tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12280989.post-36946435730206767832007-09-21T05:36:00.001-07:002007-09-21T05:47:18.009-07:00<p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Date:<span style=""> </span>Thursday 20^th September, 2007</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span lang="EN-GB">Anchorage</span></st1:city></st1:place><span lang="EN-GB">:<span style=""> </span>Tobermory</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Position:<span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">56°37.200 N<span style=""> </span>006°03.700 W</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">Distance Travelled:<span style=""> </span>40 NM<br /><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">Seas not as calm as we had hoped for, so it was hard going on the sightings-front as we travelled up the west coast of Mull, past Staffa and the Treshnish Isles. But the scenery was amazing, and the brisk winds gave us a bonny sail all the way up. By the time we got into Tobermory, we had sighted a few harbour porpoises, some seals and a basking shark. Having cleaned the boat until it gleamed, we spent a much-deserved evening in the pub. Well done everybody for a really good week, in spite of the windy weather. This was our last survey trip of 2007, so farewell until next season!<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Date:<span style=""> </span>Wednesday 19^th September 2007</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:city st="on"><span lang="EN-GB">Anchorage</span></st1:city><span lang="EN-GB">:<span style=""> </span>Bunessan, Isle of <st1:place st="on">Mull</st1:place></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Position:<span style=""> </span>56° 19’.200N<span style=""> </span>006° 15’.000W</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Distance Travelled:<span style=""> </span>59 NM<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="EN-GB">After a very<span style=""> </span>early start we motored out of Loch Craignish; passing through promising waters and sunny skies, which unfortunately yielded no sightings. After passing past the south coast of Mull and <st1:place st="on">Iona</st1:place> we finally had our first sighting of the day, a basking shark! After following this around we followed in Mendelson’s footsteps and reached Fingal’s cave, on <st1:place st="on">Staffa</st1:place>. As we reached are chosen anchorage of the night, <st1:placename st="on">Cragaig</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:placetype>, a message reached us that killer whales had been spotted west of <st1:place st="on">Staffa</st1:place>. So we retraced or steps to try and find them. Ella and Suzy whilst on observation finally spotted three blows and for a fleeting second actually saw a fin, but then the animals disappeared in the rapidly building sea, and we were unable to find them again. After this excitement we decided to go to Bunessan for anchorage and on reaching this we found another two basking sharks. For dinner Dave ( the skipper) prepared a traditional tea of haggis, swede and potatoes ( haggis, neaps and taties) although not everyone went for the meat option…</span></p>HWDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07493228299997800929noreply@blogger.com