duncan

where are those damm seahorses when you need them?

Steve Loftus [Lofty] Dan Chapman Sam Chapman Derek Vaines (Trevor Whyatt hope to make it but working late) Terry Bartell (down next week, can't do it all) Graham Nash (not looking likely here either i'm afraid) Dave Funnell (diverdave) first meeting since I joined and I'm working :-( Johnnyb.(love to be there but Im a long distance member.sorry.) Duncan M (was there and coming ! but the weather drove us home early....)

If the weather plays ball this sounds good - having notice I can 'provision' this time!

great report all round Nick! Picture, fish, smiling faces and the promise of more to come (nice piece of ground).

when the sun's shinning and the sea's calm anything seems possible! sounds like an enjoyable trip that would have been perfect with just a few more fish.

I was correctly struck off, but have now paid. Sorry to cause work.

on this sort of trip I would want to know the tidal flows experienced, and, bluntly, the way the boat was driven given the speed limit. run that at 10 knots and you won't see even that fuel consumption! there's a good reason that any boat launched should check the bilges after a few minutes, and before leaving the dock...(accepting that the latter may not be an option for trailer launches) watching the build progress on here I was muttering 'weight' a couple of times, but time will tell.

"......a pin inside a din plug was bent over......."

Mark, I've been visiting Braye with Phaeton for about the same 9 years (not fishing the first few) and I would echo your comments. There are many who go out of their way to help, in it's widest sense, and there are others who are fine on 'their terms'; any issues generally being a need for the former finding the latter! Whilst I can't make this weekend I will be over if the weather settles at some point - I have to take the blame for the weather over the last couple of years; all this started when I retired.....

you are a cruel man Adam, but then again why would they want to come back in the E5-6 I'm seeing for Friday, as opposed to crossing over in it?

I've analysed the data as best I can an predict v light northerly winds in Poole Bay on Sunday If I had the option I would be driving down in the expectation of fishing in excellent conditions I am not a licenced weather forecaster........ but I'm damm good from a historical perspective (i have to be 'cos it costs me

I won't be able to make this alternative date - but am determined to get over at some point this year! Maybe during the flat calm sunny periods through June!

I understood that Cobbs got paid off in advance!

there's good and bad in what I'm seeing Alun.... let's see what develops (the high pressure's gone by late Sun) and how the timing for Thu/Fri pans out as well - I'm seeing SSW 6 on Thu and light N midday Fri!

I will take the number of 'great' s in the post to take it you are very happy with the new boat....... I have been posting for years (here and elsewhere) that people simply don't take the opportunity to practice (explore/experiment) berthing their boat in it's berth. Definitely best done in company; which can include the additional options available 2 handed. Lessons learnt transpose well to visiting situations as well.

congratulations to all the winners, and recognition to all the work that goes in on, and off, the water for such fish.

the next week is very unsettled - (which is better than the last couple of weeks) - but I would prefer to see a settled one of some sort than one which relies on pinpoint timing over the trip period. the latter is inherently stressfull for skippers as it can easily lead to pressured decision making. but I guess I'm only really stating the obvious. we should get a realistic idea of what it's likely to look like in another 3/4 days (although that could still be 'changeable!)

I have enough issues with the sort rage ones at the moment. Honestly, I am expecting this to be a no brainer as things stand - but hoping to be amazed

indeed Brian, I misread the line regarding power/working/lights...ignition switch looking guilty now

Charlie's provided a pretty comprehensive list My money would be on the gear shift protection as he calls it - partially because it's the only electro mechanical bit in the system!

Adam, You forgot the obvious; - 1. 300lb porgy brought alongside off Speedy 2. Mainbrace has an oversupply problem with diesel and asks us all to fill up at 50p/l to help him out the club records for turbot and brill are obviously a given, within your scenario, but both Ling and Coalfish also fall.........

huge choices, anything between - long and soft or short, light but firmer action. any reel you like really personally I find that something like the 'downrigger' rods - 8'6" soft action - provides about the right feel; whilst I have 4 and 5000 sized fixed spool reels I can't see any advantage to useing them for bream fishing, and some advantages to small multiplier reels; abu6500LD, Calcutta 400 being my preference ie compact and lightweight with smooth drags then again an Ugly Stick spinning rod in it's lightest size can also be huge fun, as it can for mackerel...

is that the crux of the matter? yachts down at 5 6 or 8 knots for long passages can live with the risk and adapt accordingly boats at 15 20 25 and 30 knots it is more of an issue, as an example there were 60+ nets laid off sovereign harbour last weekend and the usual thing there marked with a washing up bottle you dont see at speed until they are within a min or so I'm not sure what adapting to a risk means, but my point was that people accept some degree of risk - they frequently think it's only to them but that's another matter! Examples would be single handed yachts on passage, including what I consider coastal waters, where they will work to a sleeping pattern that they perceive to be 'safe' - for example 2hrs at 5knots in relation to what they might hit; relying on other faster parties to avoid them (or just playing the odds). All that really changes between ocean passages and offshore coastal ones is the odds. My comment re not going to sea in a yacht without one comes down tot he need to leave the helm on passage from time to time - it's a necessity. I would still be keeping a watch though.

interesting that you put that rider in there Chris! definitely don't want to start a tread on the subject but eyeryone makes there own decisions about what constitutes risk - and there's no doubt that many thousands of yachts travel single handed and rely on being the SO vessel, in a range of areas. this skipper was travelling faster, and the area appears to have been more 'inshore', and the abscence appears to have been 30 sec - although he didn't leave the helm... 2 bits of good news - 1. that skipper will never leave let his attention wander when at the helm ever again in his life 2. the yak guy seems fine. I admit to being surprised that any vessel (in Aus) can be 'at sea' without the ability to make sound signals (and a handheld foghorn would have been heard) - they have a lot of regulations on going to sea. I'm the auto pilot on Phaeton, but wouldn't go to sea in a yacht without one

you don't need an SSR for a CG66 entry, it's just their way of providing as many database references as possible - SSR, MMSI, ... they are still multiple databases at their end! the tough part of this test is the picture of your boat as it would look in distress..... yes to your other questions - if you go missing they will try and work out where you might be... so it's how far you could go rather than how far you might prudently aim to go (and get back).