Dolphins

I was a bit apprehensive, as he was BIG - much larger than any dog (and with a dog face which presumably contained dog-type teeth!)

However, he was behaving in a very lazy manner.

My grandson was spellbound.
 
Sitting on our mooring one evening, a pup (it was quite small) devoured a flounder while laying on its back ten yards from our stern. Cute was the word Mrs Cotillion used. I doubt the flounder would have agreed

Kim
 
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1978, off Brixham head, a huge Pod of Dolphins heading north - but they ignored us completely. The summer months in Cardigan Bay in the 80s it was unusual not to see them in settled weather, even if at a distance, and often they would come and 'play' with the boat - particularly in the area between Cardigan island and Newquay.

Then there was Jack, the Dolphin who adpoted Newquay on the Cardigan Bay coast around 1986. He would regularly follow local boats. We visited and were 'checked out' by him, as he swam alongside on his side, quite clearly looking up at us to see if we were one of his 'friends'. We evidently did not qualify, as he shoved of after a couple of minutes.
 
Flying out of Stornoway last week saw a pod of white sided dolphins that were too numerous to count. Earlier we had seen 4 pilot whales feeding, with gannets diving over their heads. Great to see from the air, but not as magical as seeing them from the foredeck.

There are increasing numbers of cetaceans in this part of the world. A colleague also spotted the biggest basking shark he had ever seen - well over 20'.

On a sadder note, we were called out to a reported upturned hull last night. It turned out to be a dead whale.
 
We've been visited by what looks like same the big dolphin every time I've been through the Looe channel this year - last time I came through he was accompanied by another 2 smaller dolphins too.

Last Friday we were approached by a pod of about 5 or 6 bottlenose dolphins half way across Lyme Bay - spent about 5 minutes swimming within 100 yards of us, leaping from the water and generally playing.

I've sailed up and down the South coast for years and had only once seen a dolphin before, but in the last year have seen dolphins and porpoises at Beachy Head, Shoreham, in the Looe Channel and in Lyme bay - certainly the high point of any trip!
 
We saw another large pod off Bolt head on Saturday.
We were heading east into Salcombe thy were heading west towards Bolt Tail at speed.
We think the someone must have shouted FISH!
Thy completely ignored us.

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I have sailed at least 20,000 miles around the South Coast and Brittany in the last 10 years and I have only ever seen one what I think was a Minkie Whale.
My son goes cross channel with the Ocean Youth Trust a couple of years ago and sees loads - what am I doing wrong? Is it my antifouling... or should I change my deodorant?
 
We were "buzzed" by what I think were two harbour porpoises rather than dolphins in the Firth of Lorne at the weekend - the video (3Mb) is here if anyone is interested in confirming my identification.

What was interesting was that they arrived just after our three year old had taken an unplanned plunge over the side while rather overenthusiastically fishing for "jellies". We couldn't help wondering if they'd been attracted by the noise and splashing, or even, rather anthropomorphically (but to her great delight) if they hadn't come to see she was ok! Has anyone else any ideas what attracts them?

Cheers
Patrick
 
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