All well aboard ship – spirits are high despite a turn in the weather. ย We are approaching the Faroes, but despite being 5 miles away from the closest island, the clouds are thick, and we can see nothing but grey seas. ย All are tired and nauseous by the new motion of Sea Dragon – the waves are bigger than before and the wind stronger. ย Last night at about 7:30 pm, when we most needed a boost, the whales heard our plea and we were joined by a pod of over 25 pilot whales and a group of dolphins. ย For about an hour, they followed alongside the boat, coming right up next to us and swimming around the bow. ย When we finally sped up at the end, they steamed after us jumping through the waves trying to catch up. ย For me, and for many others on the crew, it was totally magical. ย I had expected it to be amazing, but not quite to the extent that it was. ย They were so close, a full family of machos, mothers and babies, we were able to see the variations of colour in their markings, scars on their backs and hear their whistles with underwater cameras. ย Surrounded also by dolphins, gannets, a host of other sea birds and the never-ending North Atlantic light – I think we all felt totally awed.
Now to put on my 50 layers of wet weather gear and go back on deck. ย My watch last night wasย 12am to 3am, through which we caught the setting and rising sun, andย 9amย – 12pm. ย All was spent dreaming of a shower and bacon sandwiches, which we hope to find when we dock later this afternoon.
– Laura Coleman, Director of ONCA Trust | One Network for Conservation and the Arts, July 10, 2014
