With the Stena Europe currently undergoing its annual refit, The Stena Nordica is servicing the route from Fishguard to Rosslare. Sea Trust Volunteers Steve Rosser and Hannah Harries met Captain Delaney aboard the Stena Europe a few weeks ago and he invited us to do surveys aboard the Stena Nordica so with another little weather window presenting itself we took him up on his kind offer.
Its a sleek newer slightly smaller vessel with enclosed bridge wings, which took a little getting used to on the way out. We are not used to dolphin spotting in our shirtsleeves!
The trip out was pretty uneventful except a single porpoise just outside Fishguard Harbour. It gets dark before we get to Rosslare and so the main hope was for the return voyage today
I have to say the crew were great and senior Master Tudor Roberts joined Captain Delaney to make up an A team of officers who did all they could to make us comfortable and welcome. Although conditions were not as calm as we had hoped, sightings strated off with a porpoise just out of Rosslare and then several small pods of Common Dolphins racing in to our bows. Best of all as we were coming into Fishguard a small pod of three Risso's surfaced within 100 metres of our port bow, giving great views as they moved out of our way. It was new volunteer Susie Mcquin's first trip at very short notice and also her first ever dolphins so a great start for her and a great first trip on the Stena Nordica, lets hope we have plenty more of each!