Whale Jumps, Lands on Yacht

Ralph Mothes and Paloma Werner of Cape Town Sailing Academy in South Africa were shocked when a 40-ton whale leaped out of the sea and landed on the deck of their boat Sunday.

Sailing near Robben Island off the coast of Cape Town, the couple saw a southern right whale "flapping its tail on the water" about 300 feet away. Then it breached and disappeared under the water. The whale reappeared much closer — about 70 feet away — as it breached again.

The yacht was steel, so it was strong enough to withstand the whale's impact. Only the mast and rigging were damaged.

Mothes and Werner both came away alive, as did the whale.