A South African couple was out sailing off the coast of Cape Town when a 40-ton whale jumped out of the water and crash-landed on their yacht the Intrepid.
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Cape Town Sailing Academy Administrator, Paloma Werner, said she was out enjoying the Sunday sail when the whale leaped out of the water and landed on the yacht, breaking the steel mast in two. Pieces of black whale blubber and barnacles were scattered on the Intrepid’s ship deck. A tourist in a near by boat took a photo of the crash-landing.
Prior to the collision, Werner said that the whale was seen flipping its tail in the water near the boat. According to Werner the whale was larger then their 10 meter yacht. She said it was likely between 11 t0 14 meters.
Werner and her companion, Ralph Mothes, were unharmed and the whale was seen swimming soon after the impact. The couple was able to sail the damaged boat back into Table Bay Harbor.
Whale and Shark sightseeing attracts thousands of tourists to the Cape Town’s Waterfront district because the seas are filled with whales and great white sharks.
