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Alderney 2022


Steve S
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Just been over to collect the parts for Alfresco's engine. but with painting then rebuilding the Volvo

 

I will not get it back together and re installed in time. Hence crewing with Dave again.

 

Sorry that Steve is in the same place with his drive rebuild, which means you cannot go Alun, can you not talk Adam into bringing JV2?

 

 

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As Alun mentioned Tigerfish can't make it, currently there is no sign of the repaired prop shafts, with it being a bank holiday Monday there is no chance to get the boat ready in time even if they arrived on Tuesday, unlikely by the sound of it so I've had to cancel. Jerry kindly offered me to go with him as he had room for one more.

 

So it seems there are just 2 boats going. I will be looking to take Tigerfish over with the same crew later in the year if possible.

 

Just checked the forecast and it looks good! 

 

 

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-61317775

 

This is typical Alderney, nothing happens until it's a crisis. There's a lot of old people on the island, I doubt one GP can cope. One of the homes has a 106 year old in it. I know of one person of 75 who is suicidally depressive, already tried to take his own life twice, his wife is finding it very hard to get him help. No NHS service...

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The build up was busy as usual, made worse by two boats having to drop out with mechanical issues.

 

Thanks to Dave and Jerry for making room for myself and Steve to join their crews.

 

Accommodation was booked for all of us and fuel arranged for a single top up on Monday morning. Multiple weather checks, it seemed to be OK for at least three good days, so its thumbs up and off we go.

 

0530 bumped into Jerry in the car park at Cobbs as I loaded trolley with kit for the 4 days [Why do I take so much ??]

After a quick check of plans and good luck messages its off to the boats, kit on, kettle on and off to Swanage

 

A brief stop saw a few fresh mackerel added to the bait cooler.😁 Off we go again 25 miles to the first wreck for us, with Jerry choosing another a couple of miles away.

Great expectation but fishing was slow with just a couple of pollack.

Loobie 4 joined us as their wreck was dead.

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The usual couple of stops followed as the breeze started to increase and boat speed cut back a bit as we motored past the caskets lighthouse towards Dave's favourite bank.

 

Lures changed to traces baited with mackeral and we started the first of many drifts, my rod nodded very slightly and its fish on, the first turbot that was just in size and off to the bait tank. 20220506_134952.thumb.jpg.7503fc077bd6b69eec3f3a3d161e5cd5.jpg

There were a few more dogfish than we wanted to see, but we did have four flatty's including one of 7lb 8 oz for Craig.

 

We were getting a few mackerel and Launch right on top of the Bank where it was a little choppy.

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!600 its off to the moorings in Braye Harbour. a quick clean up of the boats and change . Call the water taxi and its off ashore to the Moorings Hotel for a beer or three.

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We grabbed a burger then walked up the hill to book in the Bonjour and have a shower. before hiking about 15 yards to the next pub.

 

Day 2

Up at 0700, grab the pack breakfast and stroll off down the hill for the first water taxi at 0800.

The breeze had dropped so the two boats headed back to the same banks.

 

Fishing seemed even slower today, with more dogs and just a few flatties and gurnard

Mark had a lovely fish that was a PB just short of double figures at 9lb 8oz. Best of 5 today.

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The lads on Looby 4 were getting a few more flatties than us, but it was tough going.

 

at 1700 we packed up for the run back to Braye 

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usual routine, water Taxi ride and a stroll to the bar in the Moorings.

For planning over a couple of pints.

Craig called his new mate Bill, for a taxi ride up the hill, he did not fancy that walk again.

Shower and change then off to our new local next door for dinner, before being joined by the Jerry's and Steve later

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Checking the forecasts in did not look great for Sunday.

 

Day 3

Woke up and checked the forecast, which if anything were worse with a fairly stiff NE breeze.

We all decided to head down to the Harbour and taxi to the boats.

 

Good job we did as Looby was a little close to a French Yacht, the crew of which had not enjoyed their night in a choppy harbour and were too ill to move.

 

Our mooring buoy was hitting the anchor so adjustments were made. We had a coffee then decided to go for a walk around the island [ Mainly to stop us going into the bar too early]

 

As we Past our buddy boat they were all having a fish , so we wished them luck as we tried to stay dry on the taxi boat.

We learned later that Steve also went walking Jerry retired to the hotel and Jerry 2 took a spinning rod ashore to try his luck on the rocks at Fort Clonque.

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We strolled slowly around to the southern end of the Island, seeing some interesting sights on the way

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After a stop on the way, when a friendly local gave us a tour of some German buildings from WW2

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we arrived at the Gannet sanctuary that looked fishable if you could endure the rough ride to get there. 

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We arrived in town at 1330, just too late for lunch which was an error as our food was all on the boats.

A quick pint with Jerry in the Marais Hall, then its back to the guest house for a quiet afternoon, before all meeting up for dinner at 1800.

 

Reel Magic underway.jpg

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The long way home.

 

After missing a day we were all up for a long last day. We settled up and thanked Mel for a good stay and called a cab for the bags

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Down to Bray and a few of us went over to bring boats to the jetty to be topped up with fuel from the bowser.

This went well, then we started the run to the first wreck some 15 miles away.

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Just as we arrived we were met by a pod of dolphins

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even with these about the fishing for us was a little better than on the way out, the boats stayed together for 4 or 5 wrecks.

 Then we split up to hunt for better fishing.

 

Dave had a little one he wanted to try to find, and the hunt was good

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We had as many fish off this as any of the bigger ones, including this surprise.

 

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and a few better pollack

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Craig had done a lovely Curry for lunch , but the day was getting late and we also squeezed in a Lasagne for dinner

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At about 7 we stopped fishing and started the run to Poole, in the calm Misty weather

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Eventually arriving at the chain ferry just as it started to get dark.

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It was late but had been a great trip.

 

Thanks to everyone for the great Craic, for Dave for making room for me while Alfresco is repaired.

Although the fishing is tougher these trips are still great fun

 

We will no doubt be back again.

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