Boating Fun in Salcombe

Regatta Raft Race 2010

2010-08-09T03:30:00.000-07:00

This year we went for plastic containers rather than the heavy metal drums we used last year...in the hope that we'd be more streamlined.

Will it work??
Looking good with Meg on board - it floats!!!

Our staff, Mike Molly, Ben and Jack arrive from working at Whitestrand at 5.30pm just in time for the race start. Only one of them was sensible enough to wear a wetsuit!!!

But as soon as the whole crew boarded, the raft seemed strangely low in the water.

And our dreams of beating the lifeboat crew were crushed

Everyone was well and truly drenched.....fancy a swim?!

Star Runner

2010-08-09T03:27:00.000-07:00

The overall of Salcombe Regatta's 5km Fun Run was none other than......Whitestrand's very own ..... BEN WIMPORY! Well done to Ben who finished the run in a ridiculous 20 something minutes. Anna followed with Daisy the choc lab in 35 mins (we were the third dog to cross the line though!!!)

Staff fishing trip

2010-08-01T10:21:00.001-07:00

Class of 2010

Ben, Cam, Megan, Mike, Max, The Boss, Charlie and Molly

Class of 2010 all went mackerel fishing with mixed success (!) - Max, Megan and Mike all had a lesson driving Calypso and everyone caught fish except....Max unfortunately. Even Megan caught her first ever fish, although she refused to touch them!Molly caught one mackerel eventually hoorah, and Chris quietly caught the most, about 8 of them, so at least we had something to eat on the BBQ that evening.

Great big Sharks caught off Calypso!!!!

2010-07-07T02:59:00.001-07:00

The fisherman onboard Calypso got a suprise whist out fishing on Saturday. Amongst their catch of plenty of mackerel and Pollock, they managed to net two Spurdog's. Spurdog's are a species of shark and are usually found in warmer waters (above 10c.) This must be a sure sign that our waters are getting warmer!? These type of dog-fish are commonly found in all areas of the Mediterranean. Mackerel are a popular food source for Spurdog's, so it is no suprise why they were swimming around Calypso!!

In the photos you can see Reggie the skipper (in red!) proudly showing off his catch along with another happy customer, who had expected to just catch Mackerel!

All the Surdog's were put back into the sea so that more people can have the excitement of catching and seeing them.

Merlin Rockets arriving

2010-07-02T00:53:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the start of Salcombe's infamous Merlin Rocket week - things get a little more lively here on the water as all the boats race throughout the week. Five of our regular customers sail their boats in this regatta, and we try to follow who is winning out of the Whitestrand Boat Hire crews.......Wicked, Slippery when wet, General Lee, Blalck Pearl and3488. So if you see them sailing out and about give them a wave from us!!!

Lets hope they have some good conditions this week and enjoy the week's sailing.

Dolphins!

2010-06-29T00:15:00.000-07:00

This weekend some people were lucky enough to see dolphins at South Sands. There were approx 6 bottlenose, all being quite acrobatic and doing lots of aerial displays and jumps. These cracking photos were taken by Vicky and Alex on Saturday afternoon.

Unfortunately some motor boats were getting too close trying to get close for the sake of a photograph - all cetaceans (dolphins, porpoises and whales) are protected by law and boats should not get closer than 100m unless approached by the dolphins themselves. Dolphins can get intrigued by moving propellors and get seriously damaged. Best thing to do is to get in the vicinity (driving the boat in a straight line at a constant and slow speed) and then just turn off your engine and watch as they swim.....who knows they might come closer and you'll be in for a real treat!

This small pod of dolphins then headed out over the Bar, and East along the coast past East Prawle towards Start Point.

The water has been extremely warm recently and we also spotted a lot of Compass Jellyfish in the estuary, up South Pool creek and in the shallows.

NEW ferry to Kingsbridge and gorgeous sunshine

2010-06-26T00:43:00.000-07:00

The sun has been shining for days here in Salcombe - it was already 18 degrees by about 7.30am this morning! And the water has been flat calm too, perfect for boating. Long may it continue (even though when Wimbledon starts the weather normally changes!)

Whitestrand is also proud to now be the booking office for the new version of the Kingsbridge-Salcombe ferry service. The Salcombe River Boat Company runs from Whitestrand pontoon to Kingsbridge quay most days but times depend on the tide.

Ticket prices start at £6 for adult (single) and £4.50 for child (single). Please see the website for more details www.salcomberiverboats.co.uk

You can book tickets in our shop, so why not sit back and enjoy the scenery with someone else at the helm.

Blue Calypso - Nothing to do with the Election

2010-06-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has been fishing with us recently might notice Calypso had a slight colour change recently. Up until Easter it was red. Now it is a lovely marine blue colour, and we'd like to reassure our customers that this is NOT a political statement in any way shape or form. But we do think she looks very smart now and she has been catching plenty of mackerel so far this season (and even seen dolphins earlier in the spring).

Plus for those of you not so sure what to do with your fish once you have caught them, we have some tasty tried and tested recipes that we like for you to take home at the end of a fishing trip. Yummy!

Introducing.....Staff busy at work at Whitestrand!

2010-06-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

On the water pics of our staff at work in the sunshine!!! Max (above) is one of our regular boatman, and Reggie (below) is one of our Calypso skippers for the fishing trips - but he's more commonly known to us as Shrek!!!

Salcombe Festival

2010-06-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

Well we've had a busy weekend at Whitestrand which was the hub for a lot of the Salcombe Festival activity - music on stage and lots of boat action on the water. The sun has been out all weekend (until 5.30pm this evening when rain started pouring just as the last performers, the brass band, had finished performing!).

Chris was on the Festival Committee this year, in charge of organising a lot of the 'on the water' activities. Bang and Go Back Race was a great success yesterday with 21 classic diesel/Brit/Stuart Turner engine launches all taking part. Many boats were decorated with bunting, some crew dressed up (one crew came as Darth Vadar and friends) and everyone had a lot of fun.

Following Bang and Go Back, we had rowing races and also sculling races - Tim Strete was a star sculler! And rowers of all ages turned up to take part. Hopefully next year we'll build on our numbers and have more heats so if you own a lovely rowing boat that doesn't get used enough, come along next year and get involved!!!

Also, Pegasus (above) looked fab on the estuary and led the sail past on Sunday with some of the gorgeous steam boats - we are so grateful to everyone for all their efforts and hope to see them and possibly more classic boats back next year in Salcombe.

Happy Earth Day

2010-04-22T02:45:00.000-07:00

Today is Earth Day - people all around the world are taking part. This year is the environmental movement's 40th anniversary. Be a part of it, find out more at http://www.earthday.org/

Earth Day Network was founded on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment. The mission is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to promote a healthy, sustainable environment. More than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world.

Dolphins spotted at the Bar

2010-04-21T04:44:00.000-07:00

All onboard our Mackerel Fishing Trip this morning had a real treat when Tank the skipper spotted approximately 12 dolphins!!

The dolphins were playing around at the mouth of the estuary before making their way back out to sea with the outgoing tide.

Hopefully the dolphins will be back soon for us to enjoy watching from a distance!

Plankton under the Microscope

2010-04-17T01:34:00.000-07:00

PHYTOPLANKTON

Maya took home the plankton 'seafood soup' we collected on Thursday's Sea Safari and popped it under her microscope - look what we found! Amazing pictures just go to show the water in our estuary is very much ALIVE!

TINY BABY LOBSTER

JELLY OR ALIEN???

FISH EGG

Devilled Mackerel Recipe

2010-04-17T00:59:00.000-07:00

Stuck with how to cook your catch???

Try this yummy recipe for Devilled Mackerel (and more recipes will be on this blog soon, and if you have your own recipes to recommend, why not send them in to us info@whitestrandboathire.co.uk)

Serves 4
Ready in 30 mins

You will need:
4 mackerel, gutted
25g butter
1/2 tsp cayenne
1 tsp paprika
1tsp English mustard
1tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp brown sugar
Lemon wedges, new potatoes and green salad to serve

1. Preheat oven to 200C/180C fab/Gas 6. Cut 3 or 4 diagonal slashes on one side of each mackerel. Put in an ovenproof dish with cut side up.

2. Mix butter wit cayenne, paprika, mustard, balsamic vinegar and sugar. Spread a little in the slashes on the mackerel and then spread any leftover paste inside.

3. Bake for 20 mins or until cooked. Serve with lemon wedges, new potatoes and a green salad.

YUMMY!!! Let us know what you think (you can comment below!)

Sea Safari Success!!!

2010-04-15T12:14:00.000-07:00

Wow what a day, both Maya and I (and our lovely families onboard) came away from todays trip with a real buzz. The 2 hour 'marine biology' trip was a first for Whitestrand (and probably for Salcombe!) - engaging, inspiring and lots of fun for everyone onboard.

Everything from a hydrophone to listen out for dolphin sounds, gannets diving to catch fish, Maya showed us a massive fan mussel (very rare and Salcombe is a hotspot) and a lovely dried seahorse she once found on the strandline.

Even our skipper Tom learnt a few new things about mackerel! And then at the end we checked our plankton net and were amazed to find so many tiny little critters in the seemingly clear water - and we have these tiny phytoplankton to thank for every second breath we take - they produce over half the atmospheric oxygen.

So Maya and I are both going to synchronise calendars and get lots more dates for Sea Safari trips in the diary for the summer school holidays....watch this space or contact our shop for details and how to book.

Thanks to all who came along today - we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did, and remember, isn't it lucky all boys don't change to girls at the age of 4 (like the funny cushion starfish do!!!)

Salcombe Sea Safari - This Week!!!

2010-04-13T01:02:00.000-07:00

New for 2010, Anna at Whitestrand Boat Hire is collaborating with Learn to Sea's local marine biologist, Maya Plass, to offer a unique guided tour of the estuary.
Salcombe Sea Safari - Thursday 15th April 10am-12 noon, other dates TBC.
Come aboard Calypso and discover what lies beneath the waves.
Enjoy a guided tour of your coastal and marine environment in Salcombe estuary!

Family fun for the school holidays - £15 per adult, £10 per child under 16.

LIMITED SPACES - BOOKING ESSENTIAL
01548-843818 info@whitestrandboathire.co.uk

Eat sustainably caught fish!!!

2010-04-05T08:54:00.000-07:00

Try catching your own dinner on one of our mackerel fishing trips, now running on board Calypso. There's nothing like the yummy taste of fresh mackerel cooked on the BBQ! Watch this space for recipes....

We encourage all our customers to only catch what they are going to eat, so we don't waste fish, and we throw any small fish back into the water so they can go on to breed.

Also, if you plan on buying fish or eating in restaurants, why not take a look at the Good Fish Guide - this is a really useful way of deciphering exactly which fish species are sustainably fished and not endangered. And you can always ask where and how the fish was caught before you buy! Local and seasonal produce is always best.

http://www.fishonline.org/information/MCSPocket_Good_Fish_Guide.pdf

And to find out more about fishing worldwide, The End of the Line is a great documentary which really hits home why we should ACT NOW!!! http://endoftheline.com/

Finding Sanctuary - calling all estuary users!

2010-04-05T01:57:00.001-07:00

Whitestrand Boat Hire recently met up with Finding Sanctuary to discuss our use of Salcombe estuary and the surrounding coastline, as part of a region-wide move to calculate where best to position Marine Conservation Zones.

We detailed where exactly Calypso goes to sea and how often it goes to sea each month, plus numbers of hire boats month by month and where most of them land, beach and anchor. We are keen to minimise our impact on the estuary, so it felt important we actively contributed to this process.

Finding Sanctuary will collate all of this information with similar mapping information from boat users from across the South West to advise the government which areas need to be more protected from intense boating and watersport activity.

You too can have your say!!! But Finding Sanctuary need to hear from you before July 2010, so you can email info@finding-sanctuary.org or call 01392 878328 to arrange a meeting with them. An interactive map is also available online where you can share your information www.mczmapping.org

Anyone from surfers and paddle boarders to RIB-owners and commercial fishermen can get involved.

Also, look out for Anna's article in Devon Life magazine this May for more about the Finding Sanctuary project.

Marine Strandings - Anna and Maya to the rescue

2010-02-13T12:22:00.000-08:00

Anna Turns and Maya Plass are now fully trained marine strandings volunteers, able to assess and record any dead stranded marine mammals on behalf of the Devon Wildlife Trust.

The pair took part in a Marine Strandings Volunteer training day last Saturday at the Seashore centre in Goodrington, organised by the Devon Wildlife Trust.

Maya and Anna are both passionate about marine conservation on the South Devon coast. Maya Plass, a marine biologist, lives in Bantham and runs her own marine education business, Learn to Sea. She will be working closely with biologist, Anna Turns at Whitestrand Boat Hire in Salcombe - together they'll be running marine eco-cruises on board Calypso, and both are involved in many aspects of marine conservation locally. “The course was really rewarding and we all learnt a lot about how strandings can provide a real insight into the state of our seas. Data like this is crucial to understanding how best to conserve our marine wildlife”, explained Anna.

Lauren Davis from the Devon Wildlife Trust invited a group of 12 volunteers for training. “We felt there was an urgent need along the South Hams coastline for trained locals able to obtain essential strandings information and to take photos for our records” said Lauren.

The group were taught how to identify different species of dolphins, whales and seals. Maya said “We used life sized models on the beach to practise measuring and sexing the carcasses. In a real life situation, we would also examine the bodies for signs of disease, wounds, and decomposition”. Training also involved health and safety aspects and volunteers were supplied with a ‘kit’ of essential equipment, so they are fully prepared in the event of a stranding.

The species most likely to strand along this local coastline are the common dolphin, harbour porpoise and grey seal. The main threats to marine animals are accidental bycatch and entanglement, collisions with vessels, disease, disturbance and marine pollution. Strandings provide crucial information about why and how the animals died, and comparing this with live sightings also gives an indication of the species’ population and general health of the marine environment. Rare species or specimens in particularly good condition will be sent to the Natural History Museum in London for a full post-mortem.

If you come across any dead animals, please do not touch. Call Devon Biodiveristy Records Centre on 01392 274128 as soon as possible. Live strandings should be reported immediately to British Divers Marine Life Rescue on 01825 765546.

Just back from marine eco-tourism heaven....

2010-01-13T08:47:00.000-08:00

A trip with Tasman Island Cruises claimed to be the best $100 I would spend on holiday. How’s that for an ambitious premise, especially for someone who is a) an avid wildlife watcher and b) works in marine tourism. So I was keen to find out if I’d agree.

Before leaving land, we all donned our regulation all-in-one waterproofs, and swallowed much-appreciated ginger tablets to help prevent seasickness. So I must admit I felt a bit like an intrepid explorer from the outset, armed with binoculars and my camera. Our mission: to get as far south as Tasman Island – uninhabited by humans, a haven for wildlife.

As we boarded the boat, I regretted mentioning to our guide that I work with boats. Thinking my husband and I were strong-stomached salty sea dogs, he sat us in the ‘hotseats’ at the front. Great views but it’s also the most likely place to feel seasick. Uh oh.

Tasmania is a relatively small Australian state, well off the beaten track for most tourists, and often forgotten unless you have ventured across the Bass Strait. ‘Tassie’ is a wilderness. Almost half the state is a designated reserve, and the rest is often quite uninhabited and quaintly behind the times (some main towns still don’t have drinking tap water).

Back onboard the 11-metre boat, we cruised south from Pirates Bay past dramatic coastline and towering rock formations. Sitting at the nose of the boat we were first in at every crevice and cave. We found fur seals, and huge alien-like jellyfish. And it wasn’t all just for fun – the skipper taught some ecology too. Did you know that every second breath we take is oxygen produced by plankton, tiny single-celled organisms in the ocean?

Looking up, shearwaters flew overhead. 18 million of these birds arrive in Tasmania every year, from a one-way six-week-long migration of 15,000 km. And we thought Heathrow to Melbourne non-stop was long-haul. We also spotted shy albatross - that’s the species name, not particularly introverted birds – soaring on the strong winds with a 9ft wingspan. Magical.

After three hours, we reached Tasman Island where the Tasman Sea meets the Southern Ocean. The waters crash together and swell is exaggerated, right at the turning point for the legendary Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Although to a seafarer it would be classed as a calm day, I was immensely proud with myself for not getting seasick.

Homeward bound, the boat sped up, arching out to sea, as we kept our eyes pealed for the blow of a whale or dolphin fin. After scanning the blue horizon for what felt like ages, we saw a small pod of young bottlenose dolphins or ‘dollies’ coming straight towards us to play in our bow wave.

The best experiences often happen when you have no expectations. Many say the best things in life are free. As to whether this was the best $100 ever spent, it definitely sits in the top five holiday highlights.

GIFT VOUCHERS

2009-10-15T03:07:00.000-07:00

Although Christmas might seem like months away (!) we close the shop for the winter on 31st October, so the next two weeks are a final chance to think ahead and perhaps buy a special Whitestrand Boat Hire GIFT VOUCHER for a friend or relative. It's an ideal present, as they can spend the voucher on anything from a mackerel fishing trip to boat hire or rib rides or even a lovely kids Salcombe Nipper T-shirt. So there is always something to suit everyone of all ages and giving a Whitestrand voucher is just a little different!!! It will give them a great experience on the water in Salcombe to remember.

So pop in now to buy your gift voucher for that special person!

Eco-estuary tours

2009-10-15T03:01:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday Anna ran her first eco-estuary tour (advertised through South Devon AONB) on Salcombe estuary. She took a small group of people out on one of the hire boats, and everyone enjoyed the tour and lots of birdlife was seen. No seals unfortunately though! We spotted 2 kingfishers, greenshank, redshank, numerous herons and egrets, plus talked thorugh some of the history of the estuary (Lime kilns, Fort Charles, Saltstone cross etc) and the wildlife lurking underneath the water's surface and how we can better protect it.

Whitestrand's training from The Green Blue and the WISE scheme also came in very handy and qualified us to talk about some of the more burning issues affecting wildlife and protection of the estuary or ria.

Hopefully we'll be planning more eco-estuary tours for the 2010 season.....let us know if you'd be interested in signing up to one of them.

Also, these tours will be mentioned in Hilary Bradt's 'Slow Devon' book published in 2010 - Anna took Hilary on a dummy run of the tour in June this year to show the estuary in a fresh new light.

Eco-estuary tours - NEW !!!!

2009-09-29T01:09:00.001-07:00

Ever wondered what lies beneath the waves??? Where do the seahorses actually live and how can we help them??? Take a closer look at the estuary and its wildlife from an environmental viewpoint and discover why Salcombe estuary is so special.

New to Whitestrand - we are offering the chance to go on a small and friendly 'eco' boat tour of the Salcombe estuary with Anna who runs the boat hire (and she is also a biologist)....

Advanced booking is essential and tickets are very limited due to small boat size. Two trips will be run at 10am and 12pm on Saturday October 10th. Each trip will last 90 minutes, and Anna will take you on a tour of the estuary's habitats and wildlife.

Bring binoculars if you have them! Lifejackets provided.
Adults £12 each, Children under 16 £10 each.
Bookings through Whitestrand Boat Hire - call 01548 843818 or email info@whitestrandboathire.co.uk

How clean is your beach?

2009-09-22T06:23:00.000-07:00

Whitestrand Boat Hire cleaned Scoble beach up this Sunday - Anna and Megan (staff members) and 2 local volunteers (plus Jasper the chocolate lab) spent the afternoon collecting a total of five bin bags....

The most random items found included some supermarket spring onions and lots of water bombs.....perhaps next year we won't use water bombs in the raft race during Regatta week. A lot of the litter did seem to be more local public litter, and less from shipping sources.

We ran this event as part of the Marine Conservation Society National Beachwatch weekend.....we had hoped for more volunteers but it was great to have locals turn up. Perhaps next year local groups (school, rowing club) could use the beach clean events as an opportunity to do a sponsored event????

And thanks to the Salcombe Coffee Company we all enjoyed a well-deserved and free hot chocolate after our litter-picking mission.

Autumn Beach Clean

2009-09-11T05:49:00.000-07:00

As part of the Marine Conservation Society National Beachwatch Campaign, we are encouraging locals to get involved in our next beach clean.

Join us on Sunday 20th September - meet at 2pm at Whitestrand Boat Hire - and we'll take you on a short boat trip across the estuary to Scoble Bay. We survey this beach on a quarterly basis to collect data (and rubbish!) so we can monitor how litter trends change season to season and year to year.

Volunteers will be doing beach cleans all around the country's coastline for this national event, and doing your bit in Salcombe really does make an impact to help conserve our marine environment.

It would be fab to see some locals at this event - please do come along and bring your friends and family. Just sparing an hour of your time really does help to make a difference - thank you.

Summer wildlife sightings....

2009-08-31T00:48:00.000-07:00

We are keeping a log of all the wildlife sightings in Salcombe on our board in the shop but thought we'd publish them on here too......

16.6.09 basking shark and sunfish seen from Calypso off Soar Mill Cove
24.6.09 grey seal at Whitestrand
25.6.09 sunfish seen from Calypso near Starehole Bay
26.6.09 grey seal at Whitestrand
1.7.09 7 bottlenose dolphins at the Bar playing with Hobie Cat sailing boats
7.7.09 grey seal up the Bag
10.7.09 grey seal near Snapes point
25.7.09 sunfish at the Bar
31.7.09 Portugese man-o-war jellyfish near Whitestrand and by the lifeboat
9.8.09 grey seal at Hope Cove
18.8.09 sunfish at the Bar
19.8.09 five rare green sandpipers up Frogmore creek
27.8.09 grey seal by Marine Hotel in Salcombe, and one also spotted at Hope Cove.
5.9.09 harbour porpoise at sea spotted by Calypso passengers

If you see anything of interest, please do let us know and if necessary we can report the sightings to the relevant wildlife organisation.

What happens when.....

2009-08-16T00:55:00.000-07:00

...boats land at Sunny Cove.

Rules are in place for a reason. The reason boats are not allowed to be landed at Sunny Cove or North Sands, is because boats will get swamped and you will either sink the boat or drown the engine. It is VERY dangerous so please don't ignore the rules. Three families have landed at Sunny Cove this August - one boat completely flipped, this one got swamped and damaged, and we managed to tow one away just in time thanks to warning from another local. It's not funny and it's not clever!!!

Sunny Cove is particularly dangerous because the beach is so steep - waves roll in and dump water in the boats rather than pushing boats further up the beach. So sinking is a major risk.

North Sands is a long shallow beach - but the angle waves roll in over the bar means they aim directly up North Sands, often creating a lot of surf. Therefore it's unsuitable for beaching.

We'd be grateful if you read the hire agreement thoroughly and listen to our briefings when hiring a boat, for your own safety and that of our boats and engines. Thank you.

Red Arrows and Harbour swim!!

2009-08-10T05:07:00.000-07:00

On Sunday 9th August we were lucky enough to witness the Red Arrows who gave a fantastic display over the estuary!! The display lasted half an hour in which we saw an array of formations, each with a silly name. The whitestrand girls sang the Top Gun theme tune whilst watching the arrows fly what felt like only feet above them!!!

The following morning the team rallied together to go for an early morning swim across the estuary. The swimmers left Smalls cove and arrived at the yacht club. Very proud of the Whitestrand team who completed the swim in just under 10 minutes!!

As featured in Devon Life magazine

2009-07-26T02:27:00.000-07:00

See page 94 of August issue of Devon Life magazine for the interesting background story of 'Albert and the Slipper Limpets' and local author Jacqui Kilpatrick, written by Anna Turns. You can purchase the book from Whitestrand Boat Hire £5.99, and signed copies are available.

RIB RIDES new to Whitestrand

2009-07-04T04:38:00.000-07:00

Whitestrand is now taking bookings for Salcombe Coastal Charters - cruise the beautiful Devon coast for a day, half day or charter by the hour. Your skipper is Tom Summerton who is a commercially endorsed fully qualifed RYA Yachtmaster who successfully skippered this rib in the Round Britain Powerboat Race in 2008.

The 8.6 m Cobra rigid inflatable is powered by a 300 hp engine and takes up to 7 passengers. It is fully licenced by the MCA and is capable of speeds of up to 40 knots (50mph), yet is incredibly safe.

Cost: £150 per hour; £250 plus fuel for a half day; £350 plus fuel for full day trips.

Bookings through Whitestrand Boat Hire 01548 843818.

Trips will be running from Saturday 10th July thoughout the summer.

Dolphins at the Bar!!!

2009-07-01T07:35:00.000-07:00

It was a good excuse to shut up shop for half an hour today as we heard reports for the South Sands Ferry of dolphins at the bar. We thought they'd be gone by the time we got there but they were still happy playing alongside one of the sailing hobie cats, and did not seem at all bothered by any of the quietly observing boats. It was great to see all the boats keep their distance and just enjoy the experience!!!

We counted 7, possibly 9 bottlenose dolphins, including one which did an aerial display and nose dived back into the water. They seemed happy playing and swimming back and forth across the bar, enjoying riding in the bow waves of the sailing boat.

We kept our distance and did not get close enough to get any ID photos but have reported our sighting to Seawatch and Devon Wildlife Trust.

It was a beautiful sight and a great omen as earlier today Whitestrand Boat Hire signed up to take part in the National Whale and Dolphin week organised by Seawatch later in July.

Basking shark sighting from Calypso!!!

2009-06-16T04:17:00.000-07:00

Us girls in the shop were very excited this morning when we received a call at 10.30 am from Steve our Calypso fishing boat skipper to say he had just sighted a 20 foot basking shark. It was seen swimming past the boat 3.5 miles off the coast due South of Soar Mill Cove.

Basking sharks are the second largest fish (second only to the whale shark) and they are filter feeders, feeding on plankton. They are often seen migrating past the south coast, but more commonly during July and August.

Steve was out on Calypso taking a deep sea fishing trip, and they did not approach too close so as not to agitate the basking shark, so sadly did not get a photo. We have reported our sighting to Seaquest South West, part of the Devon Wildlife Trust, and we'll all keep our eyes peeled for future sightings.

Bang and Go Back Race 2009

2009-06-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

This bizarre and incomprehensible boat race is organised by Chris Turns as part of the Salcombe Festival. Come along and watch from Cliff House Gardens by the Yacht Club at 5pm this Saturday 13th June.

Old boats with stuart and brit inboard engines can take part - their throttle must remain at a constant level throughout the race, but speed can be changed by moving passengers from bow to stern. At the first hooters, boats leave the start line, in either direction. Every time the hooter is heard, the boats must all change direction. After twenty minutes or so of this banging and going back, the final hooter is sounded - then the first boat back to the Yacht Club Line is the winner of the Stan Turns trophy!

This event is a lot of fun to watch. Having said that, even we don't really understand it really....

Lifejackets for sale

2009-06-05T01:15:00.000-07:00

We are currently selling some of our second-hand buoyancy aids - all sizes from kids to adults. Some have got small rips on the material or a dodgy zip that could be fixed but all are for sale for £5 ONO. Pop into the shop to have a look for yourself...

Basking sharks, dolphins, sunfish, seals....the list goes on...

2009-06-02T03:39:00.001-07:00

The South Devon coast is a haven for marine wildlife - and we want to hear about what you see while you're out on the water!!!

All marine wildlife sightings can be reported to the Marine Life Information Network (MARLIN) on 01752 255026 or go to www.sealifesurvey.org or Devon Wildlife Trust Seaquest project on 01392 27428 or email dbrc@devonwildlifetrust.org

And we are keeping a list of exciting recent wildlife sightings in and around the area in the Whitestrand Boat Hire office, so do keep in touch with us!

Recently. basking sharks have been spotted along the coast off Salcombe (3rd May) and also further west near Wembury, Plymouth (31st May) plus the big lifeboat saw a small group of harbour porpoises out to sea on a shout on 20th May.

Greenstrand

2009-05-10T04:01:00.000-07:00

We are doing our bit for the environment at WBH - all our brochures are now printed on 100% recycled paper and we would encourage customers to pass the brochures on to someone or recycle them when they have finished with them. Also, all our hire boats have four-stroke engines which are much more economical in terms of fuel than the older two-stroke types. We have got other plans in the pipeline too, so hopefully we'll help to keep Salcombe estuary as blue as possible.

Our next beach clean is on Sunday 12th July too - more details will be posted here nearer the time.

Whitestrand Goes Green....and Blue

2009-05-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

Whitestrand Boat Hire organised a workshop in Salcombe today with The Green Blue - a fantastic intiative by the RYA and BMF to raise awareness about the marine environment and how to be more green at sea.

Locals from all aspects of the marine industry in Salcombe attended to represent a complete overview of estuary users, and we discussed everything from better ways to anti-foul to marine litter and wildlife disturbance. It was a really inspiring day...many thanks to Green Blue. We have got lots of resources in the shop too, so if you are interested feel free to drop in and pick up some leaflets.

Their website is www.thegreenblue.org.uk and we will continue to work closely with them in the future to develop more ways of making boating on Salcombe estuary greener.

Every boat user has the opportunity to make a real difference - even just keeping your speed down will minimise your fuel consumption and save you money in the process. And remember not to chop up the eelgrass with your propellor when beaching your boat - turn the engine off, use the paddles and save a seahorse!!! Pop in to the shop anytime and chat to us about how you can help.

Very cold April Showers!

2009-04-29T03:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had a freak hail storm in Salcombe - very bizarre - and the heavens suddenly opened. Whitestrand was covered - it really was a White strand....luckily the sun is shining again today.....and high pressure will hopefully come in for a sunny May bank holiday weekend.

GIFT VOUCHERS

2009-04-13T01:34:00.000-07:00

Give someone the chance to explore the estuary....

Whitestrand Boat Hire now supplies gift vouchers for mackerel fishing trips and hire of motor boats, canoes and rowing boats. Please ask in the shop for more info.

Calypso trips running daily

2009-04-13T01:01:00.000-07:00

Mackerel, Pollock, Whiting, Wrasse.....
You name it, Steve is your man. Steve Barker is our new skipper for Calypso and fishing trips are running every day of the season, weather permitting. We can cater for your needs - 2 hour mackerel fishing trips are ideal for families, and for the hardier fishermen Steve can take you out for longer deep sea fishing trips to the skerries.

And if fishing doesn't float your boat, why not book the boat out for a group estuary cruise and try your hand at spotting some of the local wildlife (these trips best around high tide).

Call 01548 843818 to find out more and to book.

Beach Clean a Success

2009-04-13T00:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all 20 of our volunteers (including Will, above, who particularly liked the grabbers) who turned up on Saturday to help clean Scoble Beach. And thanks to the harbour officers for their help shuttling us across the estuary!

We collected 20 bin bags of rubbish - a lot of it was glass. This beach is part of the Marine Conservation Society adopt-a-Beach scheme, and we chose to survey this one in particular because this is where a lot of the flotsam and jetsam lands form out at sea as the swell and the tide comes in. All data collected will be collated and submitted to MCS to help lobby for marine bills. Next beach clean is in July - details will be posted here!

April Fools Day

2009-04-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

We are now OPEN for the 2009 season! The season runs through until 31st October and we'll be open to hire boats every day weather permitting. Long may the sunshine continue...

Albert and the Slipper Limpets

2009-04-01T03:44:00.000-07:00

Local author, Jacqui Kilpatrick, has just published her first children's book 'Albert and the Slipper Limpets'. Albert the seagull lives on a post on Victoria Quay in Salcombe and this book tells the story of his first adventure in the estuary. Books are available from Whitestrand Boat Hire at the price of £5.99 (signed copies in stock now!), and we also have a pair of slipper limpet shells for you to have a look at, before going to try and find some of your own. The story is aimed at kids aged 5-8, and we plan to organise a book reading with Jacqui Kilpatrick on the beach where the story was written. We'll keep you posted once we have a confirmed date for this event!

Spring Clean our Beaches!

2009-03-28T17:15:00.000-07:00

Make a difference this Easter – help ‘spring clean’ our beaches – fun for all the family!

Anna at Whitestrand is organising our first beach clean - part of the Marine Conservation Society's Adopt-A-Beach scheme. We'll survey the rubbish we collect and this data will be used by MSC to help lobby for marine bills etc, so it really does make a difference.

The first of these beach clean events will take place on Saturday 11th April 2009 from 2pm until 4pm.

Two beach cleans will be taking place simultaneously - one at Batson Creek and one at Scoble Beach (accessible by boat courtesy of Whitestrand Boat Hire). So you can either meet Anna at Whitestrand Boat Hire shop for Scoble beach clean at 2pm and there will be a free boat trip across estuary to shuttle all volunteers to the beach. Alternatively you can meet Mark at end of Batson creek for beach clean by foot.

This event is open to everyone, locals and visitors, the more the merrier. Why not bring your friends and family! Dogs on leads welcome. The more hands on deck we can get, the more rubbish we can collect - and this time of year there is usually A LOT of litter to collect after a stormy winter. And its always a good chance to have a chat with your friends while you are doing something rewarding.

On the day, it's a good idea to dress warmly, and wear gloves if you have them. Bags for rubbish collection and lifejackets for boat crossing are provided.

All volunteers will receive a voucher for a FREE coffee at Salcombe Coffee Company and some Easter mini-eggs from Cranch’s Sweet Shop as a big THANK YOU!

For more information please contact Anna Turns at Whitestrand Boat Hire: 01548 843818 or email info@whitestrandboathire.co.uk

NEW flagship boat launched today

2009-03-21T09:55:00.001-07:00

Chris launched our new 'Kruger' boat today. It's a new type of cuddy boat and this one will replace the fastliner 'Charlie'. It was a perfect day on the water to take it for a test drive and we think this will be a popular choice for families, as there is plenty of room for the kids in the open cabin and it can take up to 8 passengers.

Salcombe Nippers Guide to Crabbing

2009-03-13T03:59:00.000-07:00

Use hook-free crab lines to avoid damaging crabs

Use smelly bait such as mackerel strips or even bacon!

Best to crab on an incoming tide - best spot near Whitestrand is from the stone wall at Victoria Quay near the lifeboat station.

Don't put more than 10 crabs together in a large bucket.

Add rocks to the bucket to help replicate the crab's natural environment.

Only put crabs in sea water, not fresh water.

Keep your bucket in the shade.

Don't keep them out of the water all day long - return them to the sea....

Enjoy crabbing!

Organic cotton 'Salcombe Nipper' Kids T-shirts are sold for £12 at Whitestrand Boat Hire.

And you can pick up a leaflet in the shop to find out how best to catch crabs.....

Calypso, pretty in pink

2009-03-02T16:56:00.000-08:00

Although the boat hire shop is closed for the winter, there is still plenty of work to be done 'behind the scenes'. One of the messiest jobs of the year is anti-fouling our biggest boat Calypso, the fishing trip boat.

This Spring, the boat is having a full makeover. You can see the work in progress as it is currently out of the water along Gould Road - you can't miss it.

As well as having a new wooden cabin built, it is having a complete repaint. After the first couple of coats of paint, the hull looked a distinct 'salmon pink' colour. Chris was quite tempted to keep it this way, but we eventually agreed a pink fishing boat might well lose all its street cred in the harbour pretty quickly!

So Calypso will be sticking with its trademark red and blue colouring, and should be ready for fishing trips on the first day of the season, April Fool's Day.

We are also very lucky to be welcoming a new skipper on board - we'll keep you posted...

Cutest customers of 2008

2009-03-02T16:47:00.000-08:00

Two of our best customers from last season. Frodo is the ferry dog and he soon learnt that we had a secret stash of dog biscuits behind the counter so he would pop in to say hello regularly between his shifts on the Salcombe - East Portlemouth Ferry.

And 'Crispy' the duck came in the shop one rainy morning last Easter, but left her friend 'Pancake' out in the cold.

So, what does the SR stand for?

2009-03-02T16:36:00.000-08:00

We are often asked what the SR logo stands for, it's on our boats and even our doormat! SR simply stands for 'Salcombe Racing' which is the name of the Honda powerboat which races around the country, driven by WBH owner Jerry. To find out more about the raceboat and follow its progress, click on:

http://www.f4sa.co.uk/team-h2salcomberacing-t20.php

Unfortunately the hire boats aren't allowed to go this fast......

Welcome!!!

2009-03-02T07:33:00.000-08:00

Whitestrand Boat Hire begins 2009 by opening a new shiny blog! This will be the place to share our news about what is new in, on and by the water, plus all the latest gossip from Whitestrand from new boats to beach clean events. We are passionate about Salcombe estuary, its people, wildlife and landscape and want to start a forum where ideas, stories and memories can be shared and passed on.