As you're well aware, Esperance has a devastating recent history when it comes to shark attacks. With many people too scared to enter back into their chosen happy place, at Mazorca we launched our own Shark Repelling Stickers to promote thinking about low cost initiatives and products that can contribute to individual Surfer safety and peace of mind. Read more at the link below..
https://www.mazorcabrand.com/pages/shark-deterring-stickers
Local windsurfer and Esperance Gin Distillery Founder, James McCarthy-Price recounts his resent close call for us..
Had an interesting windsurf session yesterday when I was attacked by a 3m great white!
Whilst sailing off 4th Beach in Esperance with my freestyle gear I came off about 400m out. Almost as soon as I hit the water I looked up to see a 3m great white nibbling the top of my sail. "Faaark there's a bloody shaaaaark!" It was thrashing about chewing my sail with its cheesy grin and I was very quick to get onto my board! So grateful to be having the bigger floatier Fstyle board compared to my wave board that day.
At Mazorca we understand and specifically highlight the importance of size of watercraft when it comes to survival rates with GWS encounters.
It then began circling me maybe 1-2 m away. What was left of my sail was underwater, my board flipped upside down. I was balancing on my upturned board with one leg, the other lightly pushing on the sail trying to keep it at a 45deg or less so it kept me stable. I was worried if the rig went vertical underwater I'd lose stability and fall in. It worked pretty well, the board covering me on one side and the sail on the other. The bright fluro lime and black coloured psycho freestyle board deck might have also acted as natures universal "don't bite me I'll kill you" colour scheme?
There were a half dozen kiters about 300m downwind. I was yelling flat out trying to get their attention and waving my arms but with my mast underwater they though I was some useless kook on a SUP or something?
The circling white shark would come almost within arms reach on the board side and I would slap the water hard to try and scare it off. It didn't care. It might then go 8m away before coming right back again for a few laps.
I thought about water starting but the risk was too high having to get in the water to flip my board and then get the sail into position, and I wasn't sure if the damage to my sail would mean I'd struggle to water start anyway, there was 1/3 of it missing.
After 10min of this, the shark still right on me, I FINALLY had drifted close enough to get within earshot of the kiters. "Theres a fucking shaarrrk!" I yelled as another kiter yelled back "Paddle in!". Yeah like hell that was an option with the shark still right one me.
Just before I hit the wave zone a kiter came and plonked himself next to me and asked if I wanted a tow in. "MATE get fucking moving!!" I yelled. This guy had no idea of the situation. I think he thought I was scared stiff and unable to move? I lost eye of the shark and I think maybe this guy did scare it off a little. This was probably the sketchiest part of the whole thing.
A about 20 sec later I copped a set on the head still on my upturned board. In the whitewater with no sight of the shark I flicked my rig upright and sailed out stat, stoked that my shredded sail still had enough power to plane out of there.
The whole time I kept calm, just focusing on the unfolding situation, keeping an eye on sharky face and the position of my kit with the intention to just wait it out.
I was so stoked it was cross onshore. If I had have floated offshore I'm not sure I'd be here writing this, the shark seemed pretty keen for some tucker.
Lots of friends have checked in asking if I'm OK. Honestly I'm bloody stoked! Not only did I get to experience a top predator up close in the wild doing it's thing.. but I walked away unscathed and went home to my family. I'm grateful for such a unique experience, but not keen for a rerun.
What blew my mind was the local who offered to drive me back to my car told me on the short drive that he no longer surfs after a failed attack from a 4m white, with a second failed attack just a few weeks later, both in Esperance. Wild.
I packed up my things, and went home to enjoy a crisp Esperance Distillery Co seltzer and play with my son. Then went to the pub for a pint before a good bedtime cuddle with my wife.
The shark that attacked me was likely the one in the picture below filmed shortly after (Image: Cale Walker). It is a tagged white that was setting off the shark buoy at Twilight Cove (1.5km away) all morning. I don't support shark culling but I think this shark should be removed from the area. Just closing the beach for a day doesn't feel safe. I'd hate for anyone else to have an interaction with it and not come home in one piece, or at all.
Finally, whilst I'm super stoked and can laugh at this experience, I'm mindful that there are families in Esperance that haven't been so lucky with family members that have never come home. I'm one of the lucky ones.
Respect James! An awesome recount and we are glad you survived to tell the story. Like you said, so many before you have not been so lucky..
Time to deck your quiver our with our King Cobra Shark Deterring Stickers mate!
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-09/windsurfer-circled-by-3-metre-shark-as-it-mauled-his-sail/103822918?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web
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