What's Happening Out There?
Lots of whales, A "New" Ocean, and Testing Rig Tune...
Climate Change Sucks: In this case, dropping reservoirs due to drought is a powerful illustration of how rising temperatures impact our favorite human activity. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that climate change isn’t altering how boaters experience the much vaster ocean. From bleaching corals to more frequent storms, climate change is coming for us all. The only question is: What are we willing to do about it?
Whale Vomit: Usually, you can sell it. In this case, it went to the hospital. Because in this case the humpback upchuck was an accidentally ingested lobster diver. A whale that swallowed, and then spat out, a human was enough to make headlines around the world (though some experts had their doubts). And a lot of attention was focused on the experience of the human. But it’s too bad we can’t interview the humpback. That’s a perspective I would love to hear.
One small detail that caught my attention: the diver had already removed 100 pounds of lobster from the seafloor. Maybe the whale was saying “Enough, already!” Sorry. It’s just the way I think.
Is There Anybody Out There?: Since we are whale-curious today, let’s turn our attention to another global phenom, the mystery whale known as 52 HZ who has captivated researchers since the unique audio signature was first recorded in the 1980s. Since no other whale species is known to vocalize in this range, humanity has decided that this could be the world’s “loneliest whale,” conjuring up images of a single whale of unknown species endlessly singing into the void in the hopes of finding a mate.
There’s an enormous amount of speculation involved, and I suspect most of it says more about humanity’s romantic notions than it does about an actual whale. But it is pretty irresistible. And a long-developing documentary about the mystery and search for this whale has finally released a trailer. Maybe the whale is mostly saying “Please leave me alone!”?
Whale Momma: Here’s one more, which I find moving beyond words. It was posted June 8 by photographer Paul Nicklen in celebration of World Oceans Day. It perfectly captures the majesty and sentience of humpback whales through the powerful bond between mother and calf. Click through for the full video effect.
National Geographic Finally Acknowledges The Obvious: After more than 100 years of mapping the oceans, NG has concluded that there are five great oceans, naming the Southern Ocean as a “new” ocean.
Sailors, of course, have known for, like, forever, that the Southern Ocean is a unique and distinct body of water, with its own geography, meteorology, and character. But good to know that it is now official.
Last But Not Least: Real, or photoshopped?
That’s it for now. After what seems like an endless sailing layoff, mostly due to bad luck with weather, there is a definite plan to go Wednesday Night Racing tomorrow evening. Stay tuned.
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