A windsurfer in San Francisco collided with a surfacing gray whale in what he later described as “the ‘whale’ of the day,” an encounter captured in a now-deleted video that has since been widely circulated online. The incident occurred at Crissy Field, Eric Kramer As he glided across the water, the whale suddenly darted directly into his path. Before he could react, he hit the animal and fell off the board, rolling into the water. Footage of this moment, originally posted by Kramer But later deletedshows a calm bay scene with a cargo ship moving steadily in the background and beachgoers scattering along the shoreline before windsurfers speed into the frame. Seconds later, the whale surfaced and the collision sent him flying. The animal, which appeared largely unfazed, disappeared underwater, while Kramer floated on the surface, shaken but seemingly uninjured. The New York Post quoted the video’s caption as Kramer wrote: “This was the ‘whale’ of the day…please be careful and respect wildlife. I reduced my speed significantly as I had seen several whales in the area, but on my last run back he popped out right in front of me. Glad we are both okay.” The video was recorded on March 24 and was also shared online from a separate angle with the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. The video quickly sparked reactions, with some viewers questioning his decision to continue windsurfing despite spotting a whale nearby. One commenter wrote: “I mean, if you noticed them out there, why did you still decide to sail?” while another added: “Hmm – what’s up with staying 300 feet away from marine mammals?” Encounters like this, while rare, are not unheard of in the Gulf. Gray whales make their annual migration along the California coast, and sightings are becoming more frequent but also concerning. The report states This year, four people have been found dead in the San Francisco Bay.
