Tristan : Gov. Clancy Sails on the Kelso
Submitted by Tristan Times (Sarah Glass) 10.02.2006 (Article Archived on 24.02.2006)

Apparently Inaccessible Island lived up to its name this time.

GOVERNOR CLANCY SAILS ON THE KELSO

Public Relations Office, St. Helena

On Wednesday 8 February Governor Clancy and some 30 guests were invited by Andrew James and the company which has the fishing concession to travel on the fishing vessel, Kelso to the outlying islands.

Boarding started at 7 a.m. but the ferrying of passengers takes much time and the Kelso was not able to steam away until around 10a.m.

Sea conditions were not too lively and so all in the party were able to get ashore at Nightingale Island. This was again a major logistical exercise with many ship to shore trips over some 5 hours in a small RIB (rigid inflatable boat).The waiting and getting soaked from spray was well worthwhile.

There were very good sightings of fur seals which came within 10 feet of visitors .Those landed also saw Albatross chicks, Rockhopper penguins and hundreds of shearwater burrows . The Nightingale thrush was also evident . It is so unused to humans that it thinks nothing of dancing between visitors' legs.

A less wholesome side of nature is the predatory practices of Skuas . The path from the landing area was often littered with the remains of Rockhopper chicks and other birds taken by the Skuas.

The Kelso then sailed to Inaccessible Island and passengers had a good opportunity to see how it lives up to its name.

Weary but fulfilled passenger finally got back to shore on Tristan at about 10p.m.