TomBettle

Hi Dom Is that Mr Dodd who you are now working for? I am not at the show this year. First time since 2002. In some ways I wish I was there. London Boat Show is an institution and a great fun place to work, but the reports I have heard back so far are not exactly inspiring. Loads of empty space, wide aisles, half empty halls and hardly any customers. If it is Mr Dodd you now work for, have a Guinness with Deano and raise a glass to "absent friends". Your new expense account will be rather good. Tom PS: Ask him when I am going to get my latest cheque!

Adam This wasn't specifically for this coming trip. I was hoping to make this a mini direcory that could possibly be stickied for future reference. Added to as people had more information so that in time we had a fairly good list of angler friendly stop overs in Alderney. I am aware AA is full as I was hoping to get a room there, but that's the point of the post. If my first choice is full, who would be best to try next?...

Who said I was on the ground????

you will struggle to get the tent pegs in on the harbour wall m8...... Where we are camping we may well struggle with tent pegs.... guy ropes around flower pots is more likely. Marks Patio? Not Mark's patio no.......

With the current and regular trips made by members to Alderney I thought it may be worth pulling together a short list of B&B's, Campsites etc that members have used, know about or can generally recommend. It may be worth including current (at the time of writing) rates and any other details such as phone number and contacts. Here's a starter, feel free to add others and add to my start. Venue: Alderney Angling Details: B&B with 3 rooms available Rate p/p/p/n:

you will struggle to get the tent pegs in on the harbour wall m8...... Where we are camping we may well struggle with tent pegs.... guy ropes around flower pots is more likely.

Nice one Chris. Pam is one of the friendliest customers I remember having. Bumped into her a couple of times since and have seen the club house very shortly after it was built. Give her a hug and say hello. All the best Tom

Provisionally book Quest II and two persons (me and Chris - maybe a third) for the May dates. I have a very unusual campsite organised for myself plus one other, but I need permission from the other users of the site (PM sent to those it may effect) otherwise I'll be looking for a B&B. Tom

Eastie I used to live in Kidlington, my warehouse was in New Yatt (North Leigh) and me and a mate had a little drinks wholesale company called En-Toute-Caisse. We sold booze to pubs and clubs around Oxfordshire. I can't remember the name of the pub (think it was the Dashwood), but it was VERY run down at the time (late 90's). The one on the corner not the one near the post office. Two ex pats who had returned from Oz were running it and I cold called on them to try and sell them drinks. In return, they brought out a bottle of what was called "Lava" a milk and wine based product. Between us we concocted a variation to suit the alcopops boom in the UK and "Moo" was launched in a pub in Eynsham where we leaked the info to the press. First, BBC Radio Oxford who put it to Reuters and then BOOM! Trouble is, we were a tiny company, with no experience and no financial backing. We took off like an absolute rocket, but simply couldn't cope and crashed very shortly after. The ex pats were great guys, but possibly had slightly dubious pasts and gently dissapeared leaving Paul and myself with a slightly shell shocked feeling and the need to get proper jobs! I don't know if the family is still there in Kirtlington, but if they are say hello to Pam from the golf club for me! All the best Tom

Most of you who know me may have an inkling that I like my Marlin fishing. Some of you have said you may like to give it a try oneday. Here's your chance and normally this late in the day you wouldn't have a prayer. Hot off the press is that one of the best Marlin teams at the best Marlin location in the world (IMHO) has just had a cancellation leaving dates through June available. Zak and or Marty have space out of Mindelo. I don't imagine the bookings will be available for long so get in touch with either of them ASAP. http://www.marlincapeverde.com is the website, but I find contacting Marty Bates on Facebook as the easiest way to reach them... Zak isn't the best at responding to email so contact on Facebook with Marty would make sense. Go to my friends list and find him there, send him a message, he's sort of expecting one. Tight Lines Tom

Just checked and I retract my apology. Some very experienced boaters recommending to have slack in the chain! Comments like these to less experienced boaters are one of the reasons that WSF has gone downhill so much. http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/show...Tripping+Anchor

But true Duncan. I remember not long ago on WSF there was a fairly extensive thread and many of the contributors (some of supposedly a lot of experience - I may be completely wrong and apologise if I am, but one has even written a book on small boat fishing) were suggesting this was correct.

Probably later in the year Adam. The flattie fishing (Turbot) is often better out of Weymouth later in the Summer and the Plaice are still there if you look "off" the bank. Later on you have a much larger range of species all within reach of the small boats. From Shark, Conger and Cod to Bass, Bream, Plaice etc. Not sure about concessions, I don't think WSF really get much of one, but I am sure I could chat with Mary and Claire at the harbour office to see if we can get a deal. Alternatively, maybe we could base out of the new Portland Marina, but that would limit the evening activities.

I know Kirtlington well Rob. Which pub are / were you stuck in? I used to be a member of the golf club there and back in the late 90's when I had my drinks business we concocted our alcoholic milk shake concoction called "Moo" in one of those pubs. You can still just about find stuff on google about Moo if you look....

Hey Sam Hope to see you afloat this year!

Sounds good Tom I would rather fish with guys I know than strangers. Perhaps we could talk at a club meeting about sorting out a trip for the club. This would of course suit even small boats as they can trail down so almost all club members could be included Martin I think it would be great to have a few days down there together as a club. Great fishing inshore and offshore. Predominantly (well... half) still in club waters so any records may well count. Great range of species from leviathans with big teeth to incredible mini species. I'd be well up for a Summer meet down there.

Hi Oli One really nice chunky one (about 1cm) or three little ones (about 3 to 4mm) is loads for us. I think it is very much down to insuring you cable tie the correct chain link to the shaft of the anchor. I aways pull the chain tight against the shaft and use the link that is right next to the cable tie point. The theory being that this will provide a direct line of pull along the shaft to the actual shackle on the anchor meaning that whilst at anchor there is little pressure on the cable ties. These ties only take the pressure as you drive out and round the anchor whilst dragging it out. If the anchor is gently set, the chunky tie is strong enough to remain in place, but if it is snagged it easily breaks leaving the anchor to be pulled up backwards. I know a lot of people have slack chain from the cable tie to the shackle on the anchor. In theory, this means that all the pressure that is exerted to hold the boat in position is on the cable ties. Tom

I may take a trip down there for a couple of days, but not sure I can be bothered with WSF as it has gone down hill so much since they decided to turn it into a Nazi training camp for their moderators. I'd far rather a PBSBAC Weymouth meet. Something along the lines of our Alderney trips?

Yes good discussion Adam The whole world of anchoring is full of interesting little trip ups to snag you. Prior to 05, I always drove the anchor out and used a lazy line and gunnell mounted capstan to bring the kit in over the starboard side. Then we had a huge fisherman's anchor and about a boat length of enormous gauge chain. The anchor rarely slipped. From 2005 until last year we had a bow mounted windlass which was easy, but very slow. The standard set-up from Jeanneau was a standard Plastimo (brand) anchoring kit which consisted of a suitable Britany anchor (in our case a 12Kg = BIG, anchor) connected to about 13m (LOTS) of 8mm chain which is connected to a fairly small amount of 12mm or 14mm warp. Ours was standard but with extra warp for the depths we fish. The anchor NEVER slipped in 4 years and I put this down to the extra long length of chain meaning that the direction of pull on the anchor was always horizontal, thus helping to set it. For 2010 we have kept the old anchoring kit, but ditched the windlass and are going back to the good old Alderney Technique. Always a little nerve racking the first few times, but with caution, I am sure we will soon be able to drive the anchor out as we did in the good old days of Quest 1. On Saturday, the boys and I were talking about reducing the length of chain on our set-up. You know, to make life easier when bringing it over the side. My thoughts were two fold: 1) It is the length of chain that is the key thing that stops us slipping 2) When using the Alderney technique the total length of chain must weigh more than the weight of the anchor. This is to stop the anchor falling back to the sea bed once it has been driven out and you are pulling it in. So, if you are only using short chain, add more. Another tip from the world of boat cruising is after you have lowered what you believe is enough warp and chain, insure you are tight at the bow (no loose warp under the boat) and then gently back the boat away from the warp (downtide obviously) until you literally feel the anchor set. This will be noticed by the bow of the boat gently dipping. Tom

For me, as well as making life easier on the banks, the smaller tides are so much nicer on the mid channel marks too. A 2 knot mid channel drift is a lot less tackle hungry and more fish productive than a four knot one. Not to mention anchoring and then fishing for Snakes.

Itching to get offshore again Duncan. Hope the engine is well run in by then as I am not planning on too many of these brrrrrrrrrrrrrilliant Winter sessions. Finances and time allowing I hope to get over a couple of times. Tom

I'll second Charlie's comments regarding tides. I am sooooo looking forward to heading over with Quest II, but will be booking my days around the tide tables rather than the actual dates. For Turbot, I plan to go on neaps as I hate to drag a weight to slow the drift. Interestingly, if you want an early May trip, Thursday 6th through Monday 10th are perfect flattie tides. Then Sunday 6th June to Thursday 10th June also look good. I may leave it until early / mid Juneish or even the end of July and make use of the mid channel marks on the way home too? Monday 21st June to Friday 25th would seem like a nice week to also have a go at the mid channel Cod (and Conger 'ey Charlie?) en route back in? Or Monday 5th July to Friday 9th July? Definitely good mid channel action (maybe even a little late) by Monday 19th July throught to Saturday 24th July? Tom

Yes, thanks Martin. You can keep your Alderney trip! But, hopefully we'll be on for one or two this year. The new engine is 20Hp more so we may have a few prop tweeks and a few other niggles to sort out, but keep your fingers crossed that the only reason you'll hear from us is for the right ones! Have a great New Year one and all! Tom

I'll be out on Quest II on the 2nd for her first trip of 2010 and first trip with the new engine in. Sticking inshore to be safe, but please can you keep your phones and VHF's on.... ....just in case!

That's a great offer Oli, but to be honest I am only posting them for a bit of fun. I've bought a cheapo HD waterproof camcorder for future stuff. Again, not brilliant quality, but for fun on Youtube it should be OK so hope to post more vids soon. Tom