Mike Fox

Based on your travel patterns, I think I might try something different. I'd put in solid ground anchors at your new house, and secure your boat there for most of the year - your cheapest option. I'd seek an easy-access option for just July and August while you're around, such as Cobbs dry stack/Rockley ashore or Cobb's Quay F pontoon on a monthly deal (if they'll play). That will give you the most leisure time afloat per day during that key period when using the boat, instead of dragging it around. For the rest of the year, I'd either trail and self-launch at one of the slipways in the area (or multiple slipways to explore other areas), and accept the hassle with waders, day fees, hosing off and towing OR see if Rockley or Cobbs would use their dry storage equipment to lift your boat from the trailer, and launch/retrieve it for you, to save some of the hassles, but at a higher per-trip cost. If you used your boat a couple of times per month when you're around in these quieter times (and with wet/windy weather and shorter day length), it might give you a better boating experience for those days you choose to go out. I have a neighbour with a very similar boat on his drive, and he doesn't use it much due to the hassle of trail/launch/clean, but wants to hang onto it in case the ideal day comes along when he's free.... Mike

Hi Steve, Have a look at the Berkley Naumad travel rod - heavy spinning travel rod, 4-piece, 80g casting weight. http://www.berkley-fishing.co.uk/berkley-rods-spinning-rods-berkley-naumad/berkley-naumad-casting-travel/1454122-0300.html Can double up as a holiday rod for barracuda, bluefish, trevally, etc. I won a Shimano 8000-sized reel a few years ago that I've struggled to find a use for, and it makes a good pair. Mike

Hi Neil, you might not actually have a balance pipe, worth checking! My boat has twin 200l tanks with separate fuel lines and primary filters. I have to change tanks when down to about 25 percent, to avoid the risk of air getting into a pickup pipe when heeling. I have change over levers for fuel supply and return feed, that goes to a single secondary filter. The two tanks are deliberately separate to avoid cross-contamination. You might just have a full tank that side. Mike

Looks very versatile, enabling the odd weekend away or overnighter in comfort, as well as providing a decent fishing platform.

Update: Feisty Fox - Mike, Carol and one non-member, Sunday

Feisty Fox - Mike and non members, Sunday.

Feisty Fox - with Mike and Carol

Is it still on?

Well done Bobi, a great fish, on a difficult day. Nice to see a few club boats out there, and a few good fish caught. Thanks again Graham. Mike

Hi Mick, I use the good old Met Office Inshore Waters Forecast for the official position. If they have a strong wind warning that other sites miss, at least I've been warned! https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/marine/inshore-waters-forecast#iw7 For medium/longer range stuff, I've used a German website for many years, and trusted it for my long-range passage planning, as well as planning fishing trips several days in advance. See here: http://www.wetterzentrale.de/en/panels.php?model=gfs&map=1&var=1&lid=OP It combines temperature (colours) and pressure (isobars). Click any of the 9 windows to expand it to give a detailed chart for the day. Mike

Marichelle- Mick & James ( Non member ) Sea Jay- Mike and Clare Boblin- Colin, Bobi, Peter Russel snr, Fisheagle- Allan and Dave L. Probably both Comps Stingray - Terry and Neal. Foxy Fisher III - Graham and Mike

I've had a couple of visits to St Pete in May in recent years and probably a couple of dozen before. The outer pontoons have fresh water and electricity now, and as Steve says are walk-ashore. They used to be quiet, but many English, French and Channel Island boat owners visiting have preferred staying "outside" with the ability to depart when they want. I would suggest that in good weather in May you could be rafted 2 or 3 deep on all of the outer pontoons, with boats being assigned slots on a first-come first-berthed basis, filling up all of the the alongside berths in the U-shaped blind alleys first, then rafting up, with the furthest berths rafted first. When it's 2 deep all over, they'll assign a 3rd boat both sides, and block the U-shaped slot if necessary. I arrived early in May 2017, was met by a Harby in a dory as usual, and ended up with two French boats outside, and several boats "in" in the U-shaped blind alley. It was a pig to get out, and needed other boat crews to move, and my planned 6 a.m. departure for Brittany turned into 7 a.m. Friendly warnings the night before had been forgotten with meals and wine ashore. Knocking loudly, smiling, and a bit of French definitely helps, and makes the exit more bearable for all. No Harbys were seen to aid departure! Suggestion: Talk to the harbourmaster. Explain you're leaving early and need a good position to depart. Two or three PBSBAC boats arriving together might be able to berth together, but still might get hemmed in. Failing that, try to tie outside of a larger boat, and hope no-one comes alongside you. St Pete is definitely an experience, and I wouldn't let the berthing hassles put you off. My personal preference if fishing the Schole Bank or area south of the Alderney Race would be Dielette and sleeping aboard. In good weather (with no wind in the NW). The outer marina is quiet, accessible 24*7 for shallow draughts, with a little commercial traffic only. Walkashore berths, decent showers, and straight to a popular restaurant. There's not much there, but it is spectacular and welcoming!

I had a great day out with Graham on Foxy Fisher III, but alas no cod here either. With few cod reported from the Needles area, we fished one of Graham's marks near the Dolphin Sands, and it was fish from first drop. A total of 51 fish slid over the side, with whiting to nearly 2lb, conger to 10-15lb, a handful of the obigatory dogfish, a solitary pout and a small-eyed ray. Shortly after lunch, the fish went totally off the feed, and we changed tactics on a closer mark, trying drifting over a few banks. Graham broke out his new slow jigging rod, and surprised both of us with a whiting first drop. A change of lure then caught another, and a massive hit that just might have been that elusive cod, but refused to come back. I can see why he was keen on trying it! We ended up having a really good day, and had it not been a cod comp, it would have been a perfect winter's day on the water! If anyone ever gets the chance to fish on Foxy Fisher III, I would definitely recommend it. An immensely capable boat, with a phenomenal electronics package, and an expererienced skipper who found fish in what seemed to have been a difficult day for most! I went to the weigh-in for the Poole Sea Angling Centre comp, and it was 29 competing anglers. Winning cod was under 5lb, winning whiting about 4lb, and the 2nd and 3rd cod prizes were awarded to next best two whiting. Hot and cold food was provided, and was enjoyed by all attending. Well done Andy for organising! Mike

On Graham's behalf... Foxy Fisher III with Graham and Mike

Thanks Graham, you have a Pm. Mike

I'd love to take part on 30th. Does anyone have space for crew?

Hope you can find a way to celebrate in style! Best wishes

It might be interesting leaving the twin sails bridge up in the forecast wind in the next few days. I seem to recall they used to stop operating at about 40 knots due to the risk of damage while it was raised.

I'd vote for a tunnel....

Not seen anything online about this.... Drove past the Castaways tackle shop in Hamworthy today, and the shop name sign has been removed, the place has been gutted, and a major refurbishment is underway. Anyone know more?

The anchoring skills learned through the club are invaluable, and make a huge difference both to catch rates and safety. We anchored today between two tongues of rock in a small Bay to the west of the Ile D'Aix. The ground is generally smooth but with outcrops of rock. Rather than risk our main anchor for a lunch stop, the fishing anchor was deployed. Our 10kg Bruce clone is tiny for our 11 tons or so, but it will hold. Crucially, it's rigged to trip, and if snagged, it should come back. We know someone without this experience, and lost a 33kg Rocna anchor and chain, after a bad snag.

Amazing, catching conger and tope on No 4 hooks, and ragworm.....

Nice gilthead, must be pushing the club record!

The winds are dropping nicely, sea states are coming down, but warm air and cold seas increases the risk of fog. Take care out there chaps!

The boat was a fin-keeled fibreglass Westerly GK29, 29' long, around 3-4 tons in weight. They've been around since the 70s. A yacht like that should be stored ashore resting on it's keel in an adjustable steel cradle giving secure support under and around the hull to stop movement. Additional props would be needed bow and stern to keep it absolutely secure, and braced like that, it should be able to survive winds of 100 mph plus, even with the mast up, and genoa furled, as in this case. The fact the owner was present when it moved suggests he was working on the boat, perhaps antifouling, and may have accidentally or deliberately moved one of the supports (something that is banned in most boatyards). I'm sure an investigation will show if it's a failure of the supporting cradle, or the owner's activities that caused the tragedy. While my heart goes out to the deceased and family at this time, for club members working on boats still, please DON'T move any supports for maintenance. Leave it to the professionals, or wait until launching time for a last minute touch-up of the "patches".