SEA SHEPHERD

Page 250: "When the Ship hits the Fan"

Like a lot of professional Australian seafarers I donated my time (rather than money) to drive the Sea Shepherd ships anywhere and everywhere. I did only the jobs I wanted to do; there were some I didn’t want to be involved with, and Sea Shepherd management were always very understanding. I met a lot wonderful, hard working people; friends for life, and a fair share of arseholes too! A chimpanzee could take a modern ship from A to B nowadays (in hindsight - perhaps a bit harsh !!!) – but it’s a bit different with an older ship with limited equipment and a well-meaning but totally inexperienced crew. They do a mighty job, and they do it for free. Operating out of Aberdeen and Lerwick (Shetland Islands) and around the fiords in the Faroes was interesting, especially with the Discovery Channel Whale Wars film crew onboard! And I finally got to see a Puffin!

Bridgitte Bardot, a 35m 41 tonne trimaran, was originally named Cable and Wireless Adventurer and she was built for the purpose of circumnavigating the world in less than 80 days. She did this in 1998 in 74 days, 20 hours, 58 minutes, traveling more than 22,600 nautical miles (41,855 km). 2 x 370 kW (500 hp) QSC Cummins 27 knots (50.0 km/h) and a range 3,500 nautical miles

Steve Irwin (I never liked the name!) was originally a Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency enforcement patrol boat, the FPV Westra, for 28 years. 60m 900 tonne with 2 x British Polar 12-cylinder 2,100 bhp (1,600 kW), driving a single variable-pitch propeller. She’s now laid up in Williamstown after a working life of over 40 years – a mighty ship!

Approaching Torshavn, coming up from Aberdeen

Running around the fiords in the Faroe Islands

Telescopic helicopter hangar

Bridgitte Bardot paid for it so it carries her name

Lerwick Harbour made us shift out of the port for the Tall Ships visit - nice pub just up the road!

Our own helicopter, but Discovery Channel used it for filming 'Whale Wars' series

In the fiords; that little speck is our ship.

mowing the lawn in Torshavn

Welcoming Committee, nothing new here!

Writ on the mast from Lord Mackay - $1M fixed the problem

The Bosuns drums in the focal store

Pretty big coppers in Torshavn...!

WTF does that mean ? Still don't know !

Nice walk to the pub, and the ferry across to Lerwick, Shetland Is

Just a castle in the middle of the road..!

Shetland Island = Shetland ponies

Beautiful fiords

Shot into Vestmanna for crew change - and the pub

Little bit tight - lead lights were turned off too (probably on purpose)

10PM and still daylight - off to the pub!!

Ready for the run back to Aberdeen - and bad weather

Had to wear this sound pack every day for Discovery Channel

Bucket list item for me, to see a Puffin !

At Sumburgh Head lighthouse, Shetland Is.

Leaving Lerwick after being released - Bosun banging on his drum! Town gave us a nice farewell !

Time lapse of camp paint job on Bob Barker