Stranded

Sailing along, upside-down on the top of the ocean’s surface, are thousands of jellyfish-like creatures known as velella. Also called “by-the-wind-sailors,” they are pushed by the wind, day after day, never fully submerging themselves. They generally tack to the right of northwesterly prevailing winds and stay offshore. Periodically, southwest winds cause thousands of them to be blown ashore.

I was awed by this phenomenon on the coast of Oregon. The beach appeared to be strewn with precious electric- blue-colored gems, clumping in patterns that mimicked the arcs of the waves. Their story intrigued and saddened me. Water is essential for the velella to survive. As soon as the water beneath them disappears, they perish. This is their cycle of life.