THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 29, 1995 TAG: 9501270235
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY DEBBIE MESSINA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 142 lines
IT'S SHAPING UP to be a whale of a winter in Virginia Beach.
Nature lovers are flocking here by the thousands, braving frigid temperatures and unpredictable ocean conditions to board a boat just for the chance of getting a glimpse of the majestic and endangered humpback whale.
And most have not been disappointed as whales have been spotted on about 75 percent of the cruises sponsored by the Virginia Marine Science Museum.
That's good news after last year's abysmal whale sightings of about 10 percent. Colder than normal temperatures last year drove the whales south to North Carolina in search of food. Not only can the whales be seen by boat, but oceanfront regulars report frequent whale visits.
Phone lines are jammed at the Virginia Marine Science Museum, which is running up to 12 ocean excursions on weekends, with callers from as far away as Ohio, Nebraska and even Washington (the state, not D.C.) inquiring about whale watching.
One week into the season and the museum has already shuttled 2,000 people out on head boats in search of whales. Another 5,000 have made reservations for whale watching cruises.
The museum phones are so busy that staff members have sometimes resorted to using the pay phone in the lobby to get an outside line. Out of frustration, hotel operators hosting tour groups have driven down to the museum to avoid listening to a constant busy signal.
``It can be a problem, but it's a good problem to have,'' said Mindy Hughes, museum spokesperson.
The museum expects to take 10,000 onto the high seas this season. About 17,000 have gone whale watching in Virginia Beach over the past two years.
The return of the whales is good not only for nature buffs, but also for resort area businesses that usually face bleak winters.
Oceanfront restaurants are offering whale watching tables. Products featuring whales, including T-shirts, coffee mugs and jewelry, are hot items. Commercial fishing boats for the first time are hosting whale watching cruises this year.
``It provides us a unique opportunity to focus on something other than the beach, especially this time of year,'' said Ron Kuhlman, director of marketing and sales for convention and visitor development. ``Why go to the beach in January? Here is one very good reason.
``This is one of those things we don't have to invent,'' he said. ``You can't improve on mother nature.''
At Laverne's Seafood Restaurant on Atlantic Avenue and 7th Street, whale watching has become quite a sport. When one is spotted, diners stop in mid-bite to watch.
``We've seen them jump clean out of the water,'' said Debbie Holt, day manager. ``It was like a monster came up out of the water. My boss screamed. She didn't know what it was.''
Holt says she always tries to mention the whales when seating customers.
The Beach Scene gift shop on Atlantic Avenue and Laskin Road offers some of the few whale T-shirts and sweatshirts in town. ``Whale Watching. Enjoying it without destroying it. Virginia Beach.'' is printed on the shirts.
Earth Friendly in Pembroke Mall sells humpback whale T-shirts that are loaded with facts. It also carries humpback coffee mugs, posters, earrings, pendants and books. ``Humpbacks are definitely popular,'' said Claire Zadan, store manager. ``We've only had the shirt one to two weeks and we've sold quite a few.''
Zadan said she sold shirts to two women who traveled here from Chicago to go whale watching. The following day, the women returned and bought several more for friends, she said.
This is the first year that commercial head boats, these out of Lynnhaven Inlet, are offering whale watching tours.
On the first outing two weeks ago, a two-hour cruise ended up lasting three hours when the group encountered a particularly lively whale off Cape Henry. It breached, or jumped totally out of the water, six times.
``It was pretty awesome,'' said Capt. Kevin Seldon.
It's unusual to see whales breach here because they tend to stay in shallow water and feed off the plentiful bay anchovy.
Early reservations with the Virginia Marine Science Museum showed 40 percent of whale watchers are out-of-town groups (primarily schools) and 60 percent are locals.
A dozen resort hotels are offering whale watching packages in partnership with the museum, which include reduced rates for blocks of rooms, admission to the museum, a whale watching excursion as well as a whale education program by museum staff.
``We are fortunate to have the business now,'' said Karan Ray, director of sales at the Ocean Holiday hotel at Atlantic Avenue and 25th Street, whose marquee states ``Welcome. Watch Whales Here.''
Ray, recently sporting a humpback whale T-shirt, says guests, unaware of the local whales, have stayed extra nights once they spotted whales from their hotel rooms. At first, though, they are not sure what they were seeing.
``Guests have come to us and said there's something big in the water,'' Ray said. ``When we tell them what they are they want to stay longer so they can go out on the boat.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
[Color photo]
ON THE COVER
Karan Ray, director of sales at Ocean Holiday Hotel at 25th Street
and Atlantic Avenue, sets up special whale-watching trips for
guests. She also boasts a whale of a T-shirt.
Operators of oceanfront hotels say some guests are staying a few
extra nights, once they spotted whales from their hotel rooms. At
first, though, they are not sure what they were seeing.
A whale surfaced recently off the Virginia Beach oceanfront. On a
recent head-boat cruise, a whale was spotted breaching, or jumping
totally out of the water, six times.
A sign at Lynnhaven Seafood Marina advertises whale-watching trips
asheadboat Capt. Kevin Seldon stands by on the dock at Lynnhaven
Inlet.
A whale spouts off as about 70 Marine Science Museum volunteers
watch aboard the Bobbi Lee just outside of Rudee Inlet.
LEFT: David Greer, left, and Alex Jones, both of Virginia Beach,
watch for whales at Laverne's Seafood Restaurant. Day manager Debbie
Holt says she always tries to mention the whales when seating
customers.
RIGHT: The Beach Scene gift shop on Atlantic Avenue and Laskin Road
offers some of the few whale T-shirts and sweatshirts in town.
WHALE WATCHING TRIPS
VIRGINIA MARINE SCIENCE MUSEUM whale-watching trips take place
Friday through Monday, through Feb. 20. Departure times vary. The
two-hour cruises leave from the Virginia Beach Fishing Center at
Rudee Inlet. The cost is $12 for adults and $10 for children 11 and
younger. For information and reservations, call 437-4949. Private
charters are available for school groups and tours.
LYNNHAVEN SEAFOOD MARINA at Lynnhaven Inlet also offers private
whale-watching tours. Two-hour cruises are at 1:30 p.m. Saturday and
Sunday. The cost is $10 for adults and $7 for children. Call
481-4545 for reservations.
by CNB