Colin G Barnes

Originally published by Colin Barnes on his Cork Whale Watch “Skippers Log” in October 2019 — this post gives a skippers-eye view of the fate of forage fish off the West Cork coast, from someone who’s been at the business end of the issue for decades, both as a long-time commercial fisherman and one of Ireland’s most experienced whale-watching operators.

Forty years ago today, was the day the Fastnet yacht race was in full swing, with 303 boats entered. The race was suddenly turned into a maritime disaster by an extraordinary meteorological event, that produced hurricane force winds and gigantic waves, which ploughed right through the track of the race, leading to the loss of 19 lives and 5 yachts of the 24 that were abandoned in the storm. The ensuing rescue effort was the largest marine rescue ever organised in peace time.

We are frequently asked by customers why we are cancelling a trip, when the weather seems to be so nice where they are? We hope this will help explain why we cancel such a high number of trips…. even in summer. The north east Atlantic is famously a place of very changeable and unsettled weather and rough seas. Ireland itself is notorious for its rainy and unpredictable weather.