T&T: Feeling nature

[Rich Gano]

Jeffrey writes: Am I the only one who always attracts dolphins on my rear
quarter?  I never
get them playing in my bow wake.  They always hang back, jumping up and down
and over each other right next to my cockpit.

Well, Jeffrey, these guys are sneaky, and you may be suffering "parasitic
porpoise drag (PPD)" without knowing it.  While you and your family/guests
are enjoying the always entertaining show astern, the porpoises are
alternating positions with some sneaking off to ride the pressure wave on
the bow enjoying the positive end of PPD.  Ever notice how sometimes it is
hard to tell how many there are back there?  They never all surface at once
in order to disguise their true numbers.

So while everybody else is watching astern, have somebody crouch low (so the
spotter dolphins can't see him/her) and run to the bow to catch them up
there.  If you then thump the stem you'll see one of the free-loaders turn
on its side to eyeball the thumper before sheepishly falling back in astern.

NEVER underestimate a dolphin/porpoise.

Rich Gano
CALYPSO (GB-42 #295)
Southport, FL