Velella Velella Everywhere, Including in the Bay

Rod Witel was sailing on the Bay recently when he was witness to an extraordinary display of nature.

“Sailing the central Bay last week, I literally ran into thousands of Velella velella floating in a swath approximately 1000 yards long. These three- to four-inch jellyfish-like creatures are also called ‘by-the-wind sailors.’ They rely on ocean currents and the wind to ‘sail’ themselves around.”

“Velella are not true jellyfish but are related to jellyfish, sea anemones, corals, and hydroids. I’ve seen them along the California coast but never such numbers in the Bay.”

Rod is a Club Nautique sailing instructor and charter captain. He recently sent us photos and stories of a flotilla charter in Croatia, and a second charter with friends in Sweden. Read here.