You Be the Judge! Who is Guilty? Whale Killers or Whale Huggers?

Last weekend in pubs, watering holes, and yacht club bars around the world – wherever boaters gather – there were lively discussions as to who was at fault in the January 6th collision of Ady Gil (nee, Earthrace) and Shonan Maru off the coast of Antarctica. A few hours later Ady Gil sank from the damage as she was being towed home. Last week we published video taken from the Shonan Maru that seemed to indicate that Ady Gil rammed the Japanese whaler. Today we are presenting video shot from both Ady Gil and its mothership, Bob Barker, in addition to video from Shonan Maru. Perhaps no seaborne collision has had more video taken of it from more different perspectives. BoatTEST.com has impaneled YOU – our trusted members in good standing – to be the Judge, Jury, and Executioner in this case between these two antagonists.

Frame from video taken from the gadfly Ady Gil just seconds before the collision with the Japanese whaling vessel.

First, you must swear to be impartial no matter how much you detest whale killing.

Second, you must swear to be impartial no matter how much you detest the Greenpeace movement or its aggressive break-away group, the Sea Shepherds.

Third, you must swear to take whatever each side says with a grain of sea salt, and rely solely on the three videos offered here in evidence.

If you can not swear to impartiality, discarding a lifetime of bias, then please dismiss yourself and go read the article about what the U.S. Supreme Court is not doing about the Asian carp invasion.

The Evidence--

Exhibit #1, video from Ady Gil...

Exhibit #2, video from Shonan Maru...

Exhibit #3, video from Bob Barker...

Now that you have watched all three videos, please read the following instructions...

Note what appears to be the stern wake of Ady Gil (left).

Note that what appears to be a wake behind Ady Gil could be water being sprayed from Shonan Maru. Note Ady Gil’s cockpit is partially hidden in spray from the whaler. Note that Shonan Maru appears to be turning to starboard making it appear that Ady Gil is in front of the ship.

This frame is at the moment of collision. This photo appears to be directly bow-on of Shonan Maru. Is the gray shape at the bottom of Shonan Maru’s bow wave the nose of Ady Gil or the bow of Shonan Maru?

Note that Ady Gil is along the starboard bow of Shonan Maru after the collision. Shonan Maru appears to be turning to port.

Note Ady Gil after the collision appears to be backing away and Shonan Maru appears to be turning to port. Note bow wave of Shonan Maru.

Note that Ady Gil appears to have way on and is also angled on a course that would appear to intersect that of Shonan Maru.

Just a few seconds before impact Ady Gil appears to have way on and forward momentum.

Just before impact stern waves from Ady Gil clearly show that she is moving forward. Note that bow wave of Shonan Maru has yet to hit Ady Gil. Note the wake of Ady Gil appears to indicate increased speed just prior to impact. Note intersecting angle of travel of the two vessels.

Jury Instructions:

Facts--

A. Shonan Maru was not fishing.

B. That Ady Gil was to starboard of Shonan Maru is not in doubt. Under normal conditions she would have had the right-of-way.

C. Ady Gil was harassing Shonan Maru is also not in doubt, therefore these were not normal conditions.

Given those facts and the evidence above...

1. Please render your verdict by casting your Secret ballot below.

2. Check to see how your peers voted by clicking on “View Jury Decision.”

3.Use the “Comments” box below to indicate what you feel is the appropriate punishment for this crime on the high seas.

Punishment should be---