Dolphins on the Cyde (reprise)

[cameronke]

Following on from Tom Gregories earlier post where he notes the increase in sightings of dolphin and porpoise in the Clyde.....

On every occasion that I have been ot this season I have spotted porpoise. On Saturday I saw one swimming under the boat and then several sightings in th Kyles of Bute yesterday. Even got some pics!

Does anyone know what is changing in the Clyde to encourage the return of these gorgeous creatures and what effect a fish finders sonar may have on them? I switch mine off when I see them in case I alarm/harm them.

Bet the cretins that buzzed me in their gin palace on saturday never saw any

Regards
Cameron

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[starboard]

I have noticed that since 1996 the small Harbour porpoise has appeared in a good few numbers around the Clyde. You are always guaranteed to see them off the Garoch head, I guess they like to play in the tide there. Still to see my first basking shark this year but nearly always see one to the South East of Inchmarnock, they appear not to be bothered by the echo sounder as have had one follow me for about 1 mile as I slowly motored ahead, I guess it was feeding in the areated water from the prop! The past 3 years we have seen a Minke Whale each year between the mainland and Arran.
Yes you cant beat the Clyde for both wildlife and beauty....but dont tell folk that or it may get spoiled!!



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[Aja]

Cameron

There are three main reasons why the Clyde is so much cleaner - especially the Kyles

1 Sewage treatment plant in Rothesay - remember the scum that collected in Rothesay Bay?

2 Ditto above for Kames and Tignabruaich.

3 They dont dump (nice term) at Garroch Head anymore.

....and by the way that wasn't you that we sneaked past at Colintraive last night was it...?

Regards

Donald

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[Superstrath]

Saw several groups on Sunday between the Cumbraes / Kilchattan.
Last May we had a group of twelve or so, I think Dolphin, they were very big, around the boat at Colintraive. The kids (and my father!) were screeching and yelling, and had "Now54" or some such thumping through the bottom of the boat. We are convinced that the noise was increasing their interest in us.
Basking sharks - off Lochranza is the place. You can get very close, they seem pretty thick and just keep meandering along. Some of them are huge.
You're right, it's now almost guaranteed that you'll see some porpoises out there at any time of the year.
Ten years ago, motoring to Canna from the Sound of Mull in a flat calm, we had a Minke alongside us for twenty minutes, so close you could look into its eye. Every time we got posed for a picture it came up on the other side of the boat. Quite alarming at first, it was enormous, but a fantastic experience.

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[cameronke]

Hello Donald

it could have been. I set off from Toward at 2pm for a fish supper in Rothesay and ended up going trought the Burnt Islands, across the mouth of Loch Ridden and then headed back. Really need to do something about my navigation! Was around Colintraive circa 6.00pm. Sorry if I missed you, were you sailing?

Regards
Cameron

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[1114C]

Did not make it out last weekend so am something withdrawals

Out this weekend and off to Tarbert we think - got my first photo of a porpoise last time so will be looking out for more

Do love the Clyde!



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[cameronke]

Hello Tom

Right with you on my love of the Clyde!

Just reflecting as I made my way down the Kyles back to Toward yesterday evening. Here is a bank holiday Monday and I was virtually alone, saw about a dozen boats tops during my sail (was Donald one of them?) and this is in one of the most scenic waters in the world! Took lots of pics and when I figure out how to post them I will put them up. We could have a "spot the boat" competition.

Interesting contrast this morning as I made my way through Glasgow bound for Edinburgh in heavy traffic!

Regards to all

One very smug Cameron!

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[Aja]

White E-Boat with 4-stroke honda on the back? We had red sprayhood with a loony nodding his head to Dire Straits on the MP3. Passed you just before the ferry. You were holding to the Bute side while we went down (up) the middle heading for Kames. We tried to get through the west channel but the wind really faded and the tide pushed us back to the rocks so just switched on and motored to Kames for about 6.30.

What a day though!!!! We had been round Bute (started at 08.30) and sailed and motored our way round. Exhausted.

Brother who we left at Inchmarnock swears he swa a minke off Arran.

Regards

Donald

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[jimi]

However .. is'nt the downside a 5 month season compared to all year round sailing in the south? Be interested how long you guys keep your boats in the water?

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[1114C]

Not a five month season here for me

8 months a year easy for us - and I would rather 8 there than 10 in certain other places

It is a good thing we all like different places though is it not - heaven forbid all those from south came up here

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[Guest]

Post deleted by danfoley

 

[Aja]

Quality - a new Thread?

Its quality - not quantity that counts, in my opinion.

I race every wednesday on the upper Clyde at Helensburgh. I do it for the racing - and a pie and a pint with the lads later. I can do that almost all year round

If I want quality time on my boat I go cruising on the Clyde and the west coast. Time treasured and to well spent.

As you know yourself the sailing is dramatically different. You can answer this yourself, why do you hear so many English accents on boats up here.

Room for all of us I say. But five months up here is at least equal to 12 months 'down south' All IMHO



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[jimi]

According to the LA Natural History museum

"Dolphin" usually refers to the specific group of small, toothed cetaceans in the family Delphinidae. There are over 30 species of true dolphins, including familiar species like the bottlenose, spinner, and spotted dolphins. Although the largest members of this group are commonly called whales because of their size, they are actually most closely related to other dolphins. The large dolphins include killer whales and pilot whales.
"Porpoise" refers to six species in the family Phocoenidae. All porpoises are relatively small by cetacean standards, measuring 7 feet (2 meters) or less as adults.

The notable differences between dolphins and porpoises are these:

Dolphins always have cone-shaped teeth
Porpoises always have spade-shaped teeth
Dolphins usually have a beak
Porpoises never have a beak
Dolphins usually have a hooked or curved dorsal fin (some have no dorsal fin) Porpoises usually have a dorsal fin shaped like a triangle (some have no dorsal fin)

So there!




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[Superstrath]

We had some lovely day sails on the Firth up to mid December. We always take a week in mid-October, going off up to Tobermory and beyond. You get the place to yourself, the sea is still warm (relatively!) and you're guaranteed excitement.
I'd say Jan- Mid April is the time to stay off the water in the Clyde.
It would be rude not to ask, what's the latest on the rudder?

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[jimi]

Re: Quality - a new Thread?

Do'nt disagree but after 4 months of enforced non-sailing non sailing courtesy of @#;@$#@ (broken by a wonderful charter long w/e on the west coat of scotland) I do'nt know if my sanity could cope with such a period again!! Maybe get a Magreggor 26 keep it for the summer in Scotland and then use the engines to zoom to warmer & lighter climes when the winter darkness approaches ;-)

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[cameronke]

Och jimi

Your just sore `cause you'v been exiled

When the E-Boat comes out the water and tucked up all snug and cosy for the winter I get my thinsulate and dry suit and get out in my Laser. we're hardy types up here!

regards
Cameron

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[jimi]

Aha .. the latest on the rudder .. well it would appear that not only were the drilled holed not central but the stock was also tapered. This meant that the quadrant was gripping only a tiny bit of the stock!!!! Options are now to get a proper new rudder or sand and file the "new" one to make it fit properly! What a bluidy nightmare ... And there was poor naive me thinking a warranty repair would be cheaper and quicker than paying for it to be done ...

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[Superstrath]

An excellent and concise explanation of the differences. I will spout this next time we spot any. Should make me look good!
However, in our family, and I suspect in most that have shed-loads of animal-daft wee girls, all of these creatures are, "Dolphins! Dolphins! Dolphins!"
If they remain visible for more than a few seconds they are all named, having been sexed by a seven-year-old at a range of a mile and a half. David Attenborough eat your heart out.
I mean named as in, "Belinda," or, "Samantha," as opposed to the species name. They're not that bloody smart.

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[Bejasus]

This is why I have booked SWMBO & self to do Comp Crew out of Troon, first week in October. Hopefully will be a brisk but gorgeous late summer week on the Clyde.

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[Rowana]

Who are you doing your course with in Troon??

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