We have now encountered over 540 humpbacks in our 10 trips to the Great South Channel. With the
assistance of the Whale Center of New England, we have photo-identified
215 different whales during these trips.
Viking Starship (140 foot LOA),
leaving from the Viking Landing in Montauk Harbor. Parking
available for the duration of your trip.
Sleeping accommodations:
Open bunks on the main and lower
decks; sleeping bags are suggested
Meals:
Excellent food can be purchased from
the galley, or bring your own food.
August 15-17, 2010
(51
hours)
Great South Channel
Leave Montauk at 7:00 PM on
August 15, 2010 and head to Martha’s
Vineyard (MV) to pick up (and drop off) passengers. We
expect to arrive at Oak Bluffs in Martha’s Vineyard at around
12:30 AM on 8/16 we leave MV at 1:00
AM and proceed to the GSC.
We should reach the whale grounds
around day break, spend the next 24 hours amongst the whales and
birds of the GSC.
The following morning, we will
have the option of either remaining on the whale grounds, or
returning early to Martha’s Vineyard for land-based birding,
hiking, or other activities. The vessel will ultimately
depart Martha’s Vineyard at 4:30 PM on 8/17 and return to
Montauk at 10:30 PM on 8/17/2010.
CRESLI biologists will be joined by biologists from the
Whale Center of New Englandand other organizations,
to provide expertise regarding identification of
individual humpbacks of the Gulf of Maine stock.
Departure point: The
Viking Dock at Montauk Harbor, Montauk, NY
Destination: Offshore pelagic birds and whale watch trips to the
Great South Channel.
Cetaceans: Humpback, Fin, Minke, Right; Sei, Sperm and
Pilot whales; Common, Bottlenose, Atlantic White Sided and Risso’s Dolphins;
Leatherback, Green and Loggerhead Turtles; Basking, Great White, Hammerhead,
and Blue Sharks; Bluefin, Yellowfin, and Bigeye Tuna; White Marlin; Ocean
Sunfish; Portuguese Man-of-War; and other marine life.
Birds: Cory’s, Greater, Sooty, Manx, and Audubon’s
Shearwaters; Wilson’s and Leach’s Storm-Petrels; Northern Fulmar; Northern
Gannet; Red-necked and Red Phalaropes; Pomarine, and Parasitic Jaegers;
South Polar Skua; Greater Black-backed, Herring, Bonaparte’s Gulls.
Comments: The vessel is the 140’ Viking Starship that can sleep up to
65 passengers in navy style bunks. Excellent food will be available at
reasonable prices. Passengers may bring their own food as well. The trips will
be led by a seasoned marine mammal biologist and professor. Volunteers from
CRESLI will assist in photo-identification spotting and data collection.
Below
are some photos taken of the sleeping quarters and main cabin.
The
chart below shows the positions of the (a) the Great South Channel; (b) Veatch
Canyon; and (c) Hydrographer Canyon. The dark lines represent the track of
our cruises to and from the Great South Channel. Click on the images for a
larger view.
