Basking Shark

After a summer spent looking for a good view of a basking shark which started on the west coast the voyage went full circle. Finally this afternoon on our own doorstep at Findhorn conditions were perfect if not for a sail but for spotting. We set out in my Wayfarer dinghy at about 4 pm powered by our little two stroke engine out of the mouth of the River Findhorn against the flood tide. About an hour out, after one or two false alarms of birds which took to the air, we spotted our shark. Not one but at least four. Suddenly we were surrounded by these extraordinary fish. At a length in excess of 20 feet they dwarfed our little dinghy. By now the engine was off and we relied upon a gentle breeze to manoeuvre at a safe distance. We drifted around these fish awestruck for the best part of 30 mins before using the gentle breeze to run back home under spinnaker before the tide turned and dusk set in. A truly amazing experience. See more here