Purple Sails

While walking along the beach, you may have noticed slimy, iridescent blue discs. These discs are a type of animal called Velella velella, commonly known as Purple Sails or By-The-Wind Sailors. Purple Sails have a clear ‘sail’ that catches the wind and pushes them across the ocean’s surface. When the wind blows from the West, these little guys get stranded on the beach. Once washed ashore, they either become food for a variety of beach-dwelling creature or dray into the translucent ‘sails’ you see on the beach. Purple Sails do not sting their prey; they capture their food with small sticky tentacles. Velellas feed on fish eggs and small planktonic copepods. Found in most oceans, Purple Sails are frequent visitors to the Oregon Coast. They can reach a size of 4 inches in length and 3 inches in width.