For most yachtsmen one of the great pleasures of cruising is watching wildlife. And if sea birds are fascinating, sea mammals are doubly so - if only because they are so elusive.
But, in our experience anyway, it seems that sightings of porpoises, dolphins and whales - collectively known as cetaceans - are becoming less rare. (It would be stretching the point to say more common.)
It could be because the sea temperature is rising, as part of global warming, but so far we are only talking fractions of a degree, which is probably not enough to make these intelligent creatures rethink their habitat. I am inclined to believe it is because our seas are significantly cleaner than they have been for many decades.
Of course there is still much to be done, to make the seas even safer for these sociable species. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society website offers a wealth of information on everything from identifying cetaceans spotted at sea to campaigning against whaling.
At least 28 species have been recorded in UK waters, from the world's largest animal, the blue whale, to the tiny harbour porpoise. About 20 are regularly seen. Some, such as humpback whales, migrate through our waters. Others, such as the bottlenose dolphin, perhaps the one yachtsmen are most likely to spot, live here all year round.
According to the WCDS, the best places for seeing cetaceans around the British Isles are the north of Scotland, Cardigan Bay and the Irish Sea, and the western Channel. The eastern part of the Channel is a “cetacean depleted area” - although we once saw a playful pod of dolphins right in the middle of the shipping lanes in the Dover Straits ¬- and there are no “hot spots” in the North Sea, although again, we have had plenty of sightings, particularly of harbour porpoises and short-beaked dolphins, off the East Coast.
The WDCS admits that it does not know enough about populations, and appeals to everyone who seed whales and dolphins to report their sightings. This is important, they say, “no matter what the species or where you see it.” The information is valuable in building up a picture of what is happening to whale and dolphin populations around the UK. They also appeal for any good whale or dolphin pictures, especially shots of dorsal fins or whale tails, which can identify known individuals.
Taking pictures of dolphins, even when they are playing in your bow wave, is not that easy, because they move so fast, and surface and dive so quickly. In the past I have taken countless pictures of rings in the water where a dolphin has just disappeared. But now I have discovered that with a digital camera, you can put it on mini-movie mode, and go for freeze frame!
To help amateur spotters to help them, the WCDS has produced a free field guide, and also the world's first in depth identification key. Visit www.wdcs.org/sightingsto get your copy.
It's a well put together website with lots of information about the dangers facing cetaceans - entanglement in fishing nets, human disturbance, pollution, damage to habitats, reduced prey resources and collision with vessels, as well as hunting - as well as positive steps we can all take to help protect them.
Mind you, some of the advice about what to do if you see marine mammals from a boat is unrealistic. Never go within 100m, it says. But how can you help it, when one of the most appealing thing about dolphins is that they like to come and play “chicken” in your bow wave, with seemingly only inches to spare?
