We dedcided it was time think about sailing home. Out time in Scotland had gone very quickly and the autumn weather would soon be upon us. There was so much more to see and do, but that would have to wait for another trip. We left Cambell Town and headed to Stranraer via Ailsa Craig. This very precipitous rock is a Site of Special Scientific interest and a European Special Protection area. Almost 40,000 gannets have been recorded on the rock which amounts to about 5% of the worlds gannet population! As we passed the south west side we could see thousands of gannets sitting on basalt columns, some of the columns being 400 feet in height. Hundreds of gannets were bobbing on the very calm sea, others plunged from the sky into the sea to feed on the fish, whilst many were flying in formation and with wing spans of up to a metre it was a truly awesome sight! As we sailed on into Loch Ryan, Ailsa Craig was bathed in an amber sunset – the perfect end to a wonderful day!
Picture is of a gannet
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