Whales off the starboard bow !

[stiknstring]

I thought the crew had lost his marbles when I heard this call yesterday, 24 M due North of Cherbourg. Looking up, we saw two pilot whales rising and falling slowly towards us going westwards down the channel. A fantastic sight. They continued on with one passing under the keel, the other under the rudder and kept on their merry way.

I read some weeks ago that there is an agency monitoring sightings of these mammals around our shores. Can anyone tell me who they are and how to contact?

Thanks in anticipation.

 

[Gunfleet]

You're a lucky man. I think being 'visited' by dolphins is one of the best parts of sailing! But I've never seen a whale at sea.

 

[webcraft]

You can report sightings to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

http://www.bluemoment.com/

 

[snowleopard]

british waters are best...

sailed 13000 miles last year to & from the caribbean and had more whale & dolphin sightings in uk waters than the rest put together.

 

[Miker]

I saw what I was told was a pilot whale in the North Channel last month on the way back from Ardglass to Fleetwood. A great sight.
The day before, a yottie in Ardglass told me of his sighting.

 

[billmacfarlane]

I had a couple of pilot whales near the boat a couple of miles from EC2 in mid August. That's the second time I've seen them in that area. Brilliant sight.

 

[iangrant]

Thanks for that - I thought I was seeing double on the way back from Cherbourg mid August - Big blue dolphin looking but too big, so must have been a whale we guessed - fantastic sight

Ian

 

[Guest]

Re: british waters are best...

Couldn't agree more.
In Scotland last summer, we were visited by a Minke whale, she swum right up to the boat, and rolled over onto her side, to look up at us on deck - the whale being about a foot under the water.
Apparently the pair of Minkes off Eigg / Rhum are nosy, and like to say hello to sailing boats.
In addition, we lost count of the porpoises, dolhins and seals we saw every day.
In two weeks in Greece this summer - we saw dolphins once. Felt a bit let down.