Hi Paul, Alex and all,
as you all know, yesterday was quiet tense.
I first got a phone call from my Faroese friend who told me whales had been spotted and then from an other friend in Sudoroy who told me the whales were to be driven to the killing beach of Hvalba. (The one where over 450 white sided dolphins have been slaughtered exactely one year ago, on August 13th).
At this point I've tried to contact the Bardot but I could not get reach of them. I 've called the Columbus to let them know. And we've put the four boats in the water heading at full speed south to Sudoroy. Rosie kept me informed of the evolution on the beach by texto all the way.
We got there in 1hour 30 knowing the swell was pretty high, the two Navy fregates spotted us and the biggest one got in line with us and started following us. Considering the difficult weather condition, the boats did really well. I can only imagine what they were thinking seeing the four boats running at full speed to the scene...
Anyways, just before we've reached Hvalba, we got the message that the grind had been called off. This coincide with the very moment the big fregate changed course and stopped following us.
The four fast boats were up in North for just 2 days for maintenace and we had chosen this window cause of teh weather, we thought they would not go for a grind under those conditions but we were expecting teh weather to be worst than it was. They knew the boats had deserted Sudoroy and this is certainely a factor for them to try it. Good thing that they realised yesterday than even with all the boats in the Northern Island, we still can get down south fast enough.
We've got this message today from the son of a grindforemen whom we've met at the Klaksvik festival :
bjorn : The current was to bad for the police and navy to be sure of nobody getting hurt. Under normal conditions without interference from other the grind would maybe be taken, but as now SS boats were arriving quickly, it would have escalated for sure. The situation is really tense right now.
The trip back from Sudoroy to the main ilsand was very rought, in even worst conditions that the way in, up to 4/5 meters swell for 6 meters boats was quiet something. It took us much longer to get back, last boat to get home that I was on arrived at 11 pm as we had to refuel in Sudoroy before heading back.
We eneded up the day exhausted but happy. Next time, if they don't call off the grind, confrontation seems inevitable and it's true that in conditions like yesterday, who knows what the outcome can be... Anyways, my team and I are ready. And the boats are tools for intervention, I am ready to sacrifice them if necessary.
Lamya
Great job Lamya,
Makes you think they were planning a grind to coincide with the date from last year, strategically smart move on their behalf as it would be devastating for morale is successful. I guess they underestimated the response time of the boats and the courage of our crew. I hope they keep underestimating us.
Compliments to all crew.
Alex
And then Erwin says:
Hi All,
Some comments regarding communications: We tested the sat phone afterwards with Rosie and that worked fine. We had good phone contact with Rosie and Brian, the Suduroy teamleader, but I could barely understand Peter when he called. Another form of communication to consider (not from the small boats) is skype. I had Paul and Susan on skype throughout the proceedings, giving Paul almost live updates.
Cheers, Erwin
And once again - we from Nordportal give you some LEAKS from Sea Shepherd and often we are asked, why we do it and I will tell you: "We do it - because we think it's f***ing funny ..!"
Jógvan á Høvdanum (junior) 22.10.2015