Dolphins in the ICW ......

[Chet]

Hello everyone, I`m having kind of a strange thing happending to me while traveling the ICW. I`m currently sailing back from key west Fl in the ICW. Thou most of it I`m motoring. I`m alittle over half ways home , with 680 miles to go yet , home port Haver de Grace MD .
Anyways This question is for thou`s that have sailed the ICW...

I`ve been seeing alot of Dolphins and more than once now they turn towards me on the surface while I`m motoring and swim beside my helm area by the stern.

Whats strange is some are swiming down and pushing on the keel or the bottom somewhere , because I can feel the boat move , Almost like I`m in currents but I`m not.The last time one has done this, It must have pushed on the speed indector wheel becuase its not working now.

Has anyone ever had this happend to them? and why may they be doing this?

Do to my location I may not have internet signal to reply back right aways, Thanks , Chet

 

[Rick I]

your boat's too slow

they just want to move you along.

 

[seadaddler]

Have Seen

I have seen them come up along the stern and all around
the boat and they do like swimming the wake of boats.
Here we are in Charlotte Harbor.
Nick

 

[Ross in Tampa]

Dolpins in the prop wash

I have had dolphins spinning in my prop wash before. It was the coolest thing. They would rush up to my outboard, stay about 1 foot behind it and roll over and over in the prop wash. It's one of those time where you wish you had your camera, would have loved to catch it on video.

I have also had them ride our bow wake so many times we can count. Sometimes they flip the bow of the boat with their tails seemingly to push themselves faster.

It always brings a smile to our faces... "Dolphins Dig Sailboats"

 

[ChuckThomas]

had one to try to splash us the other day

Several were playing around the boat while we motored. One large one swam right up next to the port side and did large leap out of water. Splashed water into cockpit. They are funny. They seem to love to play if you will give them some attention.

 

[Breaking wind]

so long and thanks

for all the fish.....man I wish I lived near salt water!

im am truly jealous!

 

[soling42]

Scratchin' an itch and surfing

Dolphins are very common down our way and often escort us right off the stern surfing in the wake(see pic). I've also seen a local dolphin who had no shame and no fear of people try to mate with a stand up jet ski that had stopped to "pet the dolphin"(NOT advised as they DO bite). He must have been pretty hard up or was turned on by 2 stroke oil. It was actually pretty embarrassing to see a regal man of the sea stoop so low. What DO you get when you mix a porpoise and a jet ski???

I suspect the bump in the keel while underway is related to dislodging a hitch hiking creature, catching a nice vortex off the keel or just rubbing an itchy spot. It's gotta be hard to scratch when you don't have arms.....

Michael

 

[Nice N Easy]

I have had them

do this on several occasions, and I think they are scratching themselves. That makes as much sense as anything. But they do love to play, and will hang around the boat and do all sorts of strange stuff. Wait till you have one that you don't know is there, come up right beside the cockpit and blow. Sounds almost like a tire blowing out, and if you don't know they are around, will cause you to do more than flinch.

 

[Chet]

Sounds like this pretty normal

Thanks everyone for the replys. I`ve had them along side me at least every other day , being that I`m moving everyday. and motoring no less than 50 miles a day. Getting up towards North Carolina back waters so proabaly won`t see them for a while. They are very cool thou. I like hearing them blow at night while on anchor. Thanks again , Chet.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Dolphins today in NC.

Left the Matthews Point marina today and went out Clubfoot Creek and into the Neuse River. Six dolphins played with the boat for a mile, two right up next to starboard. I could see about ten other fins within 100 yards. But Chet, not one touched the boat as far as I know. My knot log was already 0.0. But they are joy to watch, make great sailing companions. There was over 15 knots of NE breeze with whitecaps so they stayed in the creek. A couple were waiting when I returned after two hours on a great downwind run.