duncan

anyhow back to more important things -

my landing floor is almost finished and the oak is looking super (if I say so myself). Going to leave it a month before finishing off the doorways to allow for any movement.

why would anyone want ot go out in a boat at this time of year when they can have so much fun in the house?

Talking of weather what would be the max you (all) would consider going over in?

 

Martin

Martin

 

What was the weather we had on that crossing when I joined you guys with Quest II and Duncan came on Phaeton?

 

I wouldn't want to cross in any more than that. It is no longer fun.

 

I seem to remember that was about a 5 on the nose?????

It dies off nicely by the afternoon (after we had made an early run for it to miss the forecast of it arriving at midday)

 

Tom

'twas a 6 on the nose at times - I remember the trip well despite it being uneventful!

the only reasons we went were -

1. the forecast for the next 5 days were sun and F0-F1

2. we initially thought we were travelling in company

3. I only flew in from abroad a few hours earlier and hadn't really been thinking about it

4. we knew it wasn't going to get much worse as we crossed - the worst conditions were expected about 5 miles S of Anvil point. So we batterned everything down, made up flasks and sarnies and headed off . In actual fact the sea did get worse approaching Alderney as the wavelength got shorter - but by then we had slotted in behind Quest (it was a mile ahead) and took comfort from their antics (it looked worse on there than it felt on Phaeton!

5. we weren't sleeping onboard so knew we could get a good nights sleep whatever on arrival.

on the other hand we didn't still head off 'because we had arranged to do so'

with regard to the other brave bunnies on here I personally wouldn't head over in more than a 3-4SW - this gives the option of finding a more comfortable course to the S if I find the conditions off Anvil make the going to heavy on 210M and I can make for Cherbourg on the first night and run across to the Schole early the next morning. Having done this twice I have found on both occassions I have been able to come back on course for Alderney later in the trip without having taken too big a detour and maintaining 16 knots. Any more and I will postpone - three times in 2006 I set off for Alderney and ended up in Weymouth.........

coming back is usually easier as if the weather does come up quickly it's usually from the SW and we can still maintain a decent speed.

This was heading over in 2006 on the Friday evening in June for the 48hour comp

or it may have been coming back on the Sunday.............

when there's motion like that Mike I am tucked up in St PP or Beaucette! The latter is well placed for the fishing grounds but the sill is 1' too high to make it really practicable for our boats on neap tides and you get locked in too long on others (as well as cost).

overall about 2/3rds of the buoys have mooring strops that, apart from being a bit dirty to handle, are best. We tend to pick up on of these and simply run a short length of 14mm through it.

the problem with chain is that you end up with either a complex series of chain/warp connections and a lot of length or you end up kissing the buoy all night with the bow.

it's a good tip not to just tie up with a loop of thin warp though

I totally agree Martin. Good reasons for a few boats - but equally good ones to avoid complex detailed arrangements!

I'm still hoping for Sunday if the window holds

of all the issues raised in the above posts to me the decisive one is the weather - everything else can be handled to a degree (although really big tides aren't great for the flats...........and can turn some marks into a good impression of a washing machine too!

I only have one thing in the diary before August and it inevitably falls 7-14 June.............BBBBB FFFFF

I just might be able to resolve for the 48hr weekend but the Weymouth plan looks like it just got scrapped for me. I assume the latter weekend is the neaper tides?

Basically I will look to run over in any good weather window from April onwards and could be overnighting in Alderney, St Peter Port or anchored up off the Swinge for the night depending on conditions, provisions and company.

On the other hand I am not really into stopping off on the wrecks a lot on such trips - but am happy to head over for just the weekend and 2 good days fishing.

If we think we are going we will of course post on here anyway.

now that does look a nice window!

you got me all excited with talk of a window............so I mentally thought 'yes' and then looked at the data...

that is one small window in the middle of some nastly stuff

I wish you good fortune!

1480 is a lovely action but very 'all through' - and boy is it heavy to hold for little guys like me....

won't get rid of mine though!

can't help feeling the Abu is the deal here - just hang on until May and pick one (or two) up from Mark on a trip over to fish. Will save at least the postage

it's always interesting to consider the rods action in any rod, and between 8-20lb it makes all the difference in the world!

I always seem to end up with the wrong type of fish for the rod I am using - if I use a tippy or stiffer rod I can guarantee a smoothy or inshore pollack will grab the bait; go all through action and I'll see rays all day long...

OK I'll bite........

how do you have enough power in a battery to start the engine in the morning, steam out without any charging warning, sit at anchor in daylight at this time of year (no need for fridge) and then find the battery is flat?

short (sry) of using an invertor for the hair straighteners, or an electric kettle that is...

great to hear te people had a good day out - and that some nice fish were caught...

anyone want to know how my staircase renovation is going? thought not!

Jack, if your cable tie is letting go (any number at all!) whilst at anchor and without swinging through a tide, something is very wrong!

a change of plan for Phaeton - not prompted by Jack's plans honest!

on the other hand I think I have the whole of May for fishing; barring any misunderstanding!

best of luck to everyone heading out.

Dave should be out in the harbour in Knot Again fishing the flounder comp

well I have W 10 knots through the morning dropping to 6 for 1500 and back up to 8 for 1800 so I think I will go for it.

as you say the tide will be running pretty hard on the back of strong W / SW winds as well so a bit of colour in the water.

will give you a call Sat evening - or vice versa

D

I am currently looking at a prospective window Sunday too........

what's a whiting?

nice report Alun - clearly making the most of the sparse opportunities.

I am eyeing the coming Sunday at the moment as there appears to be a possible window for a foray..... due one shot surely!

thanks for the laugh - will make the weekend a lot better after today's meetings!

hmmm - bales the size of containers!

Dan - absolutely!

Terry - perceptive as ever...

Personally I am concerned about this October 2008 swell that has been so precisely forecast; I have made arrangements this year based on May, June, Sept and Oct being absolutely flat and windless in the area around the club waters and feel it' s abit early for anyone to tell me it won't be like that!

on the other hand can we add the new species surfer;surfer to the record sheets in anticipation of bumper catches?

Just put that new shed order on hold............

damm the weather - the only essential is the fish!

I think the current suggestion is an excellent one as it gives the shore based contingent an opportunity to join in - however I would not want to risk upsetting pyc at all.

Failing that there are of course the boat raft options that the increase in 'overnight boats' bring with them.

ah the price of hot water.............(from one who doesn't have it!)

what exactly do you mean by a galvanic isolator?

As usual I will offer a different possibility/angle...

Many OBs and most stern drives are installed with a overiding protection against starting in gear. Normally a microswitch in the gear/throttle assembly wired to the starter solenoid.

Something to check. I can't remember if it's a wired as continuity or the other way round though......let alone whether your engine has it!

Obviously if you are getting a large voltage drop but no action when you turn the key it's back to the main wiring or SM but if you get no voltage drop this is where my money would go....

FORGET THIS - just reread your post re the fishfinder etc - you are clearly wired for current flow so it's back to connections, state of the wiring, or, if you have one, the battery isolator switch - if you have one then this is now where my money rides!

So how many people does a 40lb conger feed with this reciepe the Mike?

Seriously though it's good to experiment like this and thanks for sharing. I will however be fully convinced when Alun starts targeting them rather than complaining about them as pests!

Alun

I think the key is condition rather than size as you say but I will still stand by the smaller fish being somehow 'sweeter'.

However such smaller fish as I am referring to are now undersize and the supermarket farmed fish ............ lets just say they start at a huge disadvantage!

I have had 4 fish to the table this year - 5,5,6,9 and unsurprisingly they tasted similar.

A poor condition fish of any size should just go back as it will do nothing but disappoint - this includes cod imo.

porbeagles?