A WHALE OF A DAY - 11 WHALE DAY
As we sailed into the Sea of Cortez several weeks ago, we saw whales on more than one occasion.
We knew that the Sea of Cortez had a reputation for seeing whales, and we were eager to see more than a few.
Today we had an eleven whale day before noon. As we sailed past Isla Espiritu Santo and Isla Partida, we had visitations from eleven whales.
I am sure lots more whales were around Exit Only. Those were just the ones we saw as we glanced from one patch of ocean to the next over a three hour period.
I thought back to the days of whaling when these gentle leviathans were mercilessly slaughtered to make a dollar or some Pound Sterling. It’s obscene that these highly intelligent creatures are still killed by Japanese whalers doing “research”.
The collateral damage of civilization is great. It’s just too bad the whales did not have a commensurate increase in their technology, so they could fire a few torpedos or surface to surface misiles at whaling ships. Something to even the odds and maybe settle some outstanding scores.
But alas. The whales lack the technology to defend themselves, and it’s not in their nature to make preemptive strikes anyway.
If the whales are to survive, it is up to us to make it happen.
That’s one of the great things about the Sea of Cortez. The Mexican government has made the Sea of Cortez a protected area where whales are safe for a portion of their life cycle. It’s a refuge where whales give birth to their young who then grow strong for the swim to the southern oceans. After that, the whales are on their own.
The efforts to protect the whales must be working, because today was an eleven whale day!
Thanks to the efforts of the Mexican government, planet earth is making whales great again.
Awesome music video that captures the essence of what it's like to sail offshore in a catamaran around the world when conditions are less than perfect. David Abbott from Too Many Drummers sings the vocals, and he also edited the footage from our Red Sea adventures. This is the theme song from the Red Sea Chronicles.
Sailing up the Red Sea is not for the faint of heart. From the Bab al Mandeb to the Suez Canal, adventures and adversity are in abundance. If you take things too seriously, you just might get the Red Sea Blues.
If you like drum beats, and you like adventure, then have a listen to the Red Sea Chronicles Trailer.
Flying fish assault Exit Only in the middle of the night as we sail through the Arabian Gulf from the Maldives to Oman. And so begins our Red Sea adventures.
Sailing through Pirate Alley between Yemen and Somalia involves calculated risk. It may not be Russian Roulette, but it is a bit of a worry. Follow Team Maxing Out as they navigate through Pirate Alley.
Stopping in Yemen was just what the doctor ordered. We refueled, repaired our alternator, and we made friends with our gracious Yemeni hosts. We also went to Baskins Robbins as a reward for surviving Pirate Alley.
After you survive Pirate Alley, you must sail through the Gate of Sorrows (Bab Al Mandab) at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The Gate of Sorrows lived up to its name with fifty knots of wind and a sandstorm that pummeled Exit Only for two days. Life is good.
Captain Dave and his family spent eleven years sailing around the world on their Privilege 39 catamaran, Exit Only. During the trip, the crew shot 200 hours of video with professional cameras to show people what it's like to sail on a small boat around the world.
The Red Sea Chronicles is a one hour and twenty-two minute feature film showing their adventures as Exit Only sails through Pirate Alley in the Gulf of Aden and up the Red Sea. The professional footage documents their experiences in Oman, Yemen, Eritrea, Sudan, Egypt, and the Suez Canal. It chronicles the rigors of traveling in a remote section of the world rarely visited by cruisers. Exit Only dodges Yemeni pirates, fights a gale and sand storms in the Bab al Mandeb at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The crew explores deserted islands on the western shores of the Red Sea, and learns to check the cruising guides for land mines before venturing ashore.
The Red Sea Chronicles also has outstanding Special Features including an Instructional Video on Storm Management that tells sailors how to deal with storms at sea.
And don't forget the two Music Videos: "The Red Sea Blues", and "Captain - Save Our Souls".
The Red Sea Chronicles is a first class adventure that stokes the sailing dreams of both experienced and wannabe sailors alike.
Join Team Maxingout as they sail through Pirate Alley and up the Red Sea
See what it's like to cruise on a catamaran before you spend a bazillion dollars purchasing one
After watching the Red Sea Chronicles you will be able to see yourself sailing on the ocean of your dreams
Although I like the feel of a paper book in my hand, I love trees even more. When people purchase an eBook, they actually save trees and save money as well. Ebooks are less expensive and have no negative impact on the environment. All of Dr. Dave's books are available at Save A Tree Bookstore. Visit the bookstore today and start putting good things into your mind. It's easy to fill your mind with positive things using eBooks. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you can pull out your smart phone or tablet and start reading. You can even use electronic highlighters and make annotations in your eBooks just like paper books.
