What watching cetaceans with respect means
Responsible watching is a way of observing whales and dolphins without disturbing their lives. It is not about arriving as quickly as possible or cornering the animals.
It is the opposite. It is about approaching slowly, keeping your distance and not chasing or cutting across the path of the cetaceans. It is they who decide whether to come closer or not.
The underlying idea is to respect their pace. They are at home. We are visitors who spend a while in their waters, not owners of a show.
What it means when you sail with us
When there are cetaceans nearby, we sail very slowly, at under four knots. We ease off, we avoid sudden manoeuvres and we do not get in their way.
We never chase an animal so that it appears in a photo. If a cetacean moves away, we let it go. That is the most important part of respect.
Nor do we promise sightings. The sea is not a stage that switches on when the boat arrives. There are days full of life and quieter days, and both are part of sailing for real.
Heading out with small groups helps us keep to all this. A calm sailboat, without rush or crowds, disturbs less and lets the encounter, if it comes, be a serene one.
What this way of sailing rests on
Responsible watching is not just good intentions. It rests on rules and on authorisations that govern how to approach cetaceans.
We sail with our authorised sailboats and respect the distances and speeds set by the protection of these animals. Following those rules is the starting point, not an extra.
For us it is also a matter of consistency. We love this sea and those who inhabit it. Caring for them while we watch them is the only way we understand of sharing the privilege of sailing among them.
