danjeffers: I cannot find the whale (more specifically, the whale cannot seem to find me). I've criss-crossed probably 50 times or more, but only gotten tired and drowned, arrived at the island or back on shore or got eaten by the shark. All walkthroughs I've found seem to assume the whale will come after just a few crossings.
Any help appreciated.
Andy_Panthro: Are you at the right point of the game (told to get the unicorn), and do you have the peacock feather and the fish?
I visited the witch and got the request and then the whale appeared. Thank you!
That's the only thing that I can think of, that you need those things to trigger the whale to appear.
I would also try swimming from the south or south-west sides of Genesta's island.