Sailing Nature Moments

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alec

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Got any nice sailing nature moments to share ?

One sticks in my mind this season during September. Anchored up near a farmer’s field, and just before dusk, the boat was covered in Swallows. Windex, spreaders, cockpit the lot Kept still in the companionway and I could have touched half a dozen. Amazing thing, it was repeated in the morning.
 
We were having a trip along the Kendal Canal in May and a Moorhen started running alongside us in a field. It must have followed us for 200 yards. this is one of 4 shots I took.

moorhen_1.jpg


In September I was ghosting along on Windermere and as I passed the limit marker for Bowness a Cormorant landed on the buoy. They're normally very timid, but the boat was moving silently through the water so it didn't seem bothered. Unfortunately I only had my compact and it's not so hot on zoom shots.

cormorant.jpg
 
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We were having a trip along the Kendal Canal in May and a Moorhen started running alongside us in a field. It must have followed us for 200 yards.

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Jings Lakie babe, you do lead an exciting life .. and I'm sure a bit of assiduous sailtrim micht hae helped you beat the hen!
 
What was even more exciting was that it didn't cost us anything. This kind man was giving rides.

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Saw some cygnets on the same trip. I'll tell you it's all action up here.


Swans.jpg
 
Years ago sailing a Hobie 16 off Abersoch we saw dolphins about 100 metres away. Wind direction was such that we were able to get over to them as they continued in the same direction. Eventually we were right with them and several times had several surfacing between the hulls. It happened years ago but I have never forgotten it.
 
Similar thing happens to us regularly off Aberporth (Cardigan Bay), dolphins between the hulls of Huricane, absolutely stunning to see them up that close & because you're at more or less the same level as them it's so much better. Unfortunately never had a camera with me so you'll have to take my word for it.
 
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Unfortunately I only had my compact and it's not so hot on zoom shots.



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A bad workman blames his tools /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
You needn't make excuses.
 
Of course, we have the seal colony in the Roach now, always a joy at low tide. Also we are lucky enough to have the Wallasea/Foulness RSPB area, and we are fast wearing out our Observers book of Birds that cant be found unti they have just flown away again, what was the colour again, no it had yellow head plumage and a pink bottom, thats not right love, you must have been looking at something else, well I cant find the ruddy thing. Thats cos it had blue head plumage and a grey bottom with yellow legs. Dont talk rubbish,ooh look theres something else, quick find that. Well the binos say its at 169 degrees and 20 ft above sea level, mind my drink when you are swinging those things. Well I cant see below me with binos in my head.

We are soooo lucky.
 
Early one morning in the anchorage at Rhum we had a baby seal trying to snuggle up to the inflatable dinghy. We just had time to wake the kids to see it before it realised it wasn't its Mum and wasn't responding and left.

I've also been able to pat one on the head it came so close one year off Puffin Island (Anglesey). It was only later that I thought about how it could have reacted, I guess it could easily have removed a couple of fingers had it been frightened enough to bite me. Not something I would do again!

In Kilbrannan Sound, Sailing a Heron Dinghy with the kids we came across a Basking shark. We were very close, until I worked out that the fin was in the middle, the tail was about 15' away so the shark must be about 30'long! I quickly decided to sail quietly away in case it hiccoughed or had a nervous tick - either could have sunk us!

All magic Moments - and all the better when shared with the kids!
 
Between Kinsale and Bayona in 2004 a bird landed on deck and stayed with us for a couple of days.... eventually taking shelter under the canopy, tucking its' head under its' wing and going to sleep.

As the sun rose, it hopped onto Mikes' hand, stayed for a while, took a dump, and flew off:

"Typical of my luck with birds", said Mike, "I pull one half way across Biscay, give it friendship and shelter for a while, then it sh*ts on me and p*sses off!".

Cute while it lasted though.
 
This has been my first season on the East Coast and I have to tell you, the Solent has nothing on this.

Two nature bits stick in my mind;

On the last day of the summer cruise we were in Burnham intending to clean ship next day and motor up to the mooring on the evening tide. I woke at about 0500 to one of those silent summer early mornings and decided to take a morning sail up the river. The tide was fair and there was a slight breeze. Darling daughter woke as I left the marina and shared a magical one knot sail up the silent river watching the egrets and other birds while the water chuckled the stem.

Until some plonkers in a speed boat and a 5000watt sound system ruined it all.

The second was a few weeks ago when a seal kept station about 50ft abeam for about an hour as we sailed from Brightlingsea to the Crouch. That's when I discovered that seals don't like digestives, ginger biscuits or bacon butties!
 
We were about 3 nm off Kynance, and saw what looked like rain coming from the land on the radar. Turned out to be flying ants, followed by an assortment of birds, and even a sparrowhawk. Goldcrests are extremely tame, and come in the wheelhouse. Latest visitor looked like a big fluffy sparrow, think it was a meadow pipit.

A tame dolphin round Falmouth used to wait under your dinghy on a mooring, as you reached for it, it would glide away just out of reach: fine sense of comic timing and hilarious to watch.
 
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