Dolphins

[OzBungy]

Over the years of windsurfing and kitesurfing I have seen lots of dolphins in the water, but they just ignored me and kept on their way.

In the last fews weeks dolphins have frequently come under my foil and cruised along. Yesterday two of them were so close they knocked me off the foil. I was in the water and there were 5-6 dolphins swirling around. It was a little scary and amazing at the same time.

Another kite foiler has had a similar experience and a wind foiler in the same area reported a dolphin cruising under his foil. Are others having similar experiences? It's almost becoming normal to foil with the dolphins.

[bragnouff]

It definitely happens more often to see dolphins when foiling than when kitesurfing, it could be just due to the fact that we ride further out where they feed, and we just cover more miles overall, but there is probably also something with the noise of the foil that tickles their curiosity and they come to check you out for a bit.
I see Hector dolphins on most foil sessions in summer, but I've never hit one. I tend to jump in the water and bodydrag when they are nearby.

[ap888]

I am super jelious... my main spot in Lake Huron Great Lakes no dolphins here I really love the fresh water compared to salt but kiting with intelligent big fish you lucky

[droffats]

Curious, what type of foil are you using? What about your friend that has foiled with them?

I've found that I sneak up on them and spook them. So much so that now I touch down and approach slowly before I get to close or turn away so I'm not interfering with them. If they've ever ridden with me, I've never noticed.

- Droffats

[OzBungy]

I have two J Shapes foils. They are hollow carbon sandwich. I have had dolphin encounters with both foils. They make a little bit of a whistle, but not a lot. My friend has a home made wooden foil.

When the dolphins are with me they are upside down underneath my board, keeping pace. This has happened three times foiling and once paddling my SUP back out at a local reef surf break. I can also had dolphins check me out when surfing a long board and a body board. The body board was the most fun. The dolphin decided it was my best friend and we had paddling races. I could get within a few cms of touching but it would slowly roll it's dorsal away from my fingers.

I have also been with a mother whale and her calf while kiteboarding. I stayed 50m away and we just cruised slowly down the coast.

Another foil specific thing is that in strong winds my upwind angle matches soaring sea birds (gannets, terns, cormorants and petrels). I am often keeping pace with flocks of them only 5-10 metres away. I have had a few hit my kite lines. I tend to divert then swing up behind them to avoid that.

[airsail]

We have plenty of big turtles, they just pop up in front of you. Only a matter of time before one of us here hits one, going to be ugly.

[Laughingman]

I am super jelious... my main spot in Lake Huron Great Lakes no dolphins here I really love the fresh water compared to salt but kiting with intelligent big fish you lucky

LOL like sharks?

[SaulOhio]

I am super jelious... my main spot in Lake Huron Great Lakes no dolphins here I really love the fresh water compared to salt but kiting with intelligent big fish you lucky

At least we have whales here.

http://www.greatlakesgazette.com/2016/0 ... eat-lakes/

[ap888]

Didn’t know there where whales lol maybe someday I will see one but I doubt it Lake Huron looks like one of the hardest for them to get to or they in Huron ?

[Greenturtle]

Dolphins ride boat wakes and in front of ships noses just for fun - is it possible that the foil creates a somewhat rideable ripple for them to draft on?