12 hours agoSun 28 Dec 2025 at 2:38am

The wild animal's assertive demeanour earned it the nickname "Grumpy". (Supplied: Andrew Cooper)

A wild seal dubbed "Grumpy" has caused commotion at the start of an annual boat race on the Mornington Peninsula, outside Melbourne.

Organisers of the regatta at Blairgowrie — a popular summer holiday spot just over 100 kilometres south of the city — had to come up with a workaround after the seal made its presence known as the event kicked off on Saturday.

The large mammal was sunbaking at the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, blocking access to some boats in the marina.

The squadron's general manager, Andrew Cooper, said the animal "wasn't very keen to move".

"He wasn't overly impressed for anyone to get too close to him," he said.

"So that's why we thought it was better to be safe than sorry and we put some cones around the area to make sure that people didn't get too close … and we started our own little ferry service to get people out to their boats."

The annual Petersville Regatta this year attracted more than 200 sailors and about 40 boats.

The organisers contacted Parks Victoria for advice, and were told to keep a safe distance from the animal.

The seal stayed put as the regatta started after making its appearance known on Saturday. (Supplied: Andrew Cooper)

Mr Cooper said the seal giving "a little bit of a snort and a little bit of a grump" led to him being given the nickname "Grumpy".

"He was a little bit grumpy, but it was a great sight to see," he said.

"It just added to the festivities, really."

Mr Cooper said the seal appeared to have left the area as the second day of racing got underway on Sunday morning.

Wildlife Victoria advises people who encounter a seal to remain at least 30 metres away from an animal on land, or 5 metres from one on a boat ramp, pier or jetty and to keep dogs more than 50 metres away.

Matilda Pearl, senior dive instructor at Polperro Dolphin Swims, said Australian fur seals were the most common in Port Phillip Bay.

She said those who wound up on shores in the bay were often tired, or sometimes injured, after travelling from Phillip Island.

"Often people are taking selfies with them or going up or having their dogs coming right up to them, and I think people need to understand that these are wild animals and that they need to be given space," she said.

In January 2023, an elephant seal that appeared at Blairgowrie was believed to be the same animal that caused a stir when it broke windows at a petrol station at Point Lonsdale, on the other side of Port Phillip Bay.