dolphin off the bow

Since I posted the last picture of the “loggers” down around Vancouver I decided to post this one as well although I think it needs a bit of explanation.

So! We were sailing from False Creek, Granville Island, in Vancouver across the straits (Juan de Fuca Strait, Strait of Georgia) to Vancouver Island when along came a pod of 5 or 6 dolphins that started playing in our bow wake.

We were on a nice long reach with plenty of sea room and hence we left the sails unattended, tied down the helm, and all of us were up in the pulpit (in the bow of the sail boat) watching the dolphins for 20 or thirty minutes.

One would slide in to the bow wave and surf for 40 or 70 seconds, then another would nudge him, knocking him off the wave and take his place... then another would take his place. At times two of them would ride the bow waves, one to port, the other to starboard.

This picture is of one of the dolphins that has just been nudged off the wave and while the picture doesn't really express the pleasure and excitement we shared that day it does brings back delightful memories of a grand time!