As we moved further out we encountered several more small groups and it seemed there were Dolphins everywhere. The one noticable fact was that there were many calves among all the pods we had encountered. We steamed on, only slowing occasionally as more dolphins came past. The high point came when we met a pod estimated by Cliff and Andy to be in excess of four hundred Commons which seemed to be a nursery pod as there were many many calves and juveniles. For 360deg and almost out to a quarter mile there were fins everywhere and a great deal of leaping and splashing. One animal put on quite a show by leaping several times across the bow and then went around the back of the boat and repeated the feat along the side of the boat moving from stern to bow much to the delight of everyone on deck.
We turned to the north after that in the hopes of seeing tuna or whale but just a few more groups of commons were spotted. Other sightings to note were a Portugese Man of War jelly fish, Great Skua and a single late season Manx Sheerwater. Andy did his bit for the Plastic Ocean event by slowng the boat to remove a large plastic sheet from the water which could easily have ended up in the gut of a turtle or just generally polutting. By this stage the wind was picking up with the wave heights sarting to rise as well so we turned east and headed back toward Skolkholm and then on to the haven. An excellent trip overall in good company and again we must thank skipper Andy and his father Brian for providing the means for us to get out there.
