Orcas pay visit to Sea Scouts

The visiting orcas appeared to be hunting stingrays on the bottom of Home Bay.

Sea Scouts camping on Motutapu Island in the Hauraki Gulf this week were treated to a visiting pod of orcas that seemed relaxed about the dozens of sailing boats in Home Bay.

Almost 500 sea scouts and their leaders are camped at the Department of Conservation campsite for the 25th national regatta.

Their week-long programme includes sailing, rowing, kayaking, swimming, seamanship, first-aid competitions, tug of war, touch rugby, an iron man competition, fishing, abseiling and shooting.

But an undoubted highlight came on Thursday afternoon when a small pod of killer whales swam into Home Bay.

It appeared they were hunting for stingrays on the bottom of the bay and spent almost two hours swimming among the dozens of yachts, inspecting some closely.

The regatta has also attracted Scouts and leaders from Bermuda, Scotland and Australia.