The series saw a group of non Welsh speaking celebrities camping and learning Welsh through activities and interactive lessons at the Fforest site in Cilgerran. We at ‘Razorbill’ organised and managed two days of filming /activities for the celebs…..a Coracle tuition and racing event as well as a snorkelling activity. We arranged and managed all aspects of the events from inception to delivery and are delighted to report that all went fantastically well!

The below is extracted froma  lovely letter of thanks received from Owen of Fflic….

“It was a blissful week, albeit hard work for all involved. It certainly kept us fit, constantly walking back and forth between locations! Hard work, but oh so rewarding. The series managed to achieve everything that was expected of it. We could not have asked for more.

We are indebted to you all at Razorbill. From that very first day Catrin picked up the ‘phone, we have experienced nothing short of perfect co-operation. For that, we thank you……..our sincere thanks and admiration.”

We thoroughly enjoyed working with you all and are keeping everything crossed for a repeat series commission. Diolch I chi pawb!

James and his party chartered Razorbill for a 2 hour wildlife watching /sightseeing tour….  It turned out that neither James nor his party had never eaten spider crab, so on the way in we pulled alongside one of our local fishing boats and procured a few (freshly caught) for the guys to try that night….seems they were a hit! Dan

P.S. if you can book the dolphins for the next time we come out with you, then we would be very grateful…” Alfred Dietrich & Jodi Hutton, Oxfordshire

No problem guys….just let us know when you fancy coming next and we’ll get our people to talk to their people Many thanks for the feedback….we look forward to getting you out with us again soon!

We regularly keep our Facebook page with latest news and updates on sightings etc…..if you haven’t already, check it out and join up as a group member today! http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=117306504953480

Rhos Y Gilwen block booked us to take some of their guests out wildlife watching from Cardigan over the bank holiday weekend (with some amazing weather to boot!)…..

Here is a brief soundbite from the feedback received from Glen Peters, owner of the mansion and ‘Neuadd Y Dderwen’ Arts venue http://www.rhosygilwen.co.uk/

“…..a stunning day they said and you were again the star of the trip with your knowledge of the sea. So well done!” Glen Peters, Rhos y Gilwen Mansion

Back out today…..any sightings etc will be uploaded to our FB group!

Yesterday we attended the Marine Conservation Society ‘Champions’ day in Haverfordwest.  I know that many of you reading this will be, but if you aren’t already aware of the MCS charity /Their work, please check out their website at: http://www.mcsuk.org/

The event was very well received by all in attendance, made up from a broad cross section of operators, outdoor leisure providers, conservationists and interested parties from across the County (none of which are mutually exclusive of course!) the main drive was to formally ’sign up’ Champions for the MCS and its work……

As many of you are aware, we volunteer our services to a number of charitable organisations (particularly in relation to conservation /marine issues), and very much see the MCS’ work as being an addendum to the already excellent work being undertaken on the ground locally, work such as that undertaken by Sea Trust (Marine arm of the S&W Wales Wildlife Trust) with whom we enjoy a close relationship…..We very much look forward to championing the MCS’ cause in conjunction with the already excellent work being undertaken locally /already.

We also bumped into Kate Lock at the event. Kate is the South and West Wales co-ordinator for ‘Seasearch’ – see website here: http://www.seasearch.co.uk/ We are hoping to assist Seasearch with their records going forward, and to hopefully working with Kate and her fellow sea-searchers going forward…..as well as forging closer relationships with the many like-minded people we met!

 

Daniel

“Dan and Owen were recommended especially for their knowledge of the wildlife around Poppit Sands. What can I say? The men delivered!

We didn’t get to see much that day because the sea was a bit rough. But they kept me entertained with numerous interesting stories and facts, not just about the wildlife but also about the history of the area. We caught some mackerels, enjoyed the sunny skies and the spray of the sea on our faces.

All in all a perfect afternoon. I felt great! Being in close touch with nature, feeling the elements…It’s good to experience how important these things are for your wellbeing. But if you think that’s boring….You can always ask Dan to go fast. WHOOOHOOO!”

Stephanie van Seventer, Netherlands

Many thanks Stephanie….we look forward to seeing you in N Pembs again soon!

Pete is an award winning photographer and as you will see, his work speaks for itself. In addition to selling his work, Pete offers “guided diving combined with…expert coaching in the best techniques to take photographs underwater together with post dive help with editing, retouching and correcting the memories you have captured”……check out the linky….highly recommended!

Razorbill RIB Charter Facebook Group news…..

It’s also worth noting that for any of you Facebook users out there, we have an active ‘Razorbill RIB Charter’ Facebook Group, which we would love you to join! We will still be keeping the websites blog up to speed, but we aim to update the Facebook Group on a more regular basis (keeping the blog for feedback and bigger stories /news)….not only regarding the business, but also regarding any maritime /environmental matters affecting the marine environment, local or otherwise….There’s lots been happening in the past few weeks, check it out / please sign up today! 

Razorbill RIB Charter Facebook Group

Daniel

Having wrapped up a tranche of charter for the EA last Thursday, having been out of Newport and then Cardigan, we headed out for a quick spin out beyond Cardigan island……where we picked up a pod of 6 Dolphins with one extremely playful Dolphin putting on a great show seemingly showing off to a mother with calf (see pics)….the pics don’t really do him justice, but definitely worth a look! Daniel

A couple of weekends ago we joined Sea Trust and the Fishguard Ladies rowing team for a Coracle and Kayaks event in Haverfordwest… Mark (of Teifi coracle makers www.teificoraclemakers.webs.com) and I took down three Teifi Coracles and Sea Trust took their sea going Cwrwg ‘Yvonne’….was a huge success, great fun, and nobody got wet!

The following week we met up with Rod Penrose from the Marine Mammal Strandings Project www.strandings.comat Poppit, having passed on a report of a dead seal pup washed up on the beach. Rod confirmed that it was a newly born male pup and took the body away for autopsy….

Then a few hours later we had a call from Rod …asking if we could launch ‘Razorbill’ as he had received a report of a dolphins stuck in a net off Aberporth…….As it happened I’d just called in with Owen at Poppit so we jumped on the Avon Searider and headed around to Aberporth where Rod was waiting….

Happily the Dolphin turned out to be a large tree trunk (much to the embarrassment of the first informant) which due to its size we towed in to shore and then winched up the beach using the strandings landrover…:)

A beautiful calm evening at sea skipping along in the searider, and gladly no distressed dolphins! A second pup was washed up the following day….probably a result of the stormy seas which had been lashing the pupping beaches in the days before. Daniel

We’ve been busy with a nice mixed-bag of work….mostly survey /sampling work peppered with some private charter and diving (when weather has allowed). Arrived back from North Wales last night and back out of Newport this afternoon followed by Cardigan.

Whilst cove hopping with a group staying in St.Dogmaels a few weeks ago, and whilst stopped for lunch at Ceibwr, this Sunfish (Mola mola) was spotted….not great pics because of the distance, but you get the idea….our first of this year, thanks to Simon for the picture…..

 We have also just received the new engine for our ex RNLI D Class lifeboat. It is a Mariner 40 (also ex RNLI), although a more modern version than she would have been run with when first on service.

The RNLI require that we remove all trace of her service ID /Name now she is no longer on service….. Whilst in our ownership she will be working solely in Categorised, River and Estuarine Waters….given that, and keeping up the ‘bird’ theme, she will be renamed ‘Curlew’.

We are also fabricating a trailer to make her launch and recovery easier in difficult to access areas….will post up pics when sea trials /fettling is complete. In the meantime, below is a nice picture we received from Hastings lifeboat station, taken when she first went on service as D392 (Cecile Rampton). Her service record shows that she was launched on operation 208 times, rescuing 97 people and 34 ‘lives’….she deserves a bit of care and attention! Daniel