Cliff
asked me to post some anecdotes from our Sea Trust Stena surveys so here we go.
I did
cetacean surveys with the Gower Marine Mammal Group when I stumbled on a
request from Sea Trust for Monitors to assist with a new venture, a Dolphin-Othon in 2005. Well I had never heard of Sea Trust and assumed
it was an offshoot of National Trust with big plush offices and a staff of
thousands. I soon discovered that it was just Cliff and a couple of volunteers working from his home, with his long suffering partner, Freddie taking messages. I joined The Stena Europe on the Wednesday and was to help until
Saturday. I met Cliff to find that he had done every crossing since Saturday
and would complete some 28 consecutive crossings. He was shattered by the end
but I thoroughly enjoyed looking for and showing our public cetaceans from the
bridge followed by a convivial glass of Guinness in the Harbour View.
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| Steve Rosser surveying on Stena Europe Bridge Wing. |
One of my very early memories was when I spotted a 'mystery object' floating some 1/2 mile off. I pointed it out to Cliff with the comment that I had no idea what it was. 'LOGGING! its LOGGING!' shouted Cliff excitedly. 'What are you talking about?' said I still clueless as to what was going on. It was a Risso’s floating motionless on the surface taking in large quantities of air to oxygenate its blood before a deep dive, (or perhaps just having a snooze!) A process known as logging.
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| A Risso's Dolphin Logging. |
Anyone
who has ever done a ferry survey with us will know there is one golden rule. The
first 1/2 mile or so out, and the last 1/2 mile in, are regarded as the RED
zone. Do not under any circumstances talk to any of the crew on the bridge.
While all the officers and others working on the Bridge have always given us a
really good welcome, maneuvering in and out of port is a time of utmost concentration
and they do not need distractions. I don't think Cliff has ever obeyed a rule
in his life, but this one is totally respected by him as are any instructions
from the crew! It is an immense privilege to be allowed up there with such professionals.
Well
after a year or so, Cliff asked me to lead a survey so this was to be my first as leader..
All went well on the outward leg, a pleasant evening, a good night’s sleep
followed by a hearty breakfast. Off we go up to the Bridge, well before sailing. We
count the Black Guillemots in Rosslare harbour and then the mooring ropes are
retrieved and we ever so gently move from the quay. We had not gone 10 metres
when the door to the main Bridge is flung open and the Captain is standing
there looking quite wild eyed. What have we done?? Worried we had in some way
offended the captain and we would be banned forever, all my fault… I was
somewhat relieved when the excited captain shouted, “What sort off geese are
those flying overhead?” Six Brent Geese were flying past, “Brent Geese” I
answered, and so, no, I did not get Sea Trust banned. on my first trip as leader.
In
November 2008 we were having a quiet time when Cliff returned from inside with
a mug of tea.for me. "Get your camera ready" he requested before nipping back into the
Bridge. He returned wearing Captain Dai Williams uniform hat....Captain Benson.
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| Salty old sea Dog looking the part! |
In July 2011 we had an event that brought all the Bridge staff out to watch and Captain Bob Wheel muttering that he had never seen anything like that in thirty years at sea!. We believe that there was a minke sleeping on the surface and that Stena Europe nearly collided with it. It was only the quick thinking of the helmsman that prevented us hitting the whale. What is certain is that we proved that Minke's can swim at 18 knots (22 mph) over short distances, because it chased us like a dog chasing a motorbike, porpoising like a massive dolphin alongside, bursting through our wake. It kept up the chase for at least 5 minutes. A truly incredible sight!
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A ten ton Minke Whale chasing the Stena Europe! . You can just make out the pointed rostrum bursting through the spray and the white patch on its flipper!
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