| Thursday 11 August |
Mid-season, and in Albany, whales collide and push and slap....as if there is not enough water for all - like humans really.
Two hundred metres off Middleton Beach today, and a pod of 6 Humpbacks were heaving their 40-ton bulk through the water surface....making hills as they charged about chasing each other. We saw it coming....turned off our motors and sat...waiting.
The leader saw us - changed direction - then charged at our beam, right where it reads "Whale Watching boat"! The others followed....hills of water makiing the top of a letter 'T', the whale's body making the vertical stroke: all on the move at 16 to 20 kilometres an hour. "Sail-A-Way" rocked....a boat 10 tons and 27 feet wide. Five minutes of drastic, boiling water all around....then tranquillity, as the 'lust' pack dashed on.
I'm glad I had witnesses! 27 of us - 4 being our crew - stared at each other in awe. In the old days we'd have 'had a Bex and a hot cup of tea"...but in the modern world...we sat on the tranquil ocean in beautiful King George Sound watching it again on our digital cameras.
Then, by unanimous decision we set off on a 'whales in beauty' drift and motor round the islands and Bald Head.
I asked one lady why she wept. Her answer...."the beauty makes it hard to go home".
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| Wednesday 10 August |
Plenty of whales around today. M id Sound there were 3 Humpbacks; 2 Southern Rights close to shore at Bald Head; 3Humpbacks - 2 adults and 1 calf near Limestone Head and then on the way back to shore we saw 3 more Humpbacks - one very quiet mother lying very still at the surface and, alongside, one very young very active calf. We think the mother may have recently given birth and was recovering. |
| Tuesday 9 August |
A day of long searching and finally caught up with 3 Humpbacks including a mother and calf. Received a friendly telephone call from a local on shore that there were 2 Southern Rights very near the channel, but by the time we reached that spot they had vamoosed!! |
| Monday 8 August |
Wow! An energetic display near Breaksea Island. 20 Humpbacks including a mother and young calf...much breaching and tail slapping. Sightings of Dolphins and seals made the trip perfect. |
| Sunday 7 August |
Leaving the jetty we cruised out through the channel and headed out towards Nanarup where our look-out 'spotter' spied encouraging activity. Sure enough, there were 3 Southern Rights frolicking off Herald Point. After a while we cruised over towards Michaelmas and Breaksea Islands where 3 Humpbacks were lolling about. Such great sightings. |
| Saturday 6 August |
We sailed from Skippy reef to Gull rock and sighted 6 Southern Rights. They are amongst the first for the season and a welcome sight. South west of Michaelmas Island there were two Humpbacks. |
| Friday 5 August |
Apologies! We have had problems with our computer crashing, hence the delay in entering sightings. We are now back and able to bring these sightings more up-to-date.
Wonderful photos were possible today with a close-up sighting of 5 Humpbacks, including a mother and young calf.
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Monday 25 July
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Skippers Tony and John have combined sea experience of over 50 years and today another first.
Eight humpbacks appeared immediately behind Sailaway as she quietly sailed the waters between Bald Head and Breaksea Island....although that was unusual because the whales crept up unnoticed to be very
close - what was strange was what happened next.
Matching 'Sail-A-Way's' speed, those animals kept absolutely close company beside the boat - sometimes forging ahead to pass in front, then dropping back to the other side - each passenger sure that their company was being sought by the whales; a small cross-species period of companionship along the migration march of thousands of kilometres.
Each person sure that the company of the other was a result of intention. Whooshing of 40 tons breathing ....breathless silence, then murmuring joy on the boat. Short moments but a lifetimes memories of wishes met.
The 2011 whale season is half over - everyday the passing Humpbacks, some breaching, some dashing, some smoothly porpoising, some gliding - all passing east to west before turning north, on retreat to WA's tropics, spending short moments with Albany's guests during their passing.
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Saturday 23 July
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Two trips today with many excited passengers. 15 humpbacks seen between Breaksea Island and Bald Head....very active, and very close to the boat. The afternoon trip was just as successful with 10 Humpbacks being sighted. Guests were all charmed!
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Thursday 21 July
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Twelve Humpbacks seen today between Breaksea Island and Bald Head. They seemed to be courting couples - in 3 pods. Wonderful sighting...many breaches.
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Wednesday 20 July
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On our outward trip we saw 15 Humpbacks mid Sound, 2 hear the Cheynes hulk, 6 at Bald Head, 2 at Breaksea Island and 3 more south of Breaksea. So wonderful to encounter so many pods of Humpbacks.
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Tuesday 19 July
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Two trips again today. In the morning 12 humpbacks were seen at Bald Head and Jimmy Newhills Harbour, while in the afternoon we saw 12 humpbacks in King George Sound. Not sure if they were the same whales or different ones.
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Monday 18 July
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At Michaelmas Island we saw 9 Humpbacks, 4 more at the back of Breaksea Island and a further 5 in King George Sound.
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Sunday 17 July
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The school holidays have brought many aspiring whale watchers to Albany. Sail-A-Way did two trips today. Once more 8 Humpbacks at Bald Head. Big swells in the ocean, many seals sighted on Breaksea Island and dolphins kept us company for a long time. Magnificent breaching by the Humpbacks; one incredible breach just 40 metres in front of the boat in the afternoon.
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Saturday 16 July
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Much leaping and tail slapping by the 9 Humpbacks near Bald Head.
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Thursday 14 July
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Great sightings today of 8 Humpbacks near Bald Head. Viewed one very big breach.
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Tuesday 12 July
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Sailed out to 5 fathom...encountered 2 Humpbacks...a calm and peaceful sighting. At Bald Head many whales were breaching...sighted 10 ...wonderful close breaches. One Humpback was airborne, then performed a complete revolution before landing with a huge splash. Magnificent! We saw 4 more Humpbacks near the mussel farm adjacent to Whale World on the trip back home.
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Mon 11 July
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We head out to Bald Head most days, as that is where we are most likely to see these travelling Humpbacks...where the water is rough and turbulent. Two humpbacks near Breaksea Island and we following them towards Bald Head where we saw a Leopard spotted calf.
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Sun 10 July
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Bald Head and Jimmy Newhills Bay were the places to be today. One Humpback stayed with us for 35 minutes, and though we sighted 14 Humpbacks and many breaches, not many whales came close to the vessel today.
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Sat 9 July
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Many sightings today...2 Humpbacks at Bald Head; 4 Humpbacks breaching around by Peak head with 6 Humpbacks, (2 adults and 4 juveniles) viewed. Total of 14, some very good, close sightings.
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| Friday 8 July |
Wonderful sightings of 14 Humpbacks out by Michelmas and Breaksea Islands |
| Thursday 7 July |
Heavy breathing of mammals' amorous energy....You can see the whales from shore - but hearing them is different, especially if they are wooshing past your feet as they chase, in hope, a girlfriend!
On Albany Whale Tours 'Sail-A-Way', our guests's feet are pretty close to the whales as they rush past our boat. Yesterday, some didn't rush - just mooched close by us, making friends....but today!!!
Nine humpbacks by Bald Head - and they were excited! Accepting our stationary presence, they swooped, splashed and accelerated with amazing power as they played 'teenage tag' at water's surface and underneath the boat, within metres of us, for an hour. Albany...what an amazing wilderness!
Today's guests loved it (check out visitor's feedback and comments tab on website, and, of course, some are using our gift of a free return within the next fortnight. Good for Albany! Good for us!
PS Photos and short videos on website.. (says John)....Shortly! (says Forrest...as soon as this 'wrinkly' can get her head around embedding videos from iPhones onto websites!!) Sounds like a spider's lair!!
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| Wednesday 6 July |
Didn't have to travel far today to find the first whales...3 Humpbacks in the middle of the Sound. |
| Tuesday 5 July |
Another early Southern Right and 3 different pods, with 3 - 4 Humpbacks in each. All very active. |
| Monday 4 July |
Once more by Limestone Head we struck it lucky with a pod of 6 Humpbacks including a mother and calf. Beautiful experience. |
| Sunday 3 July |
This time, out near Limestone Head we shared the company of 3 Humpbacks. |
| Saturday 2 July |
Spotters from the hill told us of encouraging activity out by Bald Head...so off we sailed...and they were right: 7 Humpbacks doing their Humpback thing - splashing, rolling and generally delighting the passengers aboard "Sail-A-Way". |
| Friday 1 July |
Wild weather again. No trip today. |
| Thursday 30 June |
15 Humpbacks - tail slapping aggressively and repeatedly in their pod. Then one adult Humpback leapt up...30+ tons...lying horizontal above the water for a few seconds.....then landing in a cascade of white water 40 metres in front of our guests! Spectacular! |
| Tuesday 28 June |
11 Humpbacks - one lying beside "Sail-A-Way"....upside down, showing his white belly...one metre underwater, but never surfacing. While we 'belly watched' 4 more adult Humpbacks mooched quietly by....then a pod of 8 madly dashing about in the company of dolphins. Enchanting!
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| Monday 27 June |
12 Humpbacks...4 calm and quiet and closeby...8 very active...breaching and one little one thrown into the air...tail pointing to the clouds. |
| Sunday 26 June |
12 or more Humpbacks on Orrca Whale Census Day - a day of Australia-wide whale census. Much breaching. |
| Saturday 25 June |
5 Humpbacks - breaching. Wonderful seals...but the best was the wonderful, wonderful passengers. 18 lovely people being kind to each other in the ocean wilderness. John and Anke loved the 'boat people' coming. |
| Friday 24 June |
5 Humpbacks - 3 breaching high into the air. 1 young calf and its mum on the western edge of Breaksea Island. |
| Thursday 23 June |
7 Humpbacks in a small pod off Bald Head. They swam up to 'Sail-A-Way' as they journeyed north and west. |
| Wednesday 22 June |
Wow! 35 Humpbacks - 6 in the Sound, 25 more further out with visible body counts and anaother 4 identified by their blows. One enormous breach at our stern. |
| Tuesday 21 June |
The first sighting of Southern Rights for the season - 2 juveniles stayed close to us for a long time! |
| Monday 20 June |
Wild and windy, so we sat by the fire!! |
| Sunday 19 June |
2 Humpbacks, a juvenile and an adult, were sighted |
| Saturday 18 June |
The weather was still rough and windy, too rough to enjoy, but we saw 2 Humpbacks breaching. Despite the sighting, everybody received a pass to come back again...free! |
| Friday 17 June |
A mother and calf Humpback came close to check us out. |
| Tuesday 14 June to Thursday 16 June |
Wild stormy weather has enveloped the south coast with gale force winds. Sadly, no trips out, though we did have a few keen takers. Happily they can come back in a day or two. |
| Monday 13 June |
Three Humpbacks encountered in the outer channel and two more at Bald Head. It was a reasonable viewing but the water was very disturbed. |
| Sunday 12 June |
Off again. Eight Humpbacks this time near Bald Head and Breaksea Island. Much breaching and several 'mosey's' over by them to check us out. |
| Saturday 11 June |
And again, we could not go out. We are champing at the bit! |
| Friday 10 June |
Bad weather keeps 'Sail-A-Way' at the jetty. |
| Thursday 9 June |
Once more we see the Humpbacks at Bald Head; three of them and a great viewing. |
| Wednesday 8 June |
Four Humpbacks out by Bald Head, breaching actively. |
| Tuesday 7 June |
Two Humpbacks - a mother and calf at Limestone Head. Two more at Bald Head. 1 magnificent breach in front of vessel.
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| Monday 6 June |
Beautiful and brutal!
For quite a while now, my passengers and I have been wondering why the whales are reluctant to be still. Only the big ones have remained calm and steady: the juveniles and calves extremely flighty...quick to dive and flee.
Today, 2 kilometres south east of Bald Head, we found out why.
For an hour we watched Orcas in a ferocious display of nature at work. Totally disregarding our vessel, they carved their giant 'scimitar' dorsal fins - harrassing a mother Humpback, a juvenile and calf. Multiple breaches by the juvenile Humpback did not stop the attack. One of the smaller Orcas would occasionally be caught and thrown into the air by the extraordinary strength of the desperate mother. For an hour, water off Bald Head was threshed white with the black-bodied battles.
We had to leave, but the 25 passengers had some sophisticated camera equipment and we expect some startling photos to follow. Watch this Space!
PS We encountered between 5 and 7 Humpbacks, but most of the sightings were brief....no time for us!
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| Sunday 5 June |
Distant blows at Bald Head. 1 brief sighting. At Michelmas there were 2 juvenile and 1 humpback calf. The juvenile had a two colour tail - half black, half white. Two very large Humpbacks stayed very close to the vessel for a long time. Good sighting. |
| Saturday 4 June |
Four Humpbacks near Michelmas...no breaching, only blows. Three more at Limestone Head...2 juveniles and 1 calf. |
| Friday 3 June |
Three Humpbacks near Limestone Head. Great sighting. |
| Thursday 2 June |
Most sightings are out by Bald Head. Six Humpbacks seen, in pairs. Last two pairs of Humpbacks were very big. |
| Wednesday 1 June |
Six humpbacks...much blowing....very shy. Two came close but they were very brief sightings. |
| Tuesday 31 May |
The last week of May and unlike any other year, we are at sea....whale watching. This year the Humpbacks are returning early. Yesterday we saw separate breaches, bodies and breathing of 15 whales.
Most of the travelling pairs of animals were 1 big and 1 small - for me a surprise as I watched energetic calves beside their mothers - showing themselves weeks earlier than I would expect.
Unsurprisingly, most of these mothers were shy, quick to sound and disappear below the waves, although on Sunday, two adults were more trusting, passing us 30 metres from our boat as they cruised 500 metres from Middleton Beach. Much joy for our passenger travellers.
We now cruise once every day, and so far, on every day we have enjoyed the company of the Humpbacks.
Peter Collins from the Department of Environment and Conservation, talks of the early whales being in poor condition but we have noticed that the later whales seem healthier....anxious times.
We love the company of other whale watchers and leave at 9.30 am from our wonderful new marina.
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| Monday 30 May |
Strong winds today. Mid Sound we found many dolphins, and passed the seals on Breaksea Island. 2 Humpbacks; 3 beautiful breaches; 2 small calves and an albatross. Total of 15 whales in all sighted. All very excited. |
| Sunday 29 May |
Total of 8 Humpbacks sighted during tour. Much breaching. |
| Saturday 28 May |
2 Humpbacks ten metres in front of our boat. Dolphins playing with whales...wonderful start to season! |