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Live from Onboard

Island Birds and Fish Treats

web shetland luke noss cliff face 2 img_4287A quick look out of the porthole confirmed that I was indeed not hearing rain! Although the weather was a bit blustery and windy, we definitely had a better start of the day than yesterday and, safety briefings all done, we set off North.

Piloting out of the harbour we already had our first seal sightings, little heads bobbing up and down in the water. We set course for the Isle of Noss, famous for the numerous birds nesting there. Sailing along the north coast of Bressay, the bird count just kept increasing and when we spotted the dramatic cliffs of Noss, our patience was rewarded: hundreds and hundreds of birds flying overhead: sterns, sea gulls, gannets, puffins, fulmars, skua, guillemots...they were everywhere!

Edging closer to the cliffs, we discovered that the thousands of white specks clinging to the rocks were not bird droppings, but more birds! Stunning, stunning sight.

With ever increasing winds, 55 knots was said to be seen on the B&G instruments, we made good time to our next destination: the Isle of Whalsay. It didn't keep us from glimpsing a sight of what very much looked like a whale's tail and a spout! Followed shortly by some porpoises playing around behind the boat!

Whalsay is one of the many Shetland Islands, with a population of about 1100, and another beautiful place with very friendly people. After a nice hot tomato soup lunch to warm us up, everybody headed out on to the island to explore. The island has a rich merchant history, but lots of interesting fact bits on today’s life as well, as our self appointed guide, Brendan, was telling us.

10 years old, on his BMX bike, his biking helmet over his wool hat, dead proud that his little sister was 12 weeks old that day and full of stories...about the local fishermen (like his dad), who owns what house, where the schools were, where the best brown trout could be fished (‘big ones, in the lake up north, but it’s a fair bit away!’), the names of the sheep we passed (and there were many), his opinion about the work he and his dad are going to do on their house this summer; all in a lovely lilting Scottish accent...but not just any, it’s a Whalsay accent and not at all the same as on mainland Shetland, let alone mainland Scotland!!web shetland luke polar bear on dock in whalsay img_4294

Dinner back on the boat was an unexpected surprise: a local fisherman came by the boat and offered us a number of monk tail fillets! Fantastically fresh and delicious with some mushroom risotto. Another surprise was the local boating club (not only every island here has it’s own boating club, so has every town or village!), where we paid our respects with a drink or two in the evening. Great day, both on and off the water...marlies and boogie on whalsay polar bear in the distance shetland -luke-

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Star Chaser Sailing Ltd - Trading as Sail Blue Planet and
Blue Planet Sailing Adventures

Phone: +44 7795 566 277
info@sailblueplanet.com