50 Dolphins Seen Frolicking Around Sailboat: Photos, Video

GREENPORT, NY — A day out for a sail in Greenport turned into the trip to remember recently as those aboard the charter saw a pod of dolphins frolicking around their boat.

Guests aboard a the vessel "got the show of a lifetime on Saturday when we were surrounded by around 50 dolphins for about an hour," a post by Layla Sailing, located in Greenport, said.

"We were heading out into Gardiners Bay when we spotted them near the red bell buoy," said Capt. Liz Gillooly of Layla Sailing. "They were headed for Bug Light. We were absolutely floored and tacked around to follow them toward Hay Beach on Shelter Island. There were about 50 dolphins surrounding us on both sides. We stayed with them for about an hour — another powerboat and a sailboat were also sticking close to them," she said.

A few charter guests asked if they could jump in to try to swim with them, Gillooly said. "Having spent time in Hawaii as a whale-watching tour guide with frequent dolphin encounters, I knew that the best bet was to keep our distance and allow them to approach us only if they wanted. We were hoping they'd play in our bow wake, but we didn't get that lucky."

Gillooly said she has worked on the water on the North Fork most summer days for the last four years. "This is the first year I've seen a dolphin in Orient Bay," she said. "We have seen small groups together twice earlier in the season. This was a totally different experience."

The bay is much warmer than usual, Gillooly said. And, she added: "I read that the ocean was much quieter during the economic shutdown, both factors may have contributed to our surprise encounter with these friendly creatures."