Avoid big things in the water

It was during The Ocean Race 2022-23 when eventual winner 11th Hour Racing Team was on the return leg to Europe when they reported a collision with a “marine mammal or megafauna.” They were sailing at 29 knots, and the sudden impact injured two crew. While the boat incurred no damage, a bigger question lingered…

What is a megafauna?

This was the first occurrence of that reference in Scuttlebutt Sailing News for good reason. A Google search refers to large extinct mammals from the Ice Age but today includes elephants and rhinos. However, a further dig reveals a subcategory of ‘marine megafauna’ that are generally over 100 pounds such as whales, sharks, turtles, seals, and large fish.

Since that 2023 incident, the reference is gaining traction with the Marine Mammal Advisory Group (MMAG) asking for the public’s help in 2025 to document encounters with marine megafauna and whales. More recently, World Sailing and MMAG have released its Marine Megafauna in Sailing Guidelines.

These guidelines seek to support sailors, events, and federations to reduce the risk of vessel strikes to marine megafauna worldwide. But as offshore boat speeds continue to increase, particularly with multiple appendages – twin rudders, lifting foils – piercing the water, the best advice seems to be where they aren’t. Good luck!