boaters of the danger whales can present. People are also supposed to keep at least 100 yards from humpback whales and other marine life protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

"Although it can be tempting to try to get close to these marine animals, it's always best to view them from a safe and respectful distance for their safety—and yours. Learning how to interact with and observe ocean animals can help you make the right decisions when you encounter them by water, land, or air," NOAA says.

More on whale encounters off Plymouth

‘I Got That on Video!' Watch a Whale Bump a Boat Off Mass.

Video Shows Whale Breaching Off Mass. Coast, Landing on Boat: ‘It Was Insane!'

This article tagged under:.

Terrifying Video Captures Pod Of Whales Surrounding Solo Paddler Across Atlantic Ocean

The situation took a frightening turn when one of the whales bumped into his boat, causing him to drop the camera and pause filming briefly.

Tom Waddington found himself surrounded by long-finned pilot whales

An adventurer paddling solo across the Atlantic Ocean had an unexpected encounter with a massive pod of pilot whales, an experience that left him both exhilarated and alarmed.

Tom Waddington, on his journey from Newfoundland to England, found himself surrounded by long-finned pilot whales after a morning drizzle on July 7, as he shared on Instagram.

In a video, Waddington expressed his amazement: "This is so cool. A pod of whales is circling the boat and playing around it. I love it, but I'm worried they might hit my rudder. They're so close, see?"

He continued, "I can hear them blowing bubbles. Wow, that is so cool. What a special treat. I've seen many whales before, but they're just here to say hello."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tom Waddington (@tomwaddington_skier)

When he resumed, his voice carried a note of concern. "I'm two hours in now with these thousands of whales," he said on camera. "One bumped the boat earlier, and I'm really scared they might hit it again. It's an incredible sight, but also very frightening."

According to the crew monitoring Waddington's journey from shore, the whales eventually swam away, allowing him to continue his paddle towards land, the New York Post reported. 

Promoted Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com

Though Waddington emerged unscathed, the reality of sharing the ocean with such large creatures became starkly clear when one whale collided with his small boat. He later recounted the experience on social media, highlighting the shift from a serene wildlife encounter to a more daunting reality.

Experts suggest that the whales Waddington encountered were likely long-finned pilot whales, known for their social nature and tendency to travel in large groups. According to NPR, these whales often form tight-knit pods and are commonly found in the North Atlantic, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Track Budget 2023 and get Latest News Live on NDTV.com.

Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world .

India Elections | Read Latest News on Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Live on NDTV.com . Get Election Schedule , information on candidates, in-depth ground reports and more - #ElectionsWithNDTV

Watch Live News: