Windsurfer Collides with Whale in San Francisco Bay
A windsurfer in California had an unexpected encounter when he collided with a gray whale that surfaced unexpectedly in his path, as seen in a video shared online.
This incident took place on March 24 at Crissy Field Beach in San Francisco Bay, according to KRON4. The footage captured shows the windsurfer, Ryder, gliding over the water until the whale suddenly breached just a few feet ahead of him. The impact pushed the whale into the bay, but thankfully, it resurfaced a short while later, appearing to be unharmed.
The windsurfer has been identified as Eric Cramer, the Olympic Surfing Technical Director. He mentioned on social media that he had slowed down after spotting the whale nearby. Cramer reportedly told the New York Post that, “I had seen a few whales in the area before and they had slowed down considerably, but as I was finally running back, they appeared right in front of me. I’m glad they both made it out okay.”
The incident raised alarms about whale safety. Giancarlo Lulli from the Marine Mammal Center expressed concern, stating, “Seeing a collision like this is troubling from a human health perspective and for the health of the whales throughout the bay.” Federal law requires people to maintain a distance of at least 100 meters from whales, and it’s worth noting that at the time of the report, six gray whales were residing in San Francisco Bay.
In a related turn of events, KRON4 reported that four gray whales have been found dead in the bay this year. The first, a 42-foot adult female, was discovered near the Golden Gate Bridge on March 17, showing signs of a ship collision.
In response to these incidents, the Marine Mammal Center collaborated with the San Francisco Port Safety Commission to establish a “Whale Smart” training program aimed at educating commercial marine operators. Lulli cautioned those on the water to be vigilant: “If you see a spout or get a hit, we say, go slow.”
Such collisions can indeed have fatal consequences. In a tragic event, South African kitesurfer Graham Howes lost his life on September 7, 2025, after being struck by a whale with significant force.
