Adam F

I'm out before I even got started :-(

Well this isn't the kind of report I was hoping to type this weekend.... And not this sooner either. :-( Perfect start to the weekend, after sleeping onboard last night, up at 4am, ready for the off at 5am with Wight Magic and Alfresco we steamed South at 20 knots headed for the French wrecks. After fog for the first 15 miles it soon lifted to a warm sunny and super smooth day... All was good! Then 36 miles South of Poole, approaching the first wreck, bang... Strange noise from the engine and loss of power. On checking net around the prop. Cleared net, engine starts fine but smoke and no power to the drive. Dan comes onboard, verdict - dead in the water. Tow needed. So it's agreed that Alfresco will tow North and RV with the big orange boat, a very kind offer then comes in from Lady Beth, a private fishing boat from Gosport who offers to take on the tow and leave Alfresco. 15 miles later the Orange boat takes over and takes me into Swanage, Frisky Fox then very kindly cuts his day short to theme back to Poole, but due to his draft he can't take me to my berth, so finally the marina come out and tow be the last few 100 yds. 4 boats to recover me. :-( Talk about gutted. A huge, huge thanks to all the boats who assisted. Not one even questioned helping and none would take a penny payment (although I suspect a few bottles may find there way to them!) So I'm now here in the garden, in the sun with a beer... Very nice you may say, but I've got a buggered boat with what looks like a big repair bill, and I should be moored in France with a cool box full of cod drinking French wine and eating mussels. http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/latest.asp?section=Rescues&subsection=Latest

Personally I think you need to consider trim tabs, they will help keep the bow down.....

48 hr Comp will start 6pm 5th July and finish 6pm 7th July 1) Court Jester - Neal Sturt and crew TBA 2) alfresco charlie sam dan and ben 3) Joint Venture - Adam, Alun J and Bob F

Agree - been sat here in a 2 day sales meeting with Al and Ben on the mobile texting and fishing in calm sunny conditions, whilst I look at windy weather for the weekend....

This isnt an easy and quick task. Fuel and water isnt a good combo, and you cant just rely on a water seperator to sort it all out. Charlie's suggestion of pressure testing is a good place to start. Then a pressure wash, or preferably a steam clean, then you need to get it dry.... a de-humidifier etc? Bascially if they are sound tanks you want them as clinically clean as possible... anything else is likey to elad to issues futher down the line.

You'll want a half decent signal though to post pics at sea, ideally 3G. It rules out posting stuff from mid channel!

What was it like out there? We cancelled our plans to go today on a borderline forecast. Good fishing. Glad you and the boat a back in the saddle!

eBay! That belongs to JV lol!

6th & 7th July please.......

Drop bob a line. I think we might have a spare one from the JV build.

I think I speak for lots of members that this is one of the better attended comps of the year. The weather was the no1 factor for us as it's been looking shocking all week. I have no issues with the £5, other than it seems to be a PITA to collect from everyone and I think we have scrapped it for the past few years.

Erm.... can I assume that due to the forcast and the lack of entries this comp will be re-scheduled? Or shall I enter alone and win my £5 entry back! Lol!

Maybe but they do have a plan of action around that? I do smile when I see 'no wind turbines here' and 'no to the Severn barrage'.... In the next breath the same people moan about gas fuel prices! I'm not aiming that at anyone on here, it's just a generic comment. Where do people think the next generation of energy will come from?!

Did this go ahead? Anyone manage to get there?

Looking windy... :-(

http://www.coolboxesuk.com/range/ I think mine is the 70l version. It's about right for what we do, one the odd occasion we fill it, but then I carry a fish box under the deck if we run out of space. Most of the time it is ample.

If you do and want company, give me a shout. Happy to drive.

Anyone interested in going to this? http://www.seawork.com/home It's free to go, it's not like Southmampton or London, as its aimed at the commercial sector, but there is always fishing related stuff, plus electronics etc.

I had a carbon copy of your day. I only had a few hours as I had to get back to work, but I was out on ballard by 10am, alongside 2 ways - the tide was already falling away and apart from plenty of fat mackeral, it was dead. A move to the patch produced only pout and judging by the lack of action of the boats around me, it was quiet everywhere. Dissapointing.

I'd also add to Steve's advice. When lowering your anchor, dont simply bumg the whole lot over the side - lower it down slowish until you get to the warp - that way you stand a better chance of the rig settling in a line and working, rather than in a heap and around a rock.

Happy birthday Sam. Have a great day.

Its not only private boats that often have a problem with this. I was alongside a Poole charter boat that got an anchor stuck on the Patch last week - some of the manouvers he tried were downright dangerous.... and I'm sure his anglers onboard wouldnt have appreciated the 90 mins lost fishing time he spent trying to retrieve it. Touch wood, Ive not lost an anchor in the 10 years Ive had a boat - the only time Ive had issues with with an anchor around a pot line or underwater cable. A correctly rigged anchor and Alderney ring should work everytime. If it does get stuck there are a few tricks that usually work. Well done Nige - nice offer. In fact - if anyone is Poole based and wants the same instruction or help this end then I'll match the offer. Martin B was kind enough to show me some 10 years ago so I'm happy to pass on the favour.

You havent seen his towing invoice yet

Tides and times didn't work out for me in the end so I've dipped out of this one. Looks like a super morning out there. Have a good one guys.