14.02.2026 – A mindful, happy Valentine’s day
February 20, 2026
Our spotter already called our crew before today’s trips, warning us about the approaching strong east winds that would soon hit the Southwestern waters. Our team managed a sighting of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) just as the waters started to get more turbulent….but all that didn’t seem to bother the animals one bit. The dolphins took advantage of the swell, visibly enjoying themselves as they barrel rolled while surfing the waves.
All cetaceans are avid surfers but, unlike humans, they engage in the behaviour both for fun and for functionality. Waves help them conserve energy while swimming, allowing them to cover larger stretches when travelling through the ocean. The Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) that were dashing upwind further offshore also enjoyed an occasional surf on the high swell. In fact, them turning downwind for a brief surf was what enabled us a sighting in the rougher offshore waters.
After cruising downwind to quieter waters in the west, our crew aboard the Stenella managed a sighting with the sailors amongst all marine animals visiting Madeira. Portuguese Man O’Wars (Physalis physalis) and By-the-wind-sailors (Velella velella), both colonial cnidarians that are carried across the oceans through currents and winds, have arrived in Madeira after a stormy winter season. These beautiful hydrozoans completely rely on the physical forces of our oceans, quite literally sailing across them using the sail on the gas filled sack that keeps them afloat.
By Paula Thake
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
09:00 Bottlenose dolphins
Stenella
09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales
