Anchorage: Tobermory, Isle Of Mull
Position: 56°37.200 N 006°03.700 W
Distance surveyed: 50 nmi

Today, May Day – Labour Holiday!! And we got a 1 hour grace time to sleep extra!! Ha Ha Ha. We had to be happy with that only - We weren’t getting an off today!

Well, we started today a little pessimistic as the forecast was problematic weather ahead with strong gale force winds and rain etc…It began raining on the first watch….everyone was quite a bit gloomy! Praise the Lord however, as it turned out to be a wonderful day with very low wind and by early afternoon the sun showed its face and it was glorious. We tended to do a lot of sailing today too in the second half of the day as the weather was holding perfect.

It was hard luck today too as far as sightings were concerned as the dolphins & whales eluded us. We were however lucky on the hydrophones picking up again numerous Harbour Porpoise’s clicks & got to see a lot of different species of birds feeding on the water; a lot of activity witnessed today on and above the waves.

Today all three girls ( Marjolaine, Stephanie & Teresa ) really put their courage to the forefront and climbed up to the ‘Crow’s Nest’… Mohamed too climbed up to the high perch. He! He! Tomorrow Gayal and myself will have to pull up the spirit to do the same after all it’s a one time experience! It felt good to touch port at Tobermory where we last began our journey from and it was so satisfying to the soul to touch ‘Firm & familiar ground’!!

Also Peter who had joined us a few days earlier disembarked and Susanna the new Scientific Officer who will be replacing Marjolaine’s post joined us on the boat. She was introduced to all by Duncan and then given a tour of the yacht while dinner was being prepared by Rob. Overall it was a extremely well spent day.

Jonathan – Karachi, Pakistan.