GateWAy Blog

Thirty three passengers, floating….. still….. in Princess Royal Harbour channel yesterday morning.  Some may have been on board ‘Sail-A-Way’ as a result of your recommendation:  thank you.

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We love being tourists in our own region.  So many exciting and interesting things to do, touch and taste.  We made a stop at the Elephants Rock Cider Factory. We had an unforgettable experience tasting various ciders at Denmark’s first cider factory – Apple & Pear, Pear, Apple, Sweet Apple, Strawberry, Apple Ginger and Oaked Scrumpy. We had to try them all. The cider factory is also home to the toffee factory, ‘bit on the side’ (which is a range of gourmet sauces, preserves, chutneys) and a ½ kilo ice cream cone. We had to try it all. We bought some pickled garlic, asparagus chutney and some mayo’s. Of course we also took home a selection of ciders. (more…)

Hi Everyone

No whale information for a month…too long…SORRY!  Still finding the ‘right’ words is difficult.

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G’day Everyone

Saturday 14th:  In the morning; 37 passengers, watching twelve Southern Right Whales moving in pairs very slowly, quietly waiting it seems, hushed humans on all Middleton Beach and Boardwalk lookouts, hushed humans on boats.

In the afternoon:  27 passengers floating still and silent.  Sail-A-Way on a leaden ocean – no wind – no waves – no sun – no sound – and all around Southern Rights drifting closer and closer to our yacht and its people.

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One of the many whales relaxing at Middleton Beach

In the last week, there has been many reports of whales at Middleton Beach, just a short drive from the city centre of Albany WA.

Beautiful clear days attract both pods of whales and hundreds of onlookers who all seem to relish time out at Middleton.  We  have even had reports that whales have been so close to the shore that they can hear the whales calling each other.

Thanks to Ilona Diessner who sent us this photo which was taken from a whale watching cruise.

Hi Everyone

Finding whales was not the problem – obeying the law…keeping 100 metres clearance zones was impossible!  The whales wanted Albany’s human company.  At Ellen Cove and Middleton Beach, human land-watchers were watched by whales…floating by…watching them!….interrupting curious glances while caressing their fellow whale companions with tails and flippers….sometimes breaching…seemingly just for fun…and as our boat lay inert…they’d drift over to ‘take a look’ before…more whale caressing, tail caressing, flipper fondling loveliness.  Thirty mesmerized silent people on ‘Sail-A-Way’.
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Hi Everyone

31 July, 9.30 am.

Grey-black, glistening surface water of Princess Royal Harbour….two black humped shapes metres apart, breaking the glisten, making barely a ripple….only the still wraith-mist of their breath hanging in the still air….300 metres away, on the other side of the channel….5 Southern Rights absolutely different, absolute fascinating.
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Hi Everyone

I thought I would give you a precis of the wonderful recent sightings we have had.

For the past three days I have left “Sail-A-Way” saying “that was the best whale sighting I have ever had….breaching, tail-slapping, close-up encounters, and whales, whales, whales…everywhere!

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Hi Everyone

Yesterday a Southern Right became very curious about our “Sail-A-Way”…just outside the channel by the lookout.  My guests loved its curiosity and gentle sighs as it responded to our music.  I thought of the shore-bound watchers and wondered if our information could help them get past their fears of sea-sickness.
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