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Island Book Trust Flannans Trip |
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 Saturday 19th June saw us take a trip with the Island Book Trust and Radio nan Eiliean to the Flannan Isles.
A great day was had as we left to come across the basking sharks we have been seening for the last 2 weeks, At one point we counted about 20 sharks around the boat. They were large adults too!
Lochlann, our motor cruiser and our two RIBS, Conachar and Seatrek all headed out together 20 miles off shore to the Flannans. It was a lovely sunny day and we reached the Flannans in good time. Unfortunately, due to the swell we weren't able to land passengers onto the Island but they enjoyed a lengthly tour around the islands. The number of Gannets has noticely increased on the Flannans. One of the beautiful things about the
Flannans is how close you can get to the Wildlife and especially the Birds. There are hundreds of Puffins nesting on the Flannans among others.
Seatrek have collaborated with The Island Book Trust a number of times since they began in 2002 and our trips have been extremely popular
Trips coming soon with the Island Book Trust:
3rd July: The Shiants, departing from Lemereway, 10.30am
17th July: Kinloch Resort, departing from Hushinish, 10.30am
For more information about these trips, please contact
Alayne Barton,
Tel: 01851 820946
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 This week (20th July ) we're seeing the largest number of basking sharks we've ever seen in West Loch Roag. There have been up to ten just by the boat at any one time, with estimates of over 50 in the area. The youth club got a good view of them on Thursday night just off Pabbay and between Cliff and Valtos. Everyone has been amazed through the week as we've watched these huge animals, some upto 11metres, drift within feet of us.
We don't know how long they'll be around but come out with us soon for the best chance of seeing them. Any of our trips should pass through where they're hanging out just now.
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Ice Driving in Antarctica |
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 At the end of 2008, and with Seatrek trips over for the season, Murray Macleod went out to work in South Georgia and Antarctica. This is his account.
It all started with a phone call from a colleague, asking if I would consider going down to work in Antarctica with him for a few weeks over winter, their summer, travelling to South Georgia, the Falklands, Antarctica and the Chilean fjords over a period of five weeks in total... and getting paid for it!
A good bit of planning had to be done as you can not turn up in the coldest, stormiest, most remote and harshest climate place on the planet without being thoroughly prepared for the conditions. Clothing is the main issue and as you might expect a dry suit is your best option. With a water temperature of zero degrees, you would not last long in the sea. Crewsaver and Typhoon came to the rescue with their latest breathable dry suits which proved to be a fantastic products, keeping me dry, while all my under layers kept me warm.
My main job was as Zodiac driver to transport people safely about, whether it was to land them safely or for the popular Zodiac cruise, viewing the incredible wild life or around the ice bergs and brash ice. There is a lot to learn about driving boats in Antarctica. My colleague has been down here 10 Antarctic seasons so has vast knowledge of the fast changing conditions, where the temperature can drop 30 degrees in the space of 10 minutes and it is only just above freezing at the best of times! In addition to what we were wearing we carried our dry bag with the essentials: Mars bar, fluids, Gator aid which is the latest liquid on the market and of which we had to drink 2 bottles daily, in order to prevent dehydration.
We also carried GPS, spare batteries, hand held VHF as well as our UHF which we used daily for communications, spare gloves and head gear. When the weather turns bad you need to cover every part of your skin as the cold will freeze your skin: sun block must be non- water based as otherwise it will freeze on your skin in extreme conditions.
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Read more...
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Towing Exercise with the MCA in the Minch |
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During August Lochlann was being used for fast passenger transfer and standby duties. Over the 3 days lochlann ferried personal from all over Europe from Stornoway to the Coastguard Tug Anglian Prince.
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Seatrek worked with the Monty Hall, James Macletchie and the Great escape team on a 2 day project filming out at St Kilda. Glorious weather made the task a lot easier.  For this stint we used our motor cruiser Lochlann to travel out with Monty in his RIB from Uist to St Kilda. It was great to spend a couple of days there with a morning to explore the hills whilst filming ashore. The Seatrek crew also had relative luxery staying aboard Lochlann overnight in Village bay while Monty and James camped. 
Filmed over 2 days in Sep 2009
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In Sep we spent 3 days on St Kilda where we were able to land and climb Boreray, difinitely one of the highlights of the season. Here are a selection of photos taken that day.
Stack Lee from top of Boreray
Lochlann is the tiny spec on the right of Stack Lee |
It was a glorious June up in the Hebrides with endless sunshine and calm seas, we took full advantage of this on our boat trips especially with a couple of amazing days out at the Flannan Isles, we got every-one ashore on Eilean Mor (the main Island) which is a tricky landing at the best of times, but we all managed the leap from boat to rocks and up the steep landing. It was well worth it with incredible views- St Kilda to the west, back to Lewis and Harris to the East and Eilean Mor itself covered in a carpet of Sea pink. But best of all was the many Puffins sitting on rocks in the sun watching us in their comical way and popping out of their burrows, quite unconcerned about us invading for the day. Peering over the cliff edge there was an incredible noise from all the Guillemots and Razobills chatting away to each other from the small ledges they nest on and Fulmars gliding about. Below them some seals were lazing on the rocks, it seemed everyone was enjoying the weather. After lunch and wander round we had time to go into one of the caves on the tender before getting back aboard Lochlann to go and see the Gannetry on Roaireim and then heading home. It's days like this that make this job so good.
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Everyone had fun at the Local Gala day on Reef Beach, Saturday 4th July. The sun was shining, the BBQ was sizzling and Seatrek had rides on offer, whatever your age.
Deep One and Seatrek, our much loved RIBS, offered fast, fun rides for those wanting to get their adrenaline pumping. Donald and Murray sped around the bays pulling doughnuts and other manoevures to the delight of the passengers on board.
Whilst Lochlann, the motor cruiser, presented a more laidback luxury mini-cruise complete with champagne and canapes. A new addition to The Uig Gala Day and received very well: the 30 minutes cruise was fully booked all day. Lochlann toured round the beautiful island of Pabbay where passengers enjoyed the splendid views of the caves, natural arches and wildlife as pointed out by Simon and his two glamourous crewmembers, Judi and Hannah.
 
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