alun j. Posted March 11, 2009 Report Share Posted March 11, 2009 Plan A was to have been a first trip of the year to the Shambles today ... but , for a couple of reasons, this has been postponed and today was a 'suck it and see' day on familiar territory....... with madw as new crew! First spot was a drift for plaice [!!], inshore.........lovely and calm but we'd missed most of the tide and were just creeping along with no bites. Next stop was an edge of bank position on X-ray, in time for the first of the ebb. We were nicely settled in position, commenting on the peace and quiet when this was rudely interrupted...........first by a great big dredger that came at us from the SE at about 15 knts., en route for Southbourne beach.... and only changed course about 100 m away..... and still passed close enough for crew to shout at us... why were we in the wrong??, we were at anchor, fishing.....he was steaming with a tug nearby waiting for him. Anyway, he missed us and carried right in to the beach [ what were they doing there for a few hours... this was a BIG dredger!! ??] If that wasn't enough .... the blooming thing came almost as close on it's way back out !! Then...... there was the drone of helicopter and roar of a fleet of Ribs just offshore of us coming up from the West........ and what do they do ?? ........... all stop 100 m away, with noisy chopper at 10m altitude... what was going on ?? Three mins later , they all turn around and head back West !! At last peace returns ..... and fishing action picks up with the ebb........ first some pout, then the inevitable dogs...... but then something more substantial on my mackeral bait.... not dog, nor ray .....but a nice fat cod of 8 lbs. ... result! Not much else to report from X-ray....... so we shuffled off to Southbourne Rough for the second half of the ebb......... but only small bits and pieces untill the tide turned again....... then up comes a second , but much smaller, cod. The weather was really eerie today........the fine calm morning got more dreary as cloud lowered and a cool light breeze strengthened. We came back in just before 6 in a foggy mist and with about three more layers on than during the morning... but as usual ........GREAT TO BE OUT !!! Alun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted March 12, 2009 Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 Alun, Now looking forward to getting out over fri/mon sometime ( If anyone interested still looking for crew btw ) The dredger was probably something to do with the new surfing reef being built ? Perhaps you were on the reef Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun j. Posted March 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 Paul, We were nearly 2 miles out !!.........in it's path to Southbourne beach , where it stopped and stuck it's pipe thing down........really close in. I think it was taking sand from here, putting it on a smaller boat that then went to the reef area by Boscombe. It stayed about 2 hours, filled just one boatload, then went zooming back SEwards. Must have left a big hole......somewhere nera Solent Road \ end of prom. Alun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mw Posted March 12, 2009 Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 THank again Alun It was harder to get up this morning for work mark w Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Fox Posted March 12, 2009 Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 Alun, Good to see the cod still there!. Silly question, but were you displaying an anchor ball as required in the COLREGs ? Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun j. Posted March 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 Mike, I don't know about 'silly'........ but, realistically, how am I supposed to display an anchor ball in a little open boat ?? A big, bright fluorescent orange jacket is much more visible !! We weren't that far out..... and he was bound to keep a good observation as he was going so close to the shore. I just wondered how many sets of pot gear he steamed over, as he travelled just about the full length of the Ledge, or only just to the west of it. Alun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted March 12, 2009 Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 We're looking for a Safety Officer Mike ! Ever thought of coming back for another go ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Posted March 12, 2009 Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 I tooks the kids to southbourne beach at the weekend and saw the work going on down there. Took a photo of a sign explaining what they are doing. They are dredging off the isle of wight and pumping it on to southbourne beach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted March 13, 2009 Report Share Posted March 13, 2009 know about 'silly'........ but, realistically, how am I supposed to display an anchor ball in a little open boat ?? Not really about you being avoided, it youre not displaying an anchor ball and the dredger hits you - it's your fault. The ball tells them you are at anchor, it''s not like a radar reflector. FWIW I dont have one either (slapped wrists) so I'm not preaching. If you did want to display one, fit it to a broom pole and pop it in a rod holder. Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codpiece Posted March 13, 2009 Report Share Posted March 13, 2009 I think unless times have changed,a vessel the sizeof a dredger under marine law is at all times when under way required to keep a diligent lookout either by people on the bridge or a crew member deligated as such, weather a ''small'' open boat would strictly require to hoist an ''i am at anchor'' ball is arguable, the responsibility for safe navigation is allways with the vessel under way (especialy one so large) Derek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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