Atlantica - 01.06.2001, Page 56

54 A T L A N T I C A
though, this natural wonder is even
more impressive. I feel like sponging on
a wet suit and leaping into the cool
North Atlantic to swim with my newest
pal. Common sense gets the best of me.
I decide to edge closer to the boat’s rail-
ing instead.
Okay, remember that scene in Jaws
when Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider)
first spots the great white shark and
exclaims, “We’re gonna need a bigger
boat.”? The humpback has recently sub-
merged himself, porpoising beneath our
boat; my stomach rises to my throat, as
the ship sways. I’ve become a bit squir-
relly, despite the fact that Haukur is a 52-
foot oak vessel, weighing in at 20
tonnes.
I told you the whale was big.
Not to sound tooty-fruity or like a tree-
hugger, but it appears as though our
whale understands his power (he could
wreak havoc on our sailing experience if
he wanted). He gently plays with the
boat as if it were a bathtub toy. He poses
for pictures, almost smiling for the cam-
era. He thrusts his 30-something-tonne
body up out of the sea and crashes
down, spreading water across our rain
slickers. Then, after close to 30 minutes
of whaling around, with a splash of his
tail, he’s a memory.
DO WE HAVE TO GO BACK?
The boat lurches out a cloud of exhaust,
thrusting towards the direction of the
harbour. The two other vessels stay out
a bit longer, searching for another
glimpse of Mr. Humpback, although
when a whale decides the party’s over,
it’s pretty much over. Still, they search.
With Húsavík slowly growing larger in
the distance, our crew serves up scones
and hot chocolate while the passengers
talk excitedly amongst themselves,
practising the stories they’re going to
spin as they show their pictures to
friends.
“Your father would’ve loved this,” my
mother says, saddened that he stayed
behind. I’m wondering if my pictures
will be any good, hopeful that they’ll be
able to capture the magic I witnessed.
We mourn our return to land.
Noticing that I downed my hot choco-
late and scone in one swallow, my
mother (as only a mother can) offers me
the remainder of her snack. We smile,
both of us imagining our humpback
emerging for a gulp of air, then sub-
merging in a smooth, glided dive to the
depths of the open sea.
Edward Weinman is a staff writer
WHALE WATCH
We’re gonna need a bigger boat... The humpback has recently submerged himself, porpoising beneath our boat;
my stomach rises to my throat, as the ship sways.
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