Giant male humpback comes within feet of crushing a boat as it flings itself out of the water to ‘warn’ sailors away from a mother and its calf off of Hawaii
- Humpback whale almost crushed a catamaran as it flung itself from the water off Kaanapali Beach in Hawaii
- Don McLeish was sailing on February 17 when he spotted the huge male whale escorting a mother and baby
- He believes the 22-ton whale breached close to the catamaran to ‘warn’ the sailors away from the group
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A huge humpback whale almost crushed a small catamaran – as it flung itself out of the water to ‘warn’ the sailors away from a nearby mum and her calf.
Don McLeish was sailing off Kaanapali Beach, Hawaii, on February 17 when he spotted a 22-ton male whale escorting a mother and her baby.
After following the trio through the clear blue water in his Zodiac boat, a catamaran appeared to be heading straight towards the whales.
A huge humpback whale almost crushed a small catamaran – as it flung itself out of the water to ‘warn’ the sailors away from a nearby mum and her calf.
Don McLeish was sailing off Kaanapali Beach, Hawaii, on February 17 when he spotted a 22-ton male whale escorting a mother and her baby
He believes the 22-ton whale breached close to the catamaran to ‘warn’ the sailors away from the group
Suddenly the male giant performed a stunning breach and when it came crashing into the water, the yacht could have been squashed as it was less than a ‘whale length’ away.
On re-entering the Pacific Ocean, the 40-foot-long whale made a huge splash, sending water flying high into the air.
Don, a 67-year-old retiree, said: ‘I believe the escort was alerting the catamaran to the presence of the mum and the calf.
Suddenly the male giant performed a stunning breach and when it came crashing into the water, the yacht could have been squashed as it was less than a ‘whale length’ away
After following the trio through the clear blue water in his Zodiac boat, a catamaran appeared to be heading straight towards the whales
‘We had been watching them and felt the boat was headed on a course that might intersect the spot where the pair had dived down,’ he said
‘We had been watching them and felt the boat was headed on a course that might intersect the spot where the pair had dived down.
‘I was stoked to have the camera in my hand and able to get the second half of the breach recorded.
‘I have seen hundreds and possibly even thousands of breaches but never one with the proximity to the catamaran and the nice splash at the end.
‘I was stoked to have the camera in my hand and able to get the second half of the breach recorded,’ Don McLeish said
Don, a 67-year-old retiree, said: ‘I believe the escort was alerting the catamaran to the presence of the mum and the calf’
‘He only breached the once and then all three started moving north and the calf breached multiple times, but neither adult came out again,’ said Don
‘He only breached the once and then all three started moving north and the calf breached multiple times, but neither adult came out again.
‘Less than one whale length separated the male and the catamaran.’
On re-entering the Pacific Ocean, the 40-foot-long whale made a huge splash, sending water flying high into the air