Dear Birding-Ausers,
I thought you might like an up date on the progress of bookings for the
2005 pelagic trips from Port Fairy.
I started taking bookings from midnight on 1 April. For those who don't
know, the Port Fairy boat is a converted commecial fishing boat that is/was
also used for catching sharks and crayfish. It takes 12 or 13 people, as
well as the two crew. So, with 12 possible trips a year, the maximum
number of people who can get out is 132, if you including the leader, Mike
Carter and me on most trips.
The demand was quite amazing. I had 12 people who asked to go on every
trip and about 8 more who asked for spots on at least half of the trips.
About 55 additional people tried to get on at least one trip. So, I
quickly ran out of spots and tried to allocate them out to give people some
chance of going. I didn't succeed too well there either, as quite a few
people did not get any spots. Even some people who sent e-mails before 7am
on 1 April did not get a spot.
Some people have suggested that I might consider organising another boat so
that more people can go on the day (current boat capacity is 12 or 13) or
that I organise more trips. The first suggestion is not possible; there
is, as far as I know, only one suitable boat in Port Fairy (and only 1 in
Portland, that Rob Farnes occasionally hires, and 1 in Port Macdonnell,
that the Adelaide birders hire). The suggestion of organising more trips
is not one I will be taking up. Planning one trip a month (with a back-up
of the next weekend if the weather causes a postponement) means that it
takes up two weekends a month. I don't want to spend more weekend time
doing this. If others want to organise their own trips, it is very
possible - the boat owner in Port Fairy has done that for people in the
past and is willing to do it in the future. He is now very capable of
organising a seabird trip for other groups and I can give you his contact
details.
So, that's it until 1 April 2005 when I will start the 2006 bookings. If
anyone wants to be an emergency for this year or next, please contact me by
e-mail or telephone (details are 03 9370 7418 (H) or 0407 304 382 (M)).
Regards
Chris
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