tophatyachts.com

Hi,

Its just about whale watching season, does anyone know what distance off the coast they like to travel & anything else that might help the chances of seeing some? Also any precautions legal or otherwise?

thanks in advance
Shaun

Hi Shaun

I have seen them in within 150 metres to the shoreline at time generall though you will find them a few miles off cruising South in the East Coast current

The legal distance a vessel must remain from a whale is 100m . It is ok if the whale approaches closer to you but you must not harrass the whale or pursue it.

Basiacally a good common sense appproach I think after all the Top Hat is incredibly strong but not whale proof !



Cheers

Mark ( Azzura )

Hi Shaun,

I sail off Broken Bay and have seen whales many times, usually about 2-5 miles offshore but sometimes at the mouth of the Bay. Once or twice they have gotten a little too close but generally (unlike dolphins)they tend to keep a safe distance away. Mind you we did get wet one day when one broached just behind the boat. There were about half a dozen whales playing about that day. They took very litle interest in our boat when they swam past us on their way South.

I think you would be very unlucky to run a whale over in a Tophat. I think Tophats are too slow to worry whales. We have found (so far) that the whales just seem to know where the boat is and tend to not get too close.

Good luck with the whale watching.
Mark

I sail off Botany and at this time of year we tend to see them within 1nm of Cape Solander - and it's rare in my limited experience during May/June to go offshore and not see at least one. Sailing from Broken Bay to Botany last June we had a mother and calf surface about 10 metres from the cockpit which was both exhilerating but a bit worrying also.

Enjoy!

Brendan

Topknot Mk III

Hi Shaun,

A couple of seasons back in June or July (on their northward bound trip) I saw quite a few at about 2 to 5km off Crowdy Head. Heading south they tend to be a little closer and I've seen them very close in to the points around Forster. I'll see what happens this year in my kayak

Down here on the South Coast (in my experience at least) they seem to travel further out on their way up and make the return trip closer.

Good luck!

Scott.