Oli

Date dependent I'm very keen. As before, don't anyone buy any bran for the rubby dubby, I've got a huge sack in the garage I'd be keen to see the back of...

Lovely pictures and report Adam, wish I'd been free!! Next year for sure. Oli

Thanks guys. Have always used either Whiplash or Power Pro and been pleased... This guy seems legit Tom, tonnes of positive feedback. Any idea how you can tell if it's fake - does it just break more easily or something?

Just about to order some braid for a shiny new reel that's hopefully arriving tomorrow and was going to purchase this as it's cheaper in bulk and we'll always have a need for it: Braid on eBay Question is, does the bright yellow colour make a difference? I've always used the standard dark green stuff before but like the look of this (though not at the expense of the few fish we get!). Another thing - do most use 30lb? All of our reels are loaded with 30 for general fishing so by default that's what I was going to order more of.

Massive congrats to you both mate - you must be very chuffed indeed!

Lures that is!!

Was any flavour fishing particularly better than any other during the recent exploits?

Is it just me or do I spy an opportunity in the weather to get out tomorrow? Will anyone else be heading out? I'm thinking offshore to try some wrecks... I feel a trip down the M3 coming

Use Firefox and you'll wonder why you ever considered IE. http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/new/

Welcome on ours too Tom - I'm sure between Neal and I we can get a nice long list of pros and cons! Oli

Have an excellent trip guys, very jealous!

Hi Adam, I'll check with the rest of the crew but I'm pretty sure we'll be very game for that. Oli

10/0 - That big is it? Not what I heard!!! How did I know when I saw you'd replied it would be along those lines Rob!! Kinda set myself up for that

Haha Charlie play nice and I'll promise not to put my 10/0 anywhere near you

Oh I don't know Neal, looks as though it would put up a pretty good fight with a 10/0 in it

Put one of those on my hook PLEASE Rob

Charlie, plan is to have a day flattie hunting. I know the Shambles will be easy to work out but what about these legendary plaice mussel beds? Would be lovely to try and find some tope action maybe on slack if there's spots nearby? Next day would ideally be wrecking, am I right in thinking there's a decent ling wreck that way? Thanks mate Oli

Just an update on this. We're now planning on Weymouth instead of Alderney unless the main trip is postponed til the last weekend of the month. Plan will be: Early start Sat 28/5, straight to fish Shambles Saturday night and Sunday night in Weymouth, returning to Poole Monday 30th. Any and all are welcome to buddy along, would be good to have some company! Having never done the trip before it would be much appreciated if anyone has any tips/numbers as though I do have about 5 marks, I've never been there to verify them (though I gather we just follow the crowd). Also, I'm planning on staying on board at Weymouth quay so I'm close to town, if anyone has any pros or cons regarding that it would also be great to hear them - as well as recommendations close by for a B&B for the rest of the crew! Thanks Oli

Thought I'd start this just in case there are others who are unable to make the main Alderney trip but do want to go another time (or of course for the hardcore that want to visit twice in a fortnight). As per usual one of my closest and extremely unreasonable mates has decided to get married the weekend of this year's trip (I have already instructed my wife to be that when it's our turn next year, the whole of May is banned unless she wants it on the island) so the crew of Sweet Chariot plan to voyage across the channel two weeks later (the bank holiday weekend). We aim to depart Poole the morning of Friday 27th May and return Monday 30th May and would really like to do it with at least one other boat and of course - the more the merrier. Anyone fancy it? Oli

It's a sad state of affairs that I'm genuinely shocked that absolutely the right decision was made for a change! Great result indeed

Duncan, absolutely brilliant - thank you so much for taking the time to write all of that. Now I've just got to get down to Poole again to go through it all thoroughly. Thanks for the number Charlie, I'm going to give him a shout. Will report back!

Hi Tom, We did talk about this, but it's dry down there, and the bilges are dry all the time too so I'm pretty sure it's above the waterline. Charlie, skylights and windows have been checked - we did have one which was leaky so we thought we'd found the problem. As it was never used we totally sealed it with silicone. Nothing now comes in there but unfortunately we still have the problem. The surveyor sounds ideal - I was thinking we should really have a full boat survey done before the warranty expires so we can get anything fixed, is it the sort of thing a surveyor should find? Any idea what such a service costs? Thanks again all

Thanks Dave, interesting that you have it too - Neal advised that he also knows a couple of people who have had water come in when the boat flexes and eventually needed to have the joint fibreglassed from the inside to stop it. I'm really keen to get this resolved while still under warranty - does anyone know if this is the sort of thing that a boat surveyor would find? Graham, the problem is I can't seem to make water come in myself - it's only when we're ploughing through some fairy rough seas that we actually get anything come in, but it's quite a bit when it does...

Didn't think of that Martin - it does come in next to the toilet too! Rob, would you mind being our taster?

Thanks for such quick replies guys. Definitely salt water. The fresh water tank is on the port side, under the deck and about half way along the length of the boat and the water seems to come in on the starboard side up at the front the cabin and then trickle down on to the seat and on to the floor where it collects in a puddle by the toilet door.