Family’s Australian sailing trip ruined as humpback whale crushes their yacht
A British family on holiday in Australia are counting their lucky stars today after a 30-foot humpback whale leapt from the water and crashed on to their yacht.
Trevor Johnson and his family were sailing near the famous Whitsunday Islands when the whale hit the boat, wrecking the mast, sails and rigging. They had sailed less than 10 miles from the resort of Airlie Beach when they had the experience they will surely never forget.
Mr Johnson, 61, is quoted in today’s Daily Telegraph: “When we got back to shore no one had ever heard of a humpback jumping on a boat – it really is a remarkable and rare thing. It’s amazing that nobody was hurt or killed, but it was a terrifying experience. We knew there were whales in the area and were told there was a small chance we would see one in the distance – well, I guess we saw one all right!”
The family then spent a fraught couple of hours drifting towards rocks before they were able to contact police by mobile phone and were rescued. A marine mammals expert from Bangor University told the newspaper: “I have never heard of a whale jumping on a boat before.”
