Fair Isle to Jan Mayen

We took a couple of days to get from Fair Isle to Jan Mayen - so it was time for whale watching and attending a range of really good lectures on board, plus a few paintings and photographs of sea and more sea. 

On the first day we had good views of Long-finned Pilot Whales logging at the surfac, with dorsal fins  that are shaped like the traditional witch's nose. Add to that distant glimpses of Orca dorsal fins. As always we were accompanied by fulmars - some of which are taking their darker northern form. Fabulous to see Whales blowing and breaching too. The lectures were on wildlife photography; Different kinds of waves and Whales. 

Overnight we made good progress heading north,  the temperature is now down to 4 degrees so beginning to drop more. Not brilliant visibility - quite misty in fact. We had a mandatory briefing on safety in the Polar Environment and also on Polar Bear safety - ours rather than theirs this time! A good introductory talk on the Arctic and then the history of Jan Mayen. 

The swell began to increase wit hthe wind so there was concern as to the viability of landing on Jan Mayen. Fingers were crossed! 

Photos are unsurprisingly of the sea! ...and thanks to those who shared their whale photographs..

Northern Bottle-nosed Whale.

The Fin Whale that swam under the ship.

Long-finned Pilot Whales blowing.