Booking a berth at Newlyn.

A reminder from Andrew Munson, Newlyn's harbourmaster for pleasure craft looking to use the port when on passage. Newlyn is a fishing port first and foremost that has some provision of berths for passing leisure craft. However, there are no designated berths for such vessels. At times, especially if the weather deteriorates, the harbour can become crowded with sheltering vessels. Harbour staff will always find a berth somewhere for leisure craft, but not necessarily on the easy-access pontoons.

Great British Menu - the banquet final at Leadenhall Market, London.

Courtesy of BBC2

When Padstow chef Paul Ainsworth visited Newlyn and armed himself with some fresh fish from down the quay and headed off to meet Mission skipper, Keith Dixon.....

Courtesy of BBC2

he then spent the day alongside Ali in the Mission's kitchen preparing a fish dish for the GBM competition.......

Courtesy of BBC2

and, despite losing the fish round, he then went through on his Fairground Celebration dessert, his invited guests from Newlyn surprised chef Paul with a few mementos to decorate the feast table.......

Courtesy of BBC2

which all looked pretty impressive on the day at the banquet itself - congrats to all concerned!

Don't forget to put a mark on the calendar for this year's Newlyn Fish Festival organised by and on behalf of the Mission in Newlyn - where you'll get to see Paul Ainsworth as guest of honour opening the festival and then taking part in a series of cooking demonstrations along with chefs that include festival favourites, Sanjay Kumar, Kier Miekle, Robert Wright and Justin Ashton.

See Cefas in action.

Out in the Bay, the Cefas Endeavour research ship cruises in and out.......

coming art show Apophenia at the Tolcarne Inn, Newlyn......

first of the new season scallop boats, St Amant BA101 from Ballantrae is in port.........

thin pickings with some of the mackerel men this morning........

while the net fleet continue to hit the turbot as they move up the Channel......

several boxes of black bream are sure to end up on a train London bound. they have that Chelsea look about them.......

as do these very dark Dover soles.......

a case of colour co-ordinated catering for the green team........

onshore CEFAS training underway looking at the physiology of maturity........ 

following company guidelines......

big tallies for a big trip from the James R H.......

looks like Edwin thinks the prices are a bit too steep for his liking much to auctioneer Ian's amusement..........

the trip included a dozen boxes of nephrops - prawns - or Dublin Bay prawns - langoustine - or norvegicus norvegicus ........

amd what superb condition they were in.........

even down to a few boxes of tails! Normally, you can pop across the road to Tonkin's wet fish shop opposite the market - but they are only open on a Friday and Saturday at the moment.

How to celebrate fishing and the industry!

When it comes to staging big events we might have the edge on pomp and circumstance over other nations - but when it comes to revelling in the sheer delight of something - whether that be celebrating the beheading of the entire ruling class, playing a rugby match or just fish - the frogs can teach us plenty.

Comme chaque année, la foule s'est invitée nombreuse à la fête du port. Photo Pascal Couillaud

This was the scene over the weekend at La Rochelle's Fish Festival - not a burger van or hotdog stand in sight (they'd probably be thrown in the harbour - or beheaded).

Here is a translation (slightly corrected) from Sud Ouest, the regional newspaper that ran the story:

On stage, the atmosphere is electric as a trip at sea in heavy weather. At the helm, Jean-Marc Desbois endorses the habit of the captain. Intones an inevitable sea shanty, "Santiano. "People on the port side, we raise our hands. To starboard, you clap your hands! "The most motivated dance already. An atmosphere that Didier Level and his family, relgiously, love. Each year, they put the cap on Pallice. "We have since 2003! We like the atmosphere around the sea, at the bar, it rocks, it is pitching. The bars are dry. 240 cases of wine in 13 hours elapsed. On the podium, the skippers of the Velux are entitled to their share of light. "Today we celebrate the sea in all its dimensions. The fishermen, boaters, adventurers, Mayor Maxime Bono launches. This sea that has made ​​our city! "

take note Newlyn!

Azab - Azores and back race and they're off from Falmouth.

The leading yacht in this years Azab (Azores and back) race from Falmouth to the Azores and back can be seen heading SSW about twenty miles south of the Lizard on VesselTracker's AIS map......

the race can be followed in detail by using the AZAB web sites tracking page with live vessel tracking and race information on each yacht.......

another screen grab 24 hours after the start of the race shows La Promese in the lead  making a good 11 knots heading 225º with 990 miles the finish.

This year there are a number of boats keeping blogs so that you can follow individual stories as they are reported direct from the boat. Here's an extract from one of the blogs with a reminder just how much AIS has improved safety at sea - especially itsability to identify small boats like fishing vessels and yachts in crowded waters and busy shipping lanes like those around Land's End.

"1st night

Submitted by ninjod on Sun, 05/06/2011 - 02:42 the start was very slow.. little wind and i found myself wishing i had a bigger headsail. slowly the wind built and backed and we are now making reasonable speeds towards the azores. the wind gen seems to take its toll on my boatspeed but on the plus side it makes a nice noise.
am in the company of some other competitors.called a ship up after looking at ais and the chap kindly changed course for me. AIS rocks..
all well on board
thanks again for all the messages.
current situaltion .
15 knots tws
7 knots bsp
1092 nm to go.."

Stay away from the hard stuff with a wooden bottom.

Another Fred Yates up for auction soon.......

maybe one of these guys will have their work in a sale room one day......

 and next week will see a new set of Newlyn School art work go on show at the Penlee Gallery in Penzance......

 ice please, but not Jelberts this time.......

 LT1192, a one hundred year old side trawler from Lowestoft, Keeywadin is currently in Newlyn after touching the bottom while sailing around the Scillies - all hands must be cursing her misfortune as she was due to be one of the stars of Looe Luggers this weekend............

 just to let them know......

 as more butt gear goes aboard the big ship........

 on the prowl, one of the local scavengers.......

another advantage of using the insulated tubs complete with dual purpose anti-gull lids.......

 where two worlds collide.......

 from another perspective......

a must-attend meeting for the Under 10 metre fraternity.

Visualise the sea and fish stocks.

Using a wide range of data, scientists at the University of British Columbia have created a dramatic view of the NorthAtlantic that compares fish stock levels of today with those of 100 years ago just published in a research paper.


Today sees the start of European Fish Week with dozens of events planned throughout Europe to publicise all aspects of the industry and fish ecology - many of which are looking to support a workable and viable reform of the CFP