GateWAy Blog

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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Hi Everyone

We had a wonderful day of whale watching yesterday.  Our guests so enjoyed it I thought I would let them tell you about it.
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Every morning on Albany Whale Tours “Sail-A-Way”, eager adventure-seekers meet to look for whales.  Every morning, the skipper ‘chairs’ the meeting ….weather…wind direction….wave action…the whales, sighted from the hill…and the adventure seekers design the trip and make their votes. (more…)

This third week of June, we have enjoyed wonderful displays by Humpbacks.  Sad to say for our land-based watchers, the whales are still staying way, way out beyond the islands marking the Sound ……   but….. we are seeing them every day.  As if to use their saved energy, the whales are often breaching and tail-slap caressing.

Every day too….hundreds of dolphins just as intent on playing with the whales, and the whales…they’re still curious about us and our boat, generally cruising by quite close ….. a mark of the human’s attractiveness, as the Humpbacks have to interrupt their honeymoon smooching to check us out!

‘Sail-A-Way’ is having to stay out on a long trip to locate these distant creatures, so we are taking extra complimentary hot food…   Halal for our Muslim guests; Pork free for the Jewish community; vegetarian for the vegetarians and pies, sausage rolls, scones and tea and coffee a plenty for all.

Thanks for this news from Albany Whale Tours;

http://www.albanygateway.com.au/details/albany-whale-tours-sail-a-way-catamaran-cruises.html

We have already received 86 entries in the competition which is fantastic, however it did cause a problem over the weekend because our mailbox quota did not allow any new entries to be received.

If you entered in the competition over the weekend and cant see your photo in the competition gallery, we have not received it so can you please re-enter it and we will add to the competition.

"Great Southern at Work" Winning entry taken by Colin Richardson

In April last year, the Great Southern at Work photo competition was hosted on Albany GateWAy.  This competion was held in partnership with the Great Southern Development Commission.  Click here to see all winners; “Great Southern at Work”

“Great Southern People on the Go” is the theme of this year’s digital photo competition.

Keen photographers in the Great Southern have a new opportunity to showcase their work and win up to $400 from a prize pool of $1000. (more…)

Great Southern Wine & Food Festival

The Great Southern Wine and Food Festival has moved to April and teamed up with the Harboursound Music Festival to produce a festival that takes advantage of the mild autumn weather and quality entertainment available in Albany at the time.

The major tasting event on Sunday 18 April showcases twenty of the best Great Southern wineries, regional produce and encore performances from some of the international and national entertainment provided through the Harboursound Music Festival.

‘We’ve moved the Festival from December to April to coincide with Harboursound,’ said Great Southern Wine Producers’ Association (GSWPA) Executive Officer John Gates, ‘this should give both Festivals a better chance of sustainability and help to turn autumn in the Great Southern into a really exciting Festival season’.

‘With Harboursound concerts and workshops and GSWPA member satellite events scheduled over the whole weekend, this will be a great weekend to be in Albany’, he said.

The Festival will be held in and around a large marquee on the Grassy Knoll in central Albany on Sunday 18 April. Details are available from www.greatsouthernwines.com.au.

Probably in my case it’s more exciting, and it has been going on for months.

Can you imagine what it is like to get all these little bags, some not so little bags and boxes, given to you on a regular bases, well I do, and it is very exciting.

Majority of people will think I am strange, different or straight out crazy, yes some of it is true, but I don’t mind as I continue to collect all my treasures given to me so generously. (more…)