By Michelle Pietersen
Officials are investigating whether a whale that slammed into a yacht near Blouberg was harassed moments before it breached.
While enjoying a sailing trip, Ralph Mothes and his girlfriend and business partner, Paloma Werner, had a run in with a juvenile whale that almost leaped abroad their 10 metre training yacht on Sunday.
"I thought surely it can't be on a collision course with us," Mothes said.
The next moment, the whale breached and crashed on to the yacht, taking with it the mast and damaging the coach roof and side rig. It slid off leaving blubber and skin on the surface. Mothes and Werner were not injured.
Alan Boyd, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism manager for marine protection and endangered species, said: "We are aware of the statements that indicate that a person was deliberately sailing towards the whale and harassing it. It's good enough (reason) to investigate."
Richard Smith, manager of the Waterfront Boat Company which offers whale-watching trips, said that on their return from a tour his crew members had told him they had seen how a rigid inflatable raft and then a yacht had harassed it.
"They said the yacht kept coming to the whale. Speeding straight at it and annoying it," said Smith.
"You must know how to deal with whales. By law, you are required to stay 300m away from them and if they approach you, you must move away. It was indicated by everyone that (it having been harassed) was why it breached."
Marine activist Nan Rice said it was likely that it breached because it was harassed. "I keep on warning people not to go within 300m of them. Whales are not gentle giants but are very territorial and will charge if they feel endangered," Rice said.