Whale hit by VMR

[Angla]

Sad to see that a rescue boat has hit a whale during a rescue operation. I hope all are well including the whale, but more importantly the people in distress as well as their rescuers.

Apparently they went over a wave/swell and could not see the whale in their path.

Cheers
Chris

[Richo1]

Hope there isn't too much damage - spoke to a skipper who once hit a whale calve in a Riviera, damaged both rudders and tore out the starboard prop and shaft!

[Mister]

One of the outcomes of travelling at night. Imagine what it would have done to a smaller lesser hull?

[ozscott]

I learned on another thread that you only need great night vision to avoid such collisions... :)

Cheers

PS. Gotta get rid of my remote spot light

[honda900]

Heres the article, its pretty badly damaged.


http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/whale-watch/volunteer-boat-hits-whale-off-stradbroke-island-20110620-1gaij.html


Regards
Honda

[finga]

Gees I hope all are well.

Apparently it was Raby Bay's boat and one of our members (Marlin Mike) is a crew member of VMR Raby Bay.

I also hope that's not the boat that has just had a major refit done to it.

[cormorant]

Very unusual the way in which that FG has sheared as a bulkhead!! I'd be looking at that whole hull construction. Hard to know without a close look and the next bulkheads may be the tanks meaning they are extra strong? .

Terrifying when you hit something on the water let alone something that shudder you like that would.

Hope the folk on board are not hurt bad. Whales are tough but that is a huge impact.


I won't comment about this article. Perhaps the VMR would send "wally" a response or the people needing rescue. Don't just pop up??? That's right they send up a perriscope and buoy and then a flare.!!!! Hope they have misquoted wally or he is a wally imo

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/20/3247799.htm

[theoldlegend]

Gees I hope all are well.

Apparently it was Raby Bay's boat and one of our members (Marlin Mike) is a crew member of VMR Raby Bay.

I also hope that's not the boat that has just had a major refit done to it.


Was just thinking the same thing myself Scott. :o :o

TOL

[lethal098]

Its one of those things, a freak accident, no prevention on this, especially not at 6pm, it would have been dark by then, not much you can do thats for sure.

And yes it was the boat that just had a major refit.

Hope the injured crew are ok and hope the whal only has minor injuries.

Cheers Lee

[AnthonyL]

Yes is the newly fitted out Energex Medivac. it was crew 6 on duty (not Marlin Mikes Crew but he went out)and my contacts said they were called out to help a boat at 4.05pm when they struck the whale just off Point Lookout. The boatie who needed help had a bit more of a wait on his hands.

I am sure Marlin Mike can fill you in on the rest.

[Lucky_Phill]

I saw the boat first hand today and had a chat with Mike.

Unfortunately, he believes the whale may have been a juvenile and assessing the amount of flesh imbedded in the sponson of the Cougar Cat, it is suggested the whale will not survive.

Due to the quick thinking of the skipper, after the collision, all members aboard the VMR boat are safe and well.

Mike will fill us in.



Cheers Phill
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[Almako]

Yeah feel sorry for the whale and all those involved, must have s**t themselves, i would have.
But i've i gotta say it does inspire me to consider a cat when i upgrade one day. My single hull boat would have gone down instantly. Impressive that they could even tow it back and it didn't just sink.

[Marlin_Mike]

It wasnt towed, it was driven in reverse very slowly.......
Mike

[Captain Seaweed]

Wow!! I cant believe the damage. I would have thought the boat would have gone over the top not broken apart like that. Is anyone else surprised or just me?

[TheRealAndy]

These guys are copping a flogging on the courier mail website (feedback). Suggest everyone gets on and sticks it back to the dikhead greenies.

[AnthonyL]

These guys are copping a flogging on the courier mail website (feedback). Suggest everyone gets on and sticks it back to the dikhead greenies.


Are you kidding?

Obviously no skipper would do it on purpose, it was an accident. Lucky no crew members were killed in an "accident" like that. If it was another boatie out there they would be dead for sure.

[Midnight]

I was VERY surprised at the amount of damage done. Is that a purpose designed crash bulkhead where the damage stopped, or was it just luck that it stopped there?

I would have thought that it would ride over the top of a whale also. Perhaps the whale was in the trough and the boat came down onto it at such an angle that prevented it from continuing to run over the top.

Well done to the Master and crew in the aftermath.

Cheers,
Myles

[Almako]

Marlin_Mike http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/envi...620-1gaij.html

Quoted "The Manly Coast Guard was called in to tow the damaged catamaran back to its base at Raby Bay and transfer its injured crew members to another marine rescue vessel.

*I've since read Mike you went out there so ignore the above..

[fishfeeder]

I cant believe some of peoples comments on the courier mail website, They are talking as if a Whale is more important then the human lives the VMR were heading out to assist, That's why they were out there in the first place not on a joy ride....... I think they need to take a good hard look in a mirror, then administer themselves a good solid uppercut !!

[PinHead]

I am going to write to the relevant Minister and request whale free zones be declared..whales cannot go there as they endanger the well being of humans.
Thankfully all the humans are alive.

[ozscott]

I thought glass would have withstood more than that. I know it must have been a massive impact BUT this is a 10m cat AND even if it was dropping down from a crest into a trough the whale is in the water, is soft and is being pushed down in a squishy mash of blubber and water...it really rocked me that damage. Has anyone hit anything like a log or similar that can comment on whether this is to be expected. I guess I am asking the question of whether these cats are built a bit light or not?

Cheers

[finga]

Better add dugongs, turtles, dolphins, koala's, skippy's, boat people, hippies and snappers to the list as well while your at it Pinhead.

[Lucky_Phill]

Off the subject a tad and not to start a " issue " but the original boat that broke down that the VMR were going to rescue, had motor problems. His Etec would not start.


LP.
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This may be of interest to no one, but I have a piece of Whale skin in my possession. Yes, I peeled it from the fibreglass of the VMR cat.

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[Spaniard_King]

Just the facts we wanted to hear phill :)

[fisho8]

Good to see everyone was ok the way i see it boats can be replaced family members and loved ones cannot nobody likes seeing this happen especially when wildlife are also injured I was heading out on my mates Tournament at 5.30am Sunday morning and we just missed hitting a turtle by inches we went over it and I was waiting for the bang but it must have just got out of the way we did not see it until it was right in front of us it come up for a breath of air also we all share the bays and oceans with our wildlife and sometimes accidents happen as for the greenies the have tunnel vision as far as I am concerned would be a different story if it was their loved ones on this rescue boat I am sure.

[fishing111]

I'm with Ozscott, i would have thought the damage sustained would be akin to hitting something substantial like rocks or something bloody hard and not something "softish" like a whale.
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Looks like i better add a bit more here for some. I do not doubt a whale damaged the cat in the least. My untrained and unqualified eye was just looking at the damage, and my comment was more to the damage caused to a big strong cat. I don't pretend to have any qualifications, i was just making a comment from my observaion.

Ps : Just for the record, i have never patted a whale to feel it's softness.

[nelton87]

I'm with Ozscott, i would have thought the damage sustained would be akin to hitting something substantial like rocks or something bloody hard and not something "softish" like a whale.

Paul251
Please explain to me how many whales you have patted to ascertain the softish statement, They are not called a floating reef for no reason.
Well Done to all the crews envolved they are a credit to our society for the amount of volunteer work they all do.
I am personally glad to see so many dedicated volunteers in QLD
All I can say is that the have my admiration
Nelton

[fishing111]

Nelton dry up!

[Jeremy]

Who calls whales floating reefs? Never heard that one myself.

I would be interested to know what speed the cat was doing before the collision? Like others, I am surprised by the extent of the damage.

[death_ship]

Off the subject a tad and not to start a " issue " but the original boat that broke down that the VMR were going to rescue, had motor problems. His Etec would not start.


LP.
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This may be of interest to no one, but I have a piece of Whale skin in my possession. Yes, I peeled it from the fibreglass of the VMR cat.

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how would u describe the flavour of the aformentioned whale skin?
its just that if we are already seeing larger numbers and they r getting in the way and they taste good........

[captain rednut]

how would u describe the flavour of the aformentioned whale skin?
its just that if we are already seeing larger numbers and they r getting in the way and they taste good........

hey deathship stick to eating marlin and leave our whale population alone!! and the humble whale wont annoy people who own hondas so youll be ok, take a chill pill.
cheers cr

[Tangles]

was in a 40 foot yacht in 1992, hit a sunfish in a trough, stopped dead, basically buggered the 2 ton keel, a whale on fibreglass cat not a lead keel ? , reckon they are very lucky boys,

[Midnight]

One thing I do know, I definitely will not be running in the dark now down here during the whale migration, even the most hard of hearing Humpback should be able to dodge me at 8kts!

[TREVELLY]

With more whales about each year and more boats heading out for a fish, every chance this will not be the last.

Did find when on Moreton Island the whales do become more playful at dusk - we saw some truly spectacular displays along the NE beach towards dusk a number of times. One day saw most likely two whales in one pod jump one after another more than 70 times in succession - SWMBO and I counted 78 jumps.

A boat doing 30knots meets a whale that wants to become airborn is a fluke but not impossible.

A whale doing a gentle roll on the surface is common and really there are a lot if they say 10 000 whales will pass us by - twice.

More whales including the babies as they head South.

Good thing no one hurt seriously and a timely reminder to go a bit easier out there in the dark especially in more vulnerable craft. (not saying anyone did anything wrong in the rescue boat)

[finga]

I have thought up a solution to this problem that will please all parties. And a mighty good solution and all I might add.

We just have to stick a solar powered green flashing beacon on the back of every whale, turtle, dugong, dolphin, refugee and greeny.
That way we can see where they are in the dark.
But of course additional beacons will have to be added to said navigational hazard depending on the overall length and girth and whales should have an escort (front and rear) for the wide load.

[cormorant]

Finga you are just being silly! The problem and solution are obvious

Obviously the prolem is these new environmental motors .

Them fancy 4 strokes and new DI 2 strokes mean teh whales can't see , hear , smell, taste them coming. Bring back noisy smokey motors!!

Perhaps we need to put a bell on the bow of all boats so they know we are coming?

Wonder what the problem with teh ETEC was that they were going to tow in?

[Defore]

I have thought up a solution to this problem that will please all parties. And a mighty good solution and all I might add.

We just have to stick a solar powered green flashing beacon on the back of every whale, turtle, dugong, dolphin, refugee and greeny.
That way we can see where they are in the dark.
But of course additional beacons will have to be added to said navigational hazard depending on the overall length and girth and whales should have an escort (front and rear) for the wide load.

May I suggest a different colour on the back of the Greenies, we don't want them to get mixed up with the things we want to protect. Perhaps a black flashing beacon :)

Ian

[fishfeeder]

Shouldn't they have Nav lights on and a 360 white light 1.5m high ??

If the whale died wouldn't have it been seen floating by now. So I guess it survived !!

Cheers

[bigjimg]

May I suggest a different colour on the back of the Greenies, we don't want them to get mixed up with the things we want to protect. Perhaps a black flashing beacon :)

IanNo No No,not any of those 2, how about a red outer circle with a red dot in the middle.Sorry to hear of the losses on both sides of the coin.Jim

[Vitamin Sea]

One thing I do know, I definitely will not be running in the dark now down here during the whale migration, even the most hard of hearing Humpback should be able to dodge me at 8kts!

I think that will make 2 of us, makes me think a bit more. If I had hit that with the old 19C she would have sunk like a stone.

Cheers

vs

[trymyluck]

I have thought up a solution to this problem that will please all parties. And a mighty good solution and all I might add.

We just have to stick a solar powered green flashing beacon on the back of every whale, turtle, dugong, dolphin, refugee and greeny.
That way we can see where they are in the dark.
But of course additional beacons will have to be added to said navigational hazard depending on the overall length and girth and whales should have an escort (front and rear) for the wide load.


The Jap's seem to know how to deal with these pesky whales...............:P:-X

On a serious note, witnessed the effects of a head on with a whale and a 6m Quinnie a couple of years ago and its not pretty and last year we were sitting off 1770 just on dark when we heard a slapping noise in the distance behind us.......... turned around to see a couple of whales breaching about 300m away, we decided to head in while we could see a little.........:o

Mark

[Midnight]

Vitaman Sea,
Ya trusty haines is built of sterner stuff than a Kevlacat, you'd be right :)

My Bertram hull bottom is an inch thick, and she weighs 11 tonnes, but I would still hate to come to a quick stop on a whale. I'm not so much worried about the hull integrity, more so worried about ripping a shaft out!

Good luck out there!

Cheers,
Myles

P.S In the past I have cruised my Bertram 25 at 18kts day or night everywhere we went. Was playing the law of averages and got lucky I guess, only hitting one turtle in that time. But the big ass whales and the number of them these days have given me the heeby jeebies

[Gon Fishun]

I think that will make 2 of us, makes me think a bit more. If I had hit that with the old 19C she would have sunk like a stone.

Cheers

vs

A couple of months back, was heading out to the Cockle Banks with son in HH V16C ;D
travelling at about 2/3 throttle, near the Bongaree jetty when son bellows there's a log
in front of us. Ripped the throttle back but to close and we square on T boned it. Had a look for damage and leaks, hull , motor etc but all seemed ok, so we lugged the log on board ( obviously no one else thought to remove it.>:( ) and it hung out both sides by about 1 foot and it took the both of us every effort to get it on board.
We took it to the boat ramp at Bongaree and put it up on the grassed area. When we got home and had a look underneath there was a small scratch on the bow and no other Damage. :D
We were glad it was the Haines we took that day.

[ozscott]

I love the amount of glass in some of the old girls. I was drilling small holes for my transom lights. On the outside the transom, even over the wood centre panel, is 6-7mm thick solid glass (over 15mm solid glass on the sides where there is no wood...) and on the inside over the wood panel 12mm solid glass. Gotta love it! I remember the v16c I had had a nice solid transom too and it was a 72 model.

Cheers