A HELENSBURGH-based sailor had a heart-stopping encounter with one of the world's biggest creaters in Loch Long.

Tim Wilson described the excitement of capturing a brief video of the humpbacked whale as he was sailing his yacht, Arwen.

The 48-year-old landscape architect was heading back from visiting Lochgoilhead when he saw the mammal.

Tim told the Advertiser: "When I saw the whale, it was my first sail this year after putting Arwen on her new mooring and I was coming back from visiting Lochgoilhead, so I was incredibly lucky.

"As the whale was directly ahead when breached and I had sails up, I missed seeing it come out of the water. But I saw a massive watery explosion and then soon after passed by me within a few feet which got my heart pounding.

READ MORE: Humpback whale caught on video breaching on the Clyde

"Then when recovered from the surprise filmed as surfaced and going in opposite direction further up Loch Long.

"There was a rib full of people with camera's and also a drone flying ahead - and would love to see any more photos or film footage - so let me know if you come across any of this."

Tim, from Edinburgh, was sailing around the UK last year when his dad had a stroke and he took Arwen out of the water at the RB Marine on Gareloch over the winter. He then decided to stick with the area and has recently joined Helensburgh Sailing Club.

He said he hopes to continue sailing around Scotland back to Edinburgh in the coming years.

Tim was on his own when he saw the humpback whale, "which shame as my wife Megan would have enjoyed" he added.

The couple were joined by some dolphins on their last sail together at Gareloch.