Adam F

Oli, As the first trip this week is looking a bit dodgy I'll be looking at this date to try again. Our plan however will be a 4 day trip so we will either aim to leave Thurs and back Sun or leave Fri and back Mon (using the bank holiday) So count JV and crew in if the wind doesnt let up! Adam

The forecasts seem to roughly agree but are still varible and have changed more than a few times today. I'd like to see at least a few knots off the forecasts to make it an easy decision. Lets see what the next few days bring - I'm happy to leave making a call until around Weds lunchtime if needed.

Agree 100% Peter. I opperate a Male only policy on JV for bream - as do most club members I think, at least this leaves the egg carrying females alone. We also had between 60 and 80 fish the day we were alongside you, and whilst we did keep more than you guys we took 8 fish each - all of which were eaten fresh. We agreed what we wanted and all fish went back after that. Re. WSF - agree, I very rarely get on there anymore, for that and other reasons.

Turn the wind down boys - it's very, very borderline at the moment. Most sites seem to agree on N / W winds F4 occasionally 5 - it's just about do-able, but will be bouncy... if it clams down a few knots it'll be quite nice. The upside is the sun is due to shine - but really we do need less wind.

Unless you go for the Shimano Antares, you'll find all Shimano boat rods with a soft through action. I agree a longer rod is an advantage for working lures. You really want a medium - fast action. Take a look at: Diawa Kenzaki or the Abu Conolon / Suveran. There are plenty of others but these will give you a feel for what I recommend. It also depends on your budget. Adam

a bottle more like!!

Linking into a few recent threads on here, who has or is planning to adopt the self imposed size limit alot of the charter skippers and a few individuals are now using for turbot of 18 inches or 450mm? I havent in the past as it's so rare that I fish or catch them, but it's somthing I'll be considering and discussing with the crew this year. Whilst in the short term I love catching, cooking and eating turbot - I also love going to Alderney to catch them and looking forward 5/10/15 years I hope to still be doing it and catching good fish... this may change my mind. Interested in others thoughts....

Nothing like cutting it fine Greg! Are you still coming down to Poole first, or are you leaving from Eastbourne?

UPDATE: The skippers of AWOL, Alfresco, JV, Rosie One, Wight Magic and Serenity met after the club meeting on Thurs evening to discuss plans for the trip. I dont think we now need to meet on Sunday eve? It was roughly agreed that JV, Wight Magic, Abode and Alfresco would leave at similar times around 6.30/7am and cross the channel in a rough group with a short stop mid channel and aiming to be in the Channel Islands by late morning. AWOL, Serenity and Rosie One will leave a little later and spend a bit more time wreck hopping in the channel. It was suggested that Pheaton may not be able to make the trip? I understand that Mrs Sea (greg) is still without an engine so her plans are not yet confirmed? Peter - Free Boys, we will have boats mid channel from about 10am until 2pm maybe best you use Ch6 to call 'All Poole Bay Small Boats' to arrange a Rendezvous? The current forecast is showing OK until Sat when it looks to be blowing up, plenty of time yet to make a call, but if it stays the same I'll be looking to either leave on Tue/Wed or make it a shorter 3 day trip.

I live in Shaftesbury. If he wants it I'm happy to collect?

Is it as wide as you as well?!

Does anyone want a new set of mooring ropes? Ive got a spare quantity of 14mm multiplat rope in white that I'm willing to splice up for members. Any length you want, any size loop. Looking on ebay these are about

I think Alderney will get heavily discussed on Thurs. Shall I bring it down for you then?

Can I bump this - I havent managed to get this to those who asked and have a load more stuff. I'll bring to the Thurs meeting if anyone want this. As new 13kg Calor Propane Cylinder - about 3/4 full - Duncan dibs - Still want? McMurdo Waterproof Grab Bag Yellow - PJ - still want? 2 x 7.5L Cuprinol Green Fence Stain - Token gesture Big heavy bench mounted engineers vice - Duncan - still want? 240v Electric Bosch strimmer -

Wars have been fought with less planning than this trip - lets just hope it's not all in vain!!

Thats right Dave - although we do have a club meeting on Thurs so if we get enough discussed then we may not need to meet on Sun.

Have a look at Lectro Tabs - no faffing with hydraulics - simple and they work.

Big subject... no simple answer. Yes Ive used them - on my Warrior 165 I used to have. They were good but had limitations. The main one being that you cant adjust them underway like electric / hydraulic tabs. Most boats will lean or heel in a beam on sea to an extent, trim tabs wont solve this. If you have a perminant list to one side then these could be useful - for example if you have an offset wheelhouse, however I'd be very surpirised if a mainstream boat builder let a boat out that had a design fault list. If it's down to kit and weight distribution then have a play around - move a bucket of leads etc. I'd say that on a 6m boat with wheelhouse youre at the top end of the boat size these simple little tabs will work on. My advice would be to swallow the extra expense and go for a fully adjustable set for a boat like yours - they will be worth the extra in the long run. Adam

It sure is a much more compelling argument nowadays. The two main factors for me against outboards are how they effect the COG and balance of a boat (biggish, heavyish diesel engines mounted lower down and more forward than outboards) and the availablity and voilitile nature of petrol. Many marinas dont have petrol easy to acess as deisel is - and I'm a little bit nervous about having 300 litres of petrol under the deck! For boats under 20' that get used for shorter range trips the outboard always wins for me, but as you start to get into the bigger longer range, heavier boats diesels all the way. Another factor that is an interesting discussion is how charter boats manage to run up hundreds of thousands of hours on engines with little issue - yet us as relively infrequent users and with engines at the cheaper more basic end of the range seem to really suffer.

Happy Birthday guys - many happy returns!

We NEED a photo - for the best caption comp EVER!

Does he know she's been stolen? Has he reported her missing?

Wow! Mega expensive from Cummins. The Mercruiser 1.7dti is an Izuzi engine right? So as you say parts should be alot cheaper? I know youre in the trade nige, but I have a few contacts if I can help? Adam

Ive always been a fan of the Abu Conolon / Suveran - in fact I've got 11 of them and counting! Until recently... Ive just bought a pair of Kenzaki's - would recommend then highly - if you want a lightweight rod to hold all day then these are the kiddies. Worth a look. BTW - Alderney Angling is the place to get them -

I'll be out on JV mate - same plan as you, nice quiet roads then peace and quiet at sea. Heading west too, but may avoid the wreck you have in mind and stick to the bream.