Whale Capsizes Boat In New Hampshire: What Happened?

A humpback whale capsized a boat off the coast of New Hampshire in July 2024, tossing two people into the water. The incident was captured on video by Colin Yager, who, along with his brother Wyatt, rescued the two men from the water. The whale and the two men were uninjured, and the boat was salvaged.

The humpback whale was likely feeding

A humpback whale capsized a boat off the coast of New Hampshire, tossing two people into the water. The incident was captured on video by Colin Yager, who, along with his brother Wyatt, rescued the two men from the water. The humpback whale was likely feeding, as it had its mouth open when it surfaced under the boat.

Dianna Schulte, a co-founder and director of research at the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation in Portsmouth, stated that the whale was likely feeding on bait fish. She explained that humpback whales, like the one involved in the incident, do not eat during their winter breeding season in the Caribbean. Instead, they spend most of their time feeding and building up fat reserves during the warmer months.

Supporting this idea, Sara Morris of the University of New Hampshire Shoals Marine Laboratory suggested that the whale was likely lunge feeding when it collided with the boat. She emphasized the importance of boaters maintaining a safe distance from whales to prevent such incidents.

The whale's behaviour can be attributed to its natural feeding instincts, and the incident underscores the importance of giving whales ample space and following expert recommendations to minimize the risk of similar occurrences in the future.

The boaters were rescued by good Samaritans

A humpback whale breached and capsized a boat off the coast of New Hampshire, tossing its two occupants into the water. The boaters were rescued by good Samaritans—two young brothers, Wyatt and Colin Yager, who were fishing nearby. The brothers, who also captured the incident on video, immediately rushed to help the boaters, later expressing their shock at the incident.

Wyatt Yager recounted the incident: "I saw it come up, and I was just like, 'Oh, it's going to hit the boat,' and then it started to flip." The brothers' quick thinking and action were recognised by the rescued boaters, who expressed their gratitude for being plucked out of the water.

The Coast Guard also commended the Yagers' bravery and swift response: "We are grateful to the good Samaritans for taking such quick action to rescue these two individuals. Bravo Zulu!" The Coast Guard further emphasised the importance of maintaining a safe distance from whales to prevent similar incidents and ensure the safety of both boaters and whales.

The incident occurred near Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, New Hampshire, and the humpback whale involved was estimated to be around 30 feet long. Thankfully, both the boaters and the whale did not sustain any injuries, and the boat was salvaged. The whale's behaviour was attributed to feeding patterns, as it was likely searching for food in the area.

The whale capsized the boat by breaching

A humpback whale capsized a boat off the coast of New Hampshire in July 2024. The incident occurred near Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, New Hampshire, when the whale breached and landed on a 23-foot recreational boat, ejecting the two passengers into the water. The whale breached the water and struck the rear of the boat, causing it to flip and throwing the boaters into the water.

The two boaters, Gregg Paquette and Ryland Kenney, were rescued by nearby fishermen and suffered no injuries. The whale also appeared to be unharmed. The incident was captured on video by Colin Yager, who, along with his brother Wyatt, helped rescue the boaters.

In an interview, Paquette described the harrowing experience, stating that the whale came from underneath the back of the boat and collapsed onto the stern. Kenney added that the whale's mouth was open, and it appeared to be feeding. The Yager brothers recounted that they initially saw the whale breach and then immediately went to rescue the boaters.

The U.S. Coast Guard received a mayday call about the incident and issued an urgent marine information broadcast. They expressed gratitude to the Yager brothers for their quick action in rescuing the boaters. The Coast Guard also reported that the whale and both boaters were uninjured, and the boat was salvaged.

The incident highlights the importance of maintaining a safe distance from whales and being cautious when boating in areas where whales are present.

The whale and boaters were uninjured

A humpback whale capsized a boat off the coast of New Hampshire, sending two boaters into the water. The incident, which took place near Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, was captured on video by Colin Yager, who, along with his brother Wyatt, rescued the boaters. The Yager brothers described the shocking scene as the whale breached the water and struck the rear of the 23-foot vessel, catapulting the boaters into the Atlantic Ocean.

Remarkably, the whale and boaters were uninjured in the incident. The boaters, identified as Gregg Paquette and Ryland Kenney, expressed their gratitude to the Yager brothers for their quick rescue. "I just dropped everything and just started driving over to them," Wyatt Yager recalled. "They swam around to the back and climbed up the ladder."

The Coast Guard received a mayday call and issued an urgent marine information broadcast, alerting the Coast Guard Station Portsmouth Harbor. They expressed their gratitude to the Yager brothers for their swift action: "We are grateful to the good Samaritans for taking such quick action to rescue these two individuals. Bravo Zulu!".

The whale, estimated to be about 30 feet long, was likely feeding on bait fish in the area. "It's feeding season for many large whales, like humpbacks, who don't eat during their winter breeding season," said Dianna Schulte of the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation. "This whale wasn't 'angry'—it was hungry."

Experts advised boaters to maintain a safe distance from whales and to avoid leaving fishing lines in the water, as entanglement can pose a significant risk to these marine mammals. "The key thing is that when whales are sighted, [we] encourage boaters to keep their distance," said Sara Morris of the University of New Hampshire Shoals Marine Laboratory. "We want to give them as much leeway as we possibly can to avoid a situation like this."

The incident was caught on video

In the video, at least one of the fishermen is seen plunging into the water as the boat flips over. The Yager brothers, who were fishing nearby, quickly came to their rescue.

"I saw it come up, and I was just like, 'Oh, it's going to hit the boat,' and then it started to flip," Wyatt Yager told WMUR-TV. "They swam around to the back and climbed up the ladder," he added.

The video also captured the moments leading up to the incident, with the whale breaching and propelling fish out of the water. As its mouth closes, the whale then flops over onto the rear of the boat.

The video quickly circulated online, with many commenting on the dramatic and harrowing nature of the incident. It served as a reminder for boaters to maintain a safe distance from whales and to be cautious when whales are sighted in the area.

The Coast Guard expressed gratitude to the Yager brothers for their quick and heroic actions, stating, "We are grateful to the good Samaritans for taking such quick action to rescue these two individuals. Bravo Zulu!"

Frequently asked questions