Location: Tarbet Bay, Loch Nevis

Position: 56’ 58.4 N 005’ 38.2 W

After a night of dreamless sleep (thanks to Tobermory Distillery & industrial grade ear plugs) the day dawned early and some of our party were fully functioning and on operational whale watch by 7.00 a.m. One notable exception was Mike (aka Bonxie) who had reverted to student-mode, i.e. rising in mid-afternoon. The early start was prompted by the need to resolve a problem that our First Mate Matt had spent several hours on Thursday trying to fix. One of the two heads on board had broken down and this led to a lengthy discussion on Thursday evening that concluded with a decision to arrange for the collection of a new pump from Mallaig within the next two days.

A rather uneventful morning cetacean-wise was brightened by the delivery of steaming mugs of Mulligatawny soup produced by Matt (now promoted to Head Engineer). In the afternoon our survey leader Laura (no doubt stung by Mike’s almost unfair porcine comparison of the previous day) decided to spend some time in her own company (i.e. in the crow’s nest – a refuge I have also found the need to seek a number of times during this trip). This quest for solitude soon proved to be a masterstroke when Laura called a sighting of a distant group of dolphins. We were able to make a close approach to this group, some of whom were leaping clear of the water surface. The whole company enjoyed an extremely thrilling encounter with this obliging party of Risso’s Dolphins.

The rest of the afternoon produced a number of contacts with porpoises and seals and this was concluded by a visit to Mallaig to enable our Head Engineer to collect a new pump for the broken head. We then proceeded to our evening’s anchorage with hopes of making contact with a Humpback Whale that had apparently been sighted in the area. Whilst we saw little more than the odd porpoise on this last leg our day’s sailing it brought us to a beautiful anchorage where a small party went ashore whilst Christine was conjuring up our evening meal.

An excellent day was concluded by Christine’s magical cheese and potato pie followed by an inspired Banana Split produced by Mike. Now – where’s that second bottle of Malt?

Graham (HWDT volunteer)