I figure you guys in Australia have much more experience with this...

several weeks ago I had my first shark encounter...in short, a 7 footer (probably a mako) surfaced ten feet upwind and behind me, and then matched my speed as I shlogged for a minute.
It felt like I was being checked out as prey, but maybe I was just a scared newbie to sharks.

When do you guys worry that a fish is paying too much attention to you?

The full story (if you care):
www.peconicpuffin.com/the_peconic_puffin/2009/06/windsurfing-shark-encounter.html

I have seen a couple.

First experience, barely planing about 2km off the beach heading back in, on board 10L less than my weight, gusty wind gradually dropping at the end of the day and I saw a 3m ish shark head under me (perpendicular).
I had to bear away to keep planing, wind was gusty and I did not wanna sink so I ended up losing about 500m downwind in a 2km reach but it was worth it. Never saw him come back for a look but it was a grey day, choppy etc. I was sh!tting myself all the way back!

Second one was (for those who know it) at 9 mile in Esperance.... I was in the carpark which is about 200ft above sea level and looking down you can see everything, the water si so clear. Saw a couple of guys tearing up waves and a shark about 3m long was cruising along the beach. One guy bottom turned over the top of it in no more than 2m of water and the shark maintaiend course and speed... not even interested.

My take on it is they are not too fussed about us unless we fall in and are thrashing about and they are hungry and don't see us well (like in whitewater in the waves) and they take a curious bite.

A few years back, sailing at Fraser St, St Kilda, a mate and I chucked a sickie and went for a bay sail.
About 1 k offshore, my mate was sailing about 200 metres ahead of me when all of a sudden he did this amazing slam gybe and came hammering back to me, pumping the sail. He reckons that as he was sailing along a huge dark shape came up underneath him and then submerged.
I got spooked as well as I thought I'd seen something so we headed in.
That night on the news, there were reports of a massive bronze whaler hanging around the "Warmies" at Altona, where the water is pumped out from the power station.
I agree with Mark, they aren't too fussed about us, we just like to think that we are far more important and intelligent. It's good to have those moments to remind us that we are a small link in the chain.

drift said...

A few years back, sailing at Fraser St, St Kilda, a mate and I chucked a sickie and went for a bay sail.

Respect. About as 'Straylian as it gets. A sicke and a shark story in one hit.

evlPanda said...



www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=23357

"I spoke to Marc yesterday and asked him if he was planing or not when the shark bit he board and stopped him dead in the water. He said he was not fanging but he was definitely planing. This is not good."

That's not good!