Sounds corny I know, but I can’t express the joy that being visited by dolphins brings us. To have them swimming alongside our boat and playing in the bow wave makes us feel totally privileged and really grateful to be alive.
What is it about dolphins that incite such intense feelings?
Is it their exuberant prancing and leaping? Or the way they turn slightly on their side to try and see what you are up to (waving my arms and whooping like an idiot of course!) or the way they duck and weave in and out of the bow wave, each one trying to out do the other?
This morning just before 8 am a large family came to visit. We were surfing along at 7.5 knots with just the mainsail up in about 16 knots of wind.
It took many, many photos to get just one with dolphins in! So happy to get this one 🐬
The biggest delight was there were some sweet little babies swimming alongside of their mothers. Every now and again one would leap out of the water – its perfect baby dolphin form suspended in the air, quivering with the sheer joy of living. Oh to be a dolphin in my next life 🐬
After the family left, a really massive lone dolphin came to check us out. He had a good look at me, swam alongside for a while and then had one quick play in the bow wave and left, probably to get on with the more serious business of breakfast. Which reminds me – time to get out that meusli!
Salty tales from Bali Hai on Sunday 
Great photo, Dot. They really are amazing creatures.
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Thanks Jackie, lovely to know we might be able to meet up in Indonesia. Will send my itinerary and we can work out if it’s possible! It would be lovely if you could join us for a few days sailing x
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Sounds really magical, Dot. Read the blog with Mum and we loved the photo, too!
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The photo doesn’t really do the experience justice but at least I can prove I haven’t made our dolphin visitors up! Thanks for the comment, it’s lovely to get feedback. In Hamilton Island at the moment doing laundry and stocking up on fruit and veg. X
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I have found that all random intimate interactions with wild animals whether they are Birds, snakes, ants or Elephants and Lions, bring immense joy, but there is a special place for Dolphins and Whales. How do they know you are there……….. So much water so many waves, so few yachts.
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Yes Peter I agree. And who can forget your encounter with ants in Assam! Yesterday we didn’t see any dolphins for the first time since leaving Lady Musgrave Island. Felt quite sad! Apparently yachties are sighting whales down south! How amazing but I wouldn’t want them to come too near the boat!
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The dolphins look captivating- what a wonderful experience. Congratulations on your moving image photo – brilliant! Martin had Dolphins swimming alongside when he was sea kayaking off the coast of Chile and said it was a very lovely and special thing to have them with you when out at sea.
We’re really enjoying being surrounded by sea here in Iceland – haven’t been out of sight of the water for more than s few minutes since we arrived!
Love from us both, Sarah and Martin xx
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