Friday 20th June, 2008
Anchorage: Cragaig, Isle of Ulva
Position: 56°28.100 N 006°13.900 W
Distance surveyed: 53nm

We awoke to postcard quality views in every direction. The sun was out, the water glassine, and the wind still. We weighed anchor early and set out on our 53 mile journey. By 10:00 am we found our first squall, and the ever optimistic Americans aboard went fleeing for their extra fleece. Unfortunately, the seas turned rougher still and we had to suspend visual efforts for most of the afternoon. Yet hydrophone efforts remained active and we had a good day with many acoustic detections confirmed.

Spirits were kept high by the promise of Gordon and Jackie’s fish pie and our Solstice party, where our First Mate Steve brought a tear to every eye with a solo rendition of an Irish love song.

We anchored in yet another spectacular anchorage and our after dinner shore walk provided a nice stretch of the legs, in the long summer evening.

Kudos to the crew who made the most of a difficult weather day and the volunteers who each kept spirits high.

Anglo-American cultural confusion of the day: Americans were given a briefing on the proper making of a ‘cuppa tea’. Net net [hey, that’s a cultural confusion too, guys – we don’t do ‘net net’ – apparently it means the bottom line…]: please don’t confuse the kettle from the tea pot and use BOILING water.

Thursday 19th June, 2008

Anchorage: Isleornsay, Isle of Skye

Position: 57°09.000 N 005°47.700 W

Distance surveyed: 40nm

Weather remained unsettled with significant and quick changes. However, we each found the brilliant northern light captivating as it came and went with the clouds.

Generally, high seas and a ‘fresh breeze’ led to a difficult day to observe cetaceans with only two porpoise and a seal sighting. But still no vomit! Having had yesterday’s briefing on seabirds, today was the day to begin to identify them both in flight and on the water. Today we found gannets and guillemots. So today, we consolidated our observation skills and worked with data entry.

We had a pub dinner in Isleornsay, one of the western Scotland’s best pubs, with a roaring fire to keep us warm. After dinner we all sang with shape notes and joined in with chantey singing with Regina, Jackie and Dale filling the role of ‘chanteyman’.

Anglo-American cultural confusion of the day: That’s a ‘bonny boat’ doesn’t mean that is Bonny’s boat, instead it’s a very nice boat!

Wednesday 18th June, 2008
Anchorage: Loch Scresort, Isle of Rum
Position: 57°00.800 N 006°16.100 W
Distance surveyed: 35nm

Whales, purpoises and dolphins – Oh my! A breakout second day of observations, with sightings distracting from the ever changing weather. Highlights were a pod of 15 common dolphins, accompanied by a mass of very excited manx shearwaters, first detected by the hydrophone picking up the whistles during Tom and Susie’s acoustic stop.
Jackie and Tom closed the day’s observations by hanging on to the mast with both hands and still seeking the next cetacean.—soon however the wind had morphed in to a simple gale complete with sharp and pointy rain.

In the end, we are still seeking summer while awaiting for solstice party- Gourmet food again tonight features Steve’s local free range braised venison.

Final stop at anchorage, Gordon lost in bath at youth hostel, found 45 minutes later trotting back to his lovely wife.

Anglo-American cultural confusion of the day: numbers and stuff: we (the American ones) say ‘dahhhdah they (those proper Brits) say DAYta

Tuesday 17th June, 2008

Anchorage: Loch Moidart

Position: 56°47.200 N 005°50.200 W

Distance surveyed: 30nm

Welcome to our new volunteers – Vanessa, Tom, Dale and Regina. from America, and Jackie and Gordon from Cumbria, onboard Silurian for the third time (welcome back!) – from this trip’s crew, skipper Dave, first mate Steve and Susie Science.

Tipping with rain yesterday, and still doing the rain thing this morning. By the time we set sail, it had cleared up, and a very bonny sail round Ardnamurchan was accompanied by all manner of weather – cold and rainy, warm and sunny, chilly and windy, all to the backdrop of stunning Hebridean scenery.

It all worked out better than the forecast had suggested. All held onto their stomachs despite the big swells round Ardnamurchan (although the odd precautionary bucket was handed round, but not used). However, it wasn’t great sighting conditions. Tom spotted a porpoise, but the hydrophone had to do the rest. Lots of seabirds though, including a great display by the diving gannet circus.

We were into Loch Moidart in the evening, to a beautiful luminous light across the hills and Castle Tioram, and a great dinner of cottage pie. It was still light when we took the dinghy across for a ramble round the castle at 10pm – midsummer in Scotland.

Anglo-American cultural confusion of the day: round orange plastic thing in the water: we say ‘boy’ they say ‘booey’.