Melissa wrote:
....stuff deleted

That said, though anything is possible given the right - or wrong -
circumstances, I've paddled in the midst of breaching Orca and Gray
Whales countless times, and I've never seen a whale, breaching or
otherwise, upset a kayak. They've always seemed acutely aware of the
boats around them, and while they will come very close and interact
with boaters, their movements around the boats have always been
precise and graceful.


Melissa,

An earlier edition of sea kayaker (probably 8-9 years back) contained a
letter to the editor about a paddle in Magdalena Bay during the breeding
season for grey whales. The writer described how he managed to
inadvertantly get between momma and calf. Needless to say, the damage to
the boat left the writer with a greater need for an efficient crawl
stroke than a roll.

Perhaps someone has that letter somewhere in their collection?

Rick

PS: My understanding is that, for economic reasons, it is difficult to
venture to Magdalena Bay without paying for a guide, nowadays. I presume
this may also provide some benefit to the whales and limit how many
times such events occur, though this is probably wishful thinking on my
part.