Dolphin in Portsmouth harbour yesterday

[QuietFlight]

As I was leaving Hasler lunchtime yesterday for a quiet few hours of pottering up to Fareham I noticed the Harbour patrol boat going round and round in circles just of the Hasler lightship. I soon realised that they were playing with a large dolphin, who was having a great time swooping around the boat, both at the forward and aft. I was both surprised and blown away at just what a great experienece it is to see these stunning creatures at such close quarters - also, in Portsmouth Harbour? I am still new to yachting so don't have any dolphin war stories, however to see one in Portsmouth Harbour, is that common? Anyway, stayed a while with a number of other boats watching this great display, they seemed to be trying to shephard the dolphin out of the harbour, after a while I headed off on my way up river to Fareham. Imagine my utter shock on the way back a couple of hours latter as I was just passing the moorings off Hardway to suddenly have same dolphin (?) pop up right by my port side dodger - almost looking up at me, keeping pace with the boat only inches away from the hull! It stayed with my down to C & N, then darted off to chase a rib, I cirlced round and with a number of other boats we spent the last of the light watching a breathtaking display. A police boat arrived and seemd to be keeping a watching eye over things, so maybe the dolphin has been around a while? All very gushing I know, but what a thrill, I now understand how these creatures seem to have a theraputic effect on humans. Made my weekend. Awesome experience and all within a short distance of the pontoon in Portsmouth harbour. What is going on I wonder, a dolphin in Yarmouth, a whale washed up on the IOW and now a dolphin in Portsmouth? Hope it stays around a while, it could become a star! If you are out and about this week keep a look out. Right, sad gushing mature male gets back to work!

 

[MrG_2]

I'm also moored in Haslar and haven't seen a dolphin in the harbour these past 5 years.
I shall keep keep an eye out.
/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Becky]

I was down in Haslar yesterday; saw you leaving. But pig sick I was too lazy to walk round and see what was catching everyone's attention!

Will have a good look about next time I am down. Well done!

 

[rwoofer]

Did the dolphin look like this one I photographed in a recent thread.

Dolphin in the Solent

Spent 45 minutes playing with him/her.

 

[QuietFlight]

You missed out there Becky, would have been worth the walk out to the end of the pier! I shall look out for you in future, always ggod to meet fellow forumites, had no idea anyone paid that much attention to who was coming and going from the marina.

 

[QuietFlight]

Richard,

hard to tell from the pics, however the dolphin in Portsmouth did have some very distictive scars on the dorsel fin, maybe prop damage (?). Late in the afternoon there was a high speed rib flying a Spanish flag with 5 people on board taking both still and moving pictures. Research?

 

[rwoofer]

I think it is the same one as I remember the scars on the fin as well.

And I'm also in Haslar, on D pontoon.

 

[boatmike]

Saw him(her?) also on Thursday on the way in. Stayed between my keels surfacing at the bows for about 5 minutes (dolphins, being intelligent, like catamarans) then shot off after the Gosport ferry. Looked like a big bottlenose to me. Certainly not the smaller porpoises one normally sees.....
According to local TV news has been around for 2 weeks or so. And no it's not common to see one like this in the harbour but it appeared to be very frisky and healthy.....

 

[Dave99]

Yes I think I must have seen you, we were coming in and met the harbour patrol! I was on Mad Max. The previous week the dolphin came and played for about 10 minutes outside the harbour. I'm quite interested to know why it hasnt migrated