We hear from Randy

During our last visit to Mignon in the Océanopolis here in Brest marina, we heard that Randy the Dolphin had been seen among the islands of Brittany. This was exciting news and we decided together with some neighbours from the marina, to take the ferry to the Island of Sein. This was where he had last been seen and we wanted to see if we could meet him. Actually this was crazy. We were going to look for a dolphin in the wide expanse of ocean, and on top of that it was one specific dolphin. Nevertheless, I was psyched up for a reunion with him after four years, and we therefore packed the dive gear and the underwater camera, drove to the harbour of Audierne, loaded everything onto the ferry, and went to find Randy.
 
Once aboard we told the whole crew about our quest to find Randy. We also interviewed the Captain, Commandant Ruz. He told us that the previous day a dolphin had swum behind the boat both to and from the island, that he and another dolphin were familiar creatures here, and that the French had given him the name Dony. With a boost of adrenaline I turned and went on deck. I stayed outside the whole trip in the wind and cold, looking out for Randy. There was nothing but rocks and water. It was very frustrating and disappointing.
 
Once on the island we asked around for information. The people there spoke of two dolphins last summer that had followed the fishermen right into the harbour and had played with the children in the bay. One of the dolphins is known as Jean-Floch and the other as Dony. They even told us that Dony was in the harbour yesterday. They certainly knew how to build up tension! A quick cup of coffee in the only open restaurant on the island and we rushed outside again to keep watch.
 
Staring at the horizon
Hours passed and not even a glimpse of a dolphin, any dolphin, let alone Randy. I stood for hours staring at the horizon to see if I could see anything. We heard from another resident that Randy often came into the harbour with the fishermen, around three thirty or four o’clock. He thought that we had a good chance of meeting him there as he'd been there just yesterday.
 
One o’clock passed, then two o’clock and then four o’clock and we were hanging around the harbour in the cold with no dolphin in sight. But at four o’clock our ferry was due to depart back to the mainland, and we had to be on board. Still no sign of a dolphin. Absolutely nothing, but our ferry back. Frustration must have been apparent on my face because the crew didn’t dare look at me. With an apologetic shrug the captain told me that he really had been here yesterday, and that I had just had bad luck today. To make me feel better he told me that the dolphin often met the ferry along the route and followed it back to the mainland, surfing the wake. Could there still be a chance to meet him? The trip was an hour so there was still a chance, even though it was only a small one.
 
A dolphin at last
After half an hour the captain plucked us out of our seats. A dolphin was surfing the wake of the ferry. We rushed outside with the cameras: if the dolphin really was Randy I wanted to record this on photo and film, otherwise they would never believe me at home.
 
Indeed, from a distance I could see a dolphin jumping out of the waves.But the waves were so high, and the dolphin was only visible for a split second at a time, that we could not see if it really was Randy or not. He followed the ferry into the harbour, but the distance was too far to recognise him.
 
In the end it was a great disappointment.Yes, I saw a dolphin, but wheter or not it was Randy I could not say. Now that I was so close I had to and will see him before we set sail from Brittany. We agreed with our neighbours that we would take the next possible opportunity and return to the harbour with our dinghy and dive gear to try to meet Randy again.
 
 
 
With thanks to the crew and captain of the Enez Sun.
With thanks to Sami Hassani of the Océanopolis.
With thanks to Jackie and Graham of the Sagitta
 
 
Photo 1:
Commandant Ruz was able to tell us about the recent sightings of Randy.
 
Photo 2:
We always have a lot of film and photo equipment. Together with Jackie and Graham, we toured the island looking for Randy.
 
Photo:
The dolphin behind the boat was only visible in split seconds.