Millions of Vibrant Sailors Drift Onto Shores

Millions of blue “sailors” or Velella velella drifted onto U.S. west coast beaches on June 1, 2026. The sailors were blown on to the west coast because of shifting wind patterns over the Pacific Ocean.

The vibrant blue “sailors” are zooplankton, but are often mistaken for jellyfish. The sailors may look like one single organism, but they are actually made up of many tiny organisms called zooids. Each zooid has a different job, so some sailors don’t sting but some do. The sailors are nicknamed “by-the-wind sailors” for their translucent sail that helps the creature drift with the wind.

There are two different types of sailors: one has a sail pointing to the left and the other has a sail pointing to the right. In the spring, wind patterns shift, and if the wind lasts long enough the sailors drift onto beaches. Because there are different types of sails, the wind spreads them around naturally, but climate change changed the wind patterns leading to the creatures washing onto beaches

When on beaches, they become food for birds or decay into the sand, which may produce a smelly odor. Many pets get sick from eating the sailors by accident. Fortunately, the amount of sailors is going to decrease in a few weeks as the wind pattern is predicted to shift again.