Anchorage: Tobermory harbour
Position: 56°33’.132N, 005°45’.649W
Distance travelled: 31.2NM

Even with our consistent rain, high winds and moderately rough seas, we are having a great time! Considering we are trying to survey with faces full of gusting winds, stinging raindrops and wave spray, we have managed to collect 14 acoustic “sightings,” 4 visual sightings of harbour porpoises, and 1 visual sighting of a seal in the past day. Each sighting both excites and energizes us so much that we often forget the nasty weather (hmm!) Our spirits and our energy remain high and we are rewarded every now and again with a bit of a break in the weather in which we can catch fleeting glimpses of the breath-taking scenery we are surrounded by. One volunteer even braved the soaring heights of the crow’s nest! Yesterday we saw several of the famed reverse waterfalls (the water comes pouring over the high cliffs only to be blown straight upwards, disappearing into a thin mist by winds gusting up from the sea). Even this morning we were treated to a beautiful sunny cloud break so we got to enjoy a bit of sunshine and the colorful harbour front facades of Tobermory. Last night we all went into Macgochan’s for a pint, a little bonding time and a bit of drying out (we have to slowly readjust to being on dry land because some of us get more LAND-sick than sea-sick). All in all, another amazing day aboard the Silurian and we are off to start another!

Anchorage: Loch Harport
Position: 57°18.077’N 006°20.068’W
Distance travelled: 43 NM

After a bit of shore leave to the pub in Isleorensay the night before, we left our mooring to go see what we could find. Instead of heading north toward the Skye Bridge like we had planned we went back south and headed around to the southwest side of the Isle of Skye. The rain was constant and I think just about everyone was glad to get down in the cabin and dry off after our six and a half hour journey. Despite this, we still had some sightings and a lot of acoustic detections. There was a juvenile and an adult gannet that followed us for quite some time, quite a few porpoise, and even a plastic lid that one crew member thought was a sunfish. It was a pretty productive day on the water considering the conditions.
In the evening we had a delicious meal of macaroni and cheese cooked by the first mate and the science officer, followed by a guessing game of marine mammals and a measure of whiskey from the distillery at Isleorensay.

Anchorage: Isleornsay Harbour
Position: 57°09.056’N 005°47.099’W
Distance travelled: 75 metres ???

Today we…. Survived!
We woke up to the prospect of force 9 gales increasing to 10+! The waves were coming towards us in the Harbour (away from the shore).
A great northern diver paid us a visit before our anchorage gave way and we started to drift.
Then the day really got interesting, for us if not for the crew as they valiantly battled the force 10 gale to secure us an anchorage. The Silurian would not take anchorage and the crew were so busy they did not hear the coastguard calling us to ask if help was needed. They answered them they were OK when another message came over the radio for us from a local sailor, who offered us a mooring strong enough to hold us which John the captain willingly accepted.
All the crew came in after two and a half hours battling the horrendous conditions and we spent the rest of the day hunkered down in the harbour until the gales eased in the evening. The time spent eagerly debating the pros and cons of salmon farming. Unfortunately the forecast is not too good for the rest of the night but we are always optimistic for tomorrow!!!
Goodnight from all aboard.

Anchorage: Isleornsay Harbour
Position: 57°09.056’N 005°47.099’W
Distance travelled: 43.8 NM

Today was our second day on the water but our first full day surveying. We had a wonderful dinner of Haggis (complete with Skipper John’s skilful addressing of the Haggis) Saturday night so we had plenty of energy for our longest travel day thus far. We left Tobermory and headed out towards Ardnamurchan, rounding the most westerly point in Britain, in mountainous swells. Heading north towards the Sound of Sleat we passed grand scenery on the Islands of Muck, Eigg, and Rum. Eigg has a massive waterfall down sheer rock cliffs which we passed in sunlight and was spectacularly beautiful! We have ended up anchored off of Isle of Skye and are enjoying a calm dinner after an afternoon of strong, but fun, squalls. Highlights of the day include: Olivia’s panic when seeing the hydrophone cable a meter out of the water (caught in the trough between two of our mountainous swells), the sighting of a bottlenose dolphin a close 3 meters from the boat, three harbour porpoises and hearing our first audio recording of ADD’s which sound like machine guns firing and shrimp “snapping.” Even in the worst the weather threw at us, we had an amazing time and are all very eager to get back out tomorrow. Clearly we are all hooked!