21.09.2021 – Hydrodynamics

We had two wonderful encounters today in our blue office. First, our Ribeira Brava was allowed to accompany a large school of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). A couple of times some animals got into the bow wave of our fishing boat. While we were turning to leave these dolphins, we were unexpectedly and seamlessly visited by the Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). Three Atlantic spotted dolphins, but it felt like a lot more. These animals gave us intensive contact. The oldest animal, full of spots, slid effortlessly in the bow wave. You hardly saw any movement, and yet this dolphin surfed calmly in front of the Ribeira Brava. Two factors come to the aid of the marine mammal here. Their spindle-shaped body shape and elastic skin ensure that they glide quickly through the blue. Their special skin properties and the frequent renewal of the skin lead to a reduction in resistance through the maintenance of a laminar flow along the skin’s surface. In the economy, these enormous qualities are also used for ship and car construction. Our guests enjoyed the gliding and floating of the dolphin.

In the afternoon, the Ribeira Brava had a long journey ahead of it. We went to Funchal to refuel. And now our fishing boat is ready again for many wonderful tours with her. Time for new adventures with this wonderful boat.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins

14:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins

17:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Striped dolphins