Steve S

Another amazing and also depressing tour d'force

The main thing is what is going to be banned, at the moment in the MCZs nothing is restricted any more than in the nearby waters. Clearly a complete nonsense.

Shame I get media error when trying to play (Firefox and IE).

Studland Bay Offshore Overfalls Utopia Bembridge Norris to Ryde Yarmouth to Cowes The Needles are up for consideration. Plus also management measures are being now considered at the same time plus also for the 1st round sites. Without which the whole thing is a total waste of time IMO. The big question is which management measures. http://www.rya.org.uk/newsevents/news/Pages/SitesforsecondtrancheofMCZs.aspx?utm_source=InBrief&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=mar14-inbrief-nonmem Steve

I had a Lowrance structure scan on my last boat a MF 805 (shaft drive), I think that is the type of transducer you are referring to, the transducer had to be mounted outside the hull. Initially it was only available for transom mounting so I mounted it on the transom... It was ok but washed out at medium speeds (15knots if I recall right) it was also a long way from the standard transducer so overlay images did not exactly align. When a hull mounted one became available I fitted that under the hull near the standard transducer and in a wash free zone. The result was it worked up to the maximum speed of the MF (23knots) and the overlay was perfectly aligned. Steve

There were these three girls who were getting married and they all met at the marriage counsellor’s office to discuss the options of having or not having a baby right away. They were two city girls and one farm girl. The counsellor asked them if they planned on having a baby right away or if they were going to wait awhile. They all said that they had discussed this with their potential husbands and had all agreed to wait awhile. Well, the counsellor asked the first city girl what type of birth control she planned to use. Her answer was, “The rhythm method”. “That will work,” said the counsellor, “but only if you keep a good record.” He asked the second city girl what system she planned on using. “I plan on using birth control pills” she said. Again he said, “Yes that will work as long as you don 't forget to take them”. He then asked the farm girl what system she was planning on using. Her answer was, “The bucket and saucer method.” After a short delay, he told her that should also work. He asked them all to come back in one year on a specific date for a follow up on how things were going. They all met again one year later and the two city girls were pregnant. Only the farm girl was still slim and trim. Well, the counsellor asked the first girl what method she used and what went wrong. She replied, “I used the rhythm method but somehow got my notes mixed up and, well here I am, going to have a baby.”' He asked the second city girl what method she used and she replied, “The birth control pill ... But we were camping one weekend and I didn't have my pills with me and as you can see, I too am going to have a baby.” He turns to the farm girl. “I vaguely remember you were going to use the bucket and saucer method. Now I must admit that I don't have a clue what the bucket and saucer method is. Will you explain it to me as I see it has worked well for you.” She replied, “Well, we always make love standing up, and since I am quite a bit taller than my husband, he stands on a bucket turned upside down. Now as we are making love, I watch his eyes, and when his eyes get as big as saucers ...... “I kick the bucket out from under him”.

Seems like the weather windows are just there to tempt us, donkey, carrot and stick come to mind! We had the worst winds of the winter here in Sway last night, 2 big trees down in my garden. A big eucalyptus (glad to see it gone) and a giant Christmas tree snapped off 6 foot up, must have been some blast to do that. Also the restaurant at Milford of Sea took a beating, if you know the place it is not exactly right on the sea front more behind the pebble beach. That really must have been some surge to get to it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-26203776

This may be the one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-biU8pfjS0

Ye Gods! There might not be a wall left with much of that.

Thanks for the article on flounder and in part plaice movements Alun, I found it an interesting (if dry) read, much of it was new to me. Steve

Hope you had a good one Martin

Result! very pleased to hear that Nigel, any idea when you will be motoring again?

We have in spades on the previous 3 occasions .

A lot of work went into this and no little money. http://www.youtube.com/embed/HG_wfMK7dko?rel=0

An elderly couple had just learned how to send text messages on their mobile phones. The wife was a romantic, the husband more of a no-nonsense sort of a bloke... One afternoon, the wife went out to meet a friend for tea at a cafe. While waiting, she decided to send her husband a romantic text message and she wrote: "If you are sleeping, send me your dreams. If you are laughing, send me your smile. If you are eating, send me a bite. If you are drinking, send me a sip. If you are crying, send me your tears. I love you." The husband texted back to her: "I'm on the toilet, please advise." _______________________________________________________________________________ A 3-year-old boy examined his testicles while taking a bath. 'Mum', he asked, 'Are these my brains?' 'Not yet,' she replied. _______________________________________________________________________________ Q: WHAT IS AN AUSTRALIAN KISS? A: It's the same as a French kiss, but 'down-under.' Q: WHAT DO YOU DO WITH 365 USED CONDOMS? A: Melt them down, make a tyre, and call it a Goodyear. Q: WHY WERE HURRICANES NORMALLY NAMED AFTER WOMEN? A: Because when they come, they're wild and wet, and when they go, they take your house and car with them. Q: WHY DO GIRLS RUB THEIR EYES WHEN THEY GET UP IN THE MORNING? A: Because they don't have any balls to scratch...

Really nice boat Dan, congratulations, is it a twin engine jobbie? Steve

I very much agree with your comments Charlie, a lot more could be made of what they have already without huge cost. An all tide marine would surly be a good thing for the island bringing extra income, it my belief that any place without new developments is basically dying and judging from the school attendance drops quoted that would apply to Alderney sad to say. Reading comments from the locals many do not want any change and minimise the benefits but fail to see what a lack of change brings, stasis, and the exiting of the young, decay. Steve

1. Alfresco, Charlie plus crew tbc 2. AWOL - Martin + crew already sorted 3. Wight Magic Dave +crew already sorted 4. Kingfisher - Chris + Chris A 5. Tigerfish - Steve, Lloyd, Alan 6. Freeboys Peter + Matt. ..... 7. Wandering Star - Andrew + crew tbc 8. Manta Ray...Tomo,PJ,Tubby,Paul,Steve + 2 additional crew tbc 9. JV - Adam, Ian and Alun

Yak Yak Yak, on and on and on....

1. Alfresco, Charlie plus crew tbc 2. AWOL - Martin + crew already sorted 3. Wight Magic Dave +crew already sorted 4. Kingfisher - Chris + Chris A 5. Tigerfish - Steve, Lloyd, rest of crew tbc 6. Freeboys Peter + Matt. ..... 7. Wandering Star - Andrew + crew tbc

2nd Weekend in May 1. Alfresco, Charlie plus crew tbc 2. AWOL - Martin + crew already sorted 3. Wight Magic Dave +crew already sorted 4. Kingfisher - Chris + Chris A 5. Tigerfish - Steve, crew tbc

MY SATNAV I have a little Satnav I've had it all my life It's better than the normal ones My Satnav is my wife It gives me full instructions Especially how to drive "It's thirty miles an hour", it says "You're doing thirty five" It tells me when to stop and start And when to use the brake And tells me that it's never ever Safe to overtake It tells me when a light is red And when it goes to green It seems to know instinctively Just when to intervene It lists the vehicles just in front And all those to the rear And taking this into account It specifies my gear. I'm sure no other driver Has so helpful a device For when we leave and lock the car It still gives its advice It fills me up with counselling Each journey's pretty fraught So why don't I exchange it And get a quieter sort? Ah well, you see, it cleans the house, Makes sure I'm properly fed, It washes all my shirts and things And - keeps me warm in bed! Despite all these advantages And my tendency to scoff, I do wish that once in a while I could turn the bugger off! Going a little stir crazy here! Happy New Year Everyone

Just logged on in a happy mellow mood and then saw this, so sorry about it Nigel, I can only image how you must be feeling. I agree with the comments, unlikely it's the actual bilge pump by itself, need to find out the cause for future piece of mind. Many ideas already posted, here's some others. The boat taking on a lean for some reason (large log against the hull) and then water coming though what is normally an outlet hole more than the bilge pump can cope with or because of the lean not where the pump can pump it out. A sea water cooling pipe failure to the pump, siphon action then does the rest. This happens on a Volvo D4/D6, I've seen it, more water than a bilge pump can cope with. Somewhat less likely the main drive rubber gasket on the leg can also fail, this often just trashes the drive but if not spotted/felt the water can get past the drive seal, whether this can let water into the boat depends on the design of the engine. I was told it was a risk on an old Mercruiser I had. Regarding the idiot who decided to turn over the engine, if it was still turning over when he stopped you may well have got away with hydraulicing the whole thing. Most marine engines like to do this type of engine recovery job, there is basically a procedure to it. Good luck with the insurers. Steve

At a bar ... A beautiful girl at the bar having already downed a few power drinks, turns around, faces a guy next to her, looks him straight in the eye and says: "Listen here, good looking. I screw anybody, anytime, anywhere, your place, my place, in the car, front door, back door, on the ground, standing up, sitting down, naked or with clothes on; it doesn't matter to me. I just love it!" Eyes now wide with interest, he responds: "No kidding, I'm in banking too! Which one are you with?" Happy Christmas!

1, Kingfisher 2, Fisheagle 3, Slice of Life 4, Awol 5. Reflections 2 6. The Grinch 7.Wishin Too 8 Freeboys 9. Yelo 10. Tiddler 11. Mistress 12. JoJo 13. MegaByte 14. Wight Magic 15 Sweet Pea 16. Tigerfish I like the comp, provides year round interest.