I finally got to see Velella velellas in the wild! In April I went whale watching three times in three days (it was awesome) and saw them on two of the trips. I even got to hold one!
These small lifeforms are related to jelly fish, sea anemones, and corals – all of which are known as colonial hydroid aka a colony of tiny organisms work together as a single, larger form. They have a flat, deep blue, oval-shaped base with a small, half-circle “sail” with a pointed peak.
They feed on plankton using very short tentacles hanging under the base. The toxin they use to stun their prey is relatively safe for humans – but every person reacts differently, so be cautious if you come across them, especially if you have allergies to jelly fish or similar critters.
Velella velellas live mainly in warm temperate waters around the world They float at the surface, drifting wherever the wind takes them, hence their common name of by-the wind-sailors. Their ‘sails’ are angled either right or left and when the wind catches them they will be pushed either toward the northern hemisphere or the southern, depend on their “handed-ness”. Large storms can drive them into colder water North or South of the equator. Along the west coast of North America, they can wash ashore in large blue rafts after big spring storms. Our naturalist added that one reason why it feels like we are seeing them in our waters these days is likely due to the increase in storm activity due to the change in our climate.
All photos by C. Pennington 5/4/2025 taken on board Monterey Bay Whale Watch
MBARI video: “The secret life of Velella: Adrift with the by-the-wind sailor”