Crewman with crushed hand airlifted by SAR helicopter from the Newlyn netter, Ajax.

Once more the guys who man the helicopters that provide the SAR service around our coastline and do such a professional job no matter what the conditions.

Having gone through an SAR rescue situation many years ago with a similar injury to a crewman it still impresses when you appreciate that this entire operation is carried out with a minimum of communication between the helicopter and the boat - in my case I was reminded by the SAR navigator to "maintain my present course and speed". That was it. Such is the degree of professionalism and the training both SAR aircrews. (editor)

In this instance the young fisherman, Gary 'Hoody' Hood sustained a serious injury to his hand in the very rough sea conditions while shooting the nets away. Skipper Alan had quickly called the Coastguard asking for help just before 4am on Sunday 18 November.

Flying through gale force conditions in complete darkness, the Newquay Coastguard helicopter arrived on scene around 5.30am and winched the fisherman onboard, flying him directly to Derriford Hospital. 

At the time it looked like he might loose all four fingers and part of his hand. However, once surgery was started the surgeon managed to keep his ring and baby finger by moving them closer to his (thankfully) undamaged thumb. Linda Dwan, wife of skipper Alan said, "The surgeon said that the quality of first aid given before the helicopter arrived, had a huge say in how much of his hand they were able to save in the end, super proud of the crew for this, they all pulled together for him". Further treatment will be needed.

The helicopter crew - Capt Yogi Brunner, Co-Pilot Debdash Bhattacharya, Winch Operator Mark Stevens and Winchman Mark Hughes - praised the quick-thinking actions of the fishing vessel crew who had treated and bandaged their mate's hand before they had arrived on scene. We wish him a speedy recovery.

NB: Because of the heavy seas and gale force winds this rescue saw the helicopter crew deploy a 'high-line' in order to rescue the injured crewman from the Ajax. The MMO notice below outlines the correct procedure for the crew of any vessel involved in such a rescue.

Mid-week market in Newlyn

Black as the night sky outside, tons of cuttles once again fill the market floor from both the the beam, trawlers that landed this morning...

so the amount of whitefish was much less than normal...

with just a few boxes or even just fish of each species...

with Dovers being amongst the most plentiful...

before being pulled away quickly...

along with a handful of sardines...

some just need sorting...

while the bulk of the morning's landings...

need something bigger than a box hook to move them off the market floor...

getting ready to land alongside the market at high water...

the Karen of Ladram

surrounded by 400kg rubs cuttles

the buffs that mark the end of each tier of nets are stowed away aft ready for shootiung the gear back...

there's al;ways one willing to strike a nonchalant pose for the camera...

as the last of the KOL buffs are put away...

all part of providing, FISH FROM CORNWALL...

Emily, one of the passing scallopers in the harbour for weather...

along with a wind-farm service boat staying clear of the gale-force gusts that blasted the Cornsih coast throughout the night...

two of the big sardine boats wait for a break in the weather before they can fish again...

along with two of Rowse's crabbers...

later in the day, those intrepid skipper Alan with the Ajax and Sid with the Karen of Ladram...

steam quietly away from Newlyn - both hoping it will be a good deal more comfortable than it was steaming through the night to catch the market this morning!

#FishyFriday is here in Newlyn!

Monk and megrims still being landed a-plenty by the beamers...

and a few Dovers courtesy of the Sapphire II...

there's even the odd box of real quality like these monk cheeks and Dory - and a giant weaver...

to go with his big 6+ kilo hake...

from the Ajax's last trip working from Newlyn...

next time the buyers see her name the fish will have been caught by the new boat...

its that time of year again when the boats get in the black...

cuttles!...

ready to sell...

the Sapphire's decks have been scrubbed clean...

while on the Algrie the gear is being stowed away.

Fishing for hake aboard the Ajax from Newlyn, 30 miles WNW of the Scillies

Landing at 9am on Bank Holiday Monday morning in time for the 22nd Fish Festival, the Newlyn netter Ajax put over 30 boxes of fish ashore after a lightning two day trip in order to land top quality hake for use on displays and the fish filleting competition.  Festival organisers were lucky enough to have Cornophile Caroline Quentin on hand to perform the opening ceremony and she also made time to watch the crew of the Ajax land their fish alongside the market. Expect to see footage of her talking to the crew and skipper Alan Dwan in her forthcoming TV series on ITV later this year.

Soundtrack:

Buccas Four - Spirit of the Sea
Breanda Wotton - To the Sea - Lamorna
Marta Sebestyen - When Morning Breaks
Brenda Wotton - The First Time Ever
Marta Sebestyen - The Rooster is Crowing
Michael Chapman - The Wind has Changed

News from the Ajax - working close to Breton trawlers

Here's an update via Inmarsat C from the Newlyn netter, Ajax:

Message from Inmarsat-C Mobile

good morning 

We had good day fishing 60bxs Hake aboard. Today is calm and fog has lifted we have a lot of trafic here today French Trawlers Pluton,Laura,LeMurex, Ar Laeres,Hent Ar Mor,Hunure Gouet Gwel A Vo and La Nautile Sat C been busy and they staying away from our nets

The AIS shot shows the relatively small area of ground being worked by the trawlers that skipper Alan Dwan mentions in his post. 

Cornish Hake on the table in Honiton.

Hake dish from chef James Baxter

@AjaxAH32 my latest hake dish with river Exe mussels .....keep it up, the hake's going down a storm at the moment - !pic.twitter.com/LApE4cJ6- latest creation from chef James Baxter at the Holt in Honton, Devon. 

For sale, 4.5 tonnes of Cornish Hake courtesy of the Ajax AH32..

Flying visit from the Samway's fish team chat to local fish auctioneer Robin Turner as a trip of beam trawl fish is sold.......

there's signs of a few herring off Cornish shores.......

the tally book shows just what the Ajax put ashore during the night after a long week at sea......

looking good, big, bright, bulging eyes on today's catch......

a sure sign of quality fish.........

the bulk of the fish were in the 2-3 kilo range.......

good to see so many scales.......

a 31 kilo monk, landed whole.......

close-up of the monk's mouth, showing the 'beard', designed to resemble seaweed as the fish's mouth rests on the bottom waiting for its unsuspecting prey to pass close by..............

the full extent of the trip from the Ajax.........

one of the week's jobs to do, get the mizzen sail repaired.

Landing day.

 There's a chance to see work by Simeon Stafford down Chapel Street in Penzance.......

 the old doctor's surgery is available to let, everything you need within 100 yards of your front door call 01736 363841or 07977 058937........

 Phil Wilkins is now operating from his office in St Just so his old place on the corner in Newlyn is up for sale.........

 a reminder from Debbie in the Star that it's time to build those rafts for the Newlyn Raft Race......

 maybe someone knows something.......

 wooden sheaves in this old block just trawled up from the depths.....

 along with the anchor......

 first of the tide's hake going ashore......

 an example of the local shellfish that abound in te harbour.......

 who said Nigel isn't a caring sort of skipper?........

 back t' work..........

 as a good run of fish come ashore from the Lisa Jacqueline........

 ready to go down to the fridge.......

 visiting ring netter, Silver Star.......

 all set for her first trip with her old skipper under new management, the latest in the growing Pascoe fleet......

the Britannia V looks every inch the classic fishing boat finished in varnish.