A windsurfer was violently launched into the air after an unexpected collision with a gray whale in San Francisco Bay, an encounter captured on video. The man, identified as Eric Kramer, was sailing near San Francisco when the whale surfaced directly in his path.
Footage shows Kramer being thrown from his board as the whale emerges from the water. Writing on social media, Kramer said: 'It was a “whale” of a day. Please be cautious and respect wildlife, I had reduced my speed greatly bc I had seen a couple whales in the area but on my last run back it just popped up right in front of me. Glad we are both OK.'
Gray whales have been appearing in the bay since January, earlier than usual. In March, an adult female was found dead, likely from a vessel strike—the first recorded death of 2026. More recently, three additional whale carcasses have been discovered, though causes remain unknown.
The previous year saw 21 gray whales wash ashore in the Bay Area, the highest number in 25 years. Population estimates have fallen to their lowest since the early 1970s, halving from roughly 27,000 in 2016 to under 13,000 in 2025. Currently, about six gray whales are in the bay, stopping during migration from Baja California to the Arctic.
Many gray whales show signs of poor nutrition, and reproduction rates have dropped. During the 2025 migration, only 85 mother-calf pairs were recorded off central California by NOAA—the lowest on record. Scientists attribute the decline to shifting food availability in the Arctic, likely linked to the climate crisis.
Under US federal regulations, people must maintain a distance of at least 100 yards from whales.
