duncan Posted July 4, 2007 Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 Well - I'll start at the beginning. Last year we had a great time fishing around Alderney, the weather didn't play ball through May so the weekend of the 48hr was selected (booked with SWMBO) and fingers crossed. Posting such on here got a couple can we come too's - but Tom B eventually made the call to spend time with a young lady instead. Forecast was amazing - and stayed that way. Phaeton had been out for a full service and hull cut and polish as well as a lot of those little jobs that accrue over time.......... On the one hand relaunching with new control cables, the OD just put back together and a few other such bits would normally suggest a bit of a shakedown but as I had done it all myself, and nothing for the first time, I was happy if we got halfway there the rest of the trip would be fine! Plan was to leave Rockley Friday orning for a leisurely run over via the fuel quay in Poole, and with another friend joining the trip in additon to AWOL, and using the 1030 bridge lift, timings fell into place from there. With a neap'ish flooding tide due to go slack around Alderney 1300h and a v light NE breeze timing was relaxed and would shift from wot into the afternoon. Giving ourselves a few minutes ahead of AWOL we loaded up (seemed to take hours!) and then set off for fuel. To this point everything was going perfectly........to perfectly of course. Dave had just poured the first of many anticipated coffees, the sun was shinning and ......thump. A glance at the sonar still showed over a metre with nothing shoing on a flat bottom but we had clearly hit something with the drive. By now the engine was off and the drive being raised - from what we could see everything looked intact so we lowered it again and started the engine. Engaging forward seemed ok but any revs and we got a serious vibration. Rope (large) was imediately discussed and reverse/forward tried - no improvement. Call to Rockley suggested that they still had the trailer attached and would get us straight out when we got back, call to Martin was useless as radio and phone off, so we limped back and straight out. Imediately we were out the damage became obvious - one mangled ss prop, one bent to b******** prop and absolutely no skeg left at all - ripped straight off! Being concerned about the others we radioed my m8 Geoff and advised of a possible delay.......... Leaving Dave aboard opening a beer............I called up Holes Bay and asked if they had any props on the shelf. They said they would call back but I told them not to bother as I was on my way! Meanwhile the boys at Rockley were looking at the drive and scratching thier heads - but promised to look into the damge a bit further. As I approached Cobbs a call advised the props were off and the shaft appeared straight without any oil leaks from the casing. Holes Bay 'lent' me a customers props (in exchange for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted July 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 so at 0450, after a warming cuppa (well we didn't have the heating on as the exhaust port was straight onto AWOLs pretty blue gel coat) we knock on the hull intending to head off shortly afterwards. To say it was foggy was the day's understatement. AWOL's crew quickly decided that if they were going anywhere it was with radar support so we gave them a few moments to get sorted and headed out about 0530h. Viz was about 10m and it was somewhat erie leaving between the harbour arms without sight of either except on the screen. Staying at 6 knots until we had run radar scans at 1, 3 and 6 miles we moved up to 11, as much to hold a constant course as anything and juggled between 0.5 and 1.5 mile range as we made out way up the Little Russel. Target for the day was the Schole Bank because it was the closest and the most likely to be avoided by traffic because it is charted so clearly! Staying close to AWOL, with vis now up to 20m, we commenced drifts in the time honoured fashion. Launce were plentiful, we had fresh mackerel, and the fog was obviously going to burn off at some point......... Wasn't long before Dave was into a fish, and not much later another almost identical fish came over the side - to Dave again. and yes - that smile was there all day long! as the tide slackened the dogs arrived. the viz was now up at around a mile or more but the flats were missing, I was blanking and AWOL wasn't doing much better either. They decided to stay as they were experiencing a slight problem with their engine but we moved off to look around once they confirmed they were happy. heading West we of course ended up in thick fog pretty quickly but as skip I was heading for an area I knew (relatively well) so 'fishing first'! whilst things went quiet for a bit I eventually got into a fish and some time later this 9lb + turbot came over the side (Dave was still smiling) followed by a brill and another, smaller Tub Dave's still smiling (just). Headed back into St PP where AWOL was tied up to the pontoon, and Geoff had moved into the main marina for the night. Martin recounted how the fish had gone mad on the Schole shortly after we left, but that whilst Dean had done well he, Martin, had hooked and lost the big ones............. A hot shower and a mexican meal later Martin was still , Dave was all , Dean was enjoying the beer and I was asleep. For various reasons we agreed that Phaeton would be heading back early but AWOL was staying on to fish the day. Geoff was coming with us but had screwed up his calcs and wouldn't be able to get out of the marina until about 1230h the next morning........... Phaeton headed off to the Schole to catch Martin's monster whilst AWOL waited for the fuel quay to open and Geoff the tide to come in. AWOls problems have already been documented, our plans changed again following a telephone discussion mid morning with home and after a hard day on the Schole we headed into Braye to pick up Geoff who was waiting there. Bass to both of us, a tub apiece and some good pollack fights saw a weary crew head out of Braye at 1700h ennroute to Poole. About 8 miles off Anvil Martin picked us up and called his situation in but declined company on the basis he was comfortable they were getting in - but slowly! 1925h we passed the chain ferry. The boat was hauled Monday, inspected Tuesday, claim forms and everything else by the following Monday and a satidfactory agreement reached with the insurers this week. As posted on the thread entitled 'Insurance' Mardon agreed Holes Bays assesment of the situation and the slightly more expensive option presented that would get the job done quicker. Roll on the next trip - 23rd Sept weather permitting................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 Nice report Duncan - made exciting reading, just wish I was out there with you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun j. Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 Nice one Duncan!.....and the pictures........[love turbot! ]. ......Whetted my appetite [again].......must get to try that CI fishing! Perhaps, now retirement is imminent, I'll get a trip mid-week when someone is looking for crew to share costs..........and the weather allows. Alun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 Duncan, Thanks we needed a good read PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted July 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 Duncan, Thanks we needed a good read PJ Thanks Paul - was certainly a factor in my timing. I hope that some fish stories and pictures get created over the coming weekend though. btw the big turbot took a live mackerel bait......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 Nice one Duncan You even managed to make the bad bits interesting. We are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel now, First fuel in the tank today and Volvo PDI engine and controls tomorrow, with luck I may hear the D4 growl very soon If progress continues and I can get enough hours away from the Yacht Club we may still make a trip over in 2007 Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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