Is it possible that a giant squid hitched a ride to the Marquesas?
On a recent trip from the Galopagos to the Marquesas, Shigeo Kitano found the journey difficult. The boat was hard to steer and the autopilot indicated "weather helm" (an imbalance of sail power).
When the hull of the sloop Akitsushima II was examined by divers, what were described as hundreds of round marks similar to those left by suction cups were discovered. These strange marks were discovered on the boat's hull, rudder, and keel. Paint was scraped off the hull where the marks were found. In addition, there were marks within the larger circular patterns, like circles within circles.
Is it possible that a giant squid hitched a ride to the Marquesas? Maybe. However, the giant squid has only recently been photographed alive , and that was at a depth of almost 3,000 feet below the surface of the ocean. They have been known to attack boats, but that is a rare occurrence. Attacks, when they occur, only last for a few minutes and the vessel is shaken violently by the squid. No such shaking was noticed by the Akitsushima II's occupants. Some of the suction marks were blurred, which would imply that whatever was attached to the bottom of the boat moved or adjusted its grip. It is estimated that whatever was causing the problem was attached to the hull for several weeks; a giant squid attack would be over in minutes.
The area that Kitano sailed through is home to sperm whales, which are a food source for the giant squid. Where you find sperm whales, you will find these predators.
If this wasn't a giant squid after all (even though the marks look like sucker marks), what was attached to the bottom of the boat all that time? Is it possible that some as-yet-unknown species of marine life is responsible?
