Tuesday 22 April 2014
Monday 21 April 2014
It's not in jest! - Newlyn man to sail to America in transatlantic challenge - all in a good cause
A PHYSICIST from Newlyn is about to take on a charity challenge of sailing solo across the Atlantic and back in a 21ft boat – despite only having taken up the sport a year ago.
Dr Steve Hickey, 63, who will be raising funds for the Fishermen's Mission, only decided to take up sailing when he read about the Jester Challenge, a transatlantic race from Plymouth to Newport, Rhode Island in America, which takes place every four years. He said: "I've always been keen on boats but never had the opportunity to do anything about it. "But when I read about the Jester Challenge, it seemed so anarchic and silly that I thought I just had to take part."
About a year after discovering the race, Steve went about the task of buying a boat. A 21-foot Newbridge Coromandel became available in Falmouth and, renamed Newlyn Maid, Steve took his first sailing lessons up and down the Fal Estuary. Since then, in between the task of making his 30-year-old vessel as safe as possible for the trip, he has brought the Newlyn Maid round the Lizard to Newlyn and also sailed round Land's End to Hayle.
Before the race starts on May 11, he plans several more trips. "When I set out to take part in the Jester I looked at all the risks and thought that it was not that dangerous," he said. "I have done all I can to make the boat ready for the challenge and have fitted her with multiple GPS emergency locators and I will be in contact with the shore throughout the trip." Steve also insists that his experience of sailing in Cornish waters will stand him in good stead. He said: "Some of the most dangerous waters you can sail in are just off the coast. I think the main problem will be dealing with the psychological problem of being out in a huge ocean by yourself. "My wife is a bit nervous but fairly confident about the venture – it is the people who don't know what is involved who think it is dangerous."
Around 20 to 30 vessels are likely to line up at the start on May 11 and Steve hopes to not only sail out to Newport, a voyage which he expects will take around six weeks, but turn round and come back again in time for the Newlyn Fish Festival at the end of August.
To find out more about how Steve has gone about preparing for the Jester Challenge, read his blog at www.newlyn maid.wordpress.com/2014/01/
If you would like to sponsor Steve, visit www.fishermens mission.org.uk/donate.html
Dr Steve Hickey, 63, who will be raising funds for the Fishermen's Mission, only decided to take up sailing when he read about the Jester Challenge, a transatlantic race from Plymouth to Newport, Rhode Island in America, which takes place every four years. He said: "I've always been keen on boats but never had the opportunity to do anything about it. "But when I read about the Jester Challenge, it seemed so anarchic and silly that I thought I just had to take part."
About a year after discovering the race, Steve went about the task of buying a boat. A 21-foot Newbridge Coromandel became available in Falmouth and, renamed Newlyn Maid, Steve took his first sailing lessons up and down the Fal Estuary. Since then, in between the task of making his 30-year-old vessel as safe as possible for the trip, he has brought the Newlyn Maid round the Lizard to Newlyn and also sailed round Land's End to Hayle.
Before the race starts on May 11, he plans several more trips. "When I set out to take part in the Jester I looked at all the risks and thought that it was not that dangerous," he said. "I have done all I can to make the boat ready for the challenge and have fitted her with multiple GPS emergency locators and I will be in contact with the shore throughout the trip." Steve also insists that his experience of sailing in Cornish waters will stand him in good stead. He said: "Some of the most dangerous waters you can sail in are just off the coast. I think the main problem will be dealing with the psychological problem of being out in a huge ocean by yourself. "My wife is a bit nervous but fairly confident about the venture – it is the people who don't know what is involved who think it is dangerous."
Around 20 to 30 vessels are likely to line up at the start on May 11 and Steve hopes to not only sail out to Newport, a voyage which he expects will take around six weeks, but turn round and come back again in time for the Newlyn Fish Festival at the end of August.
To find out more about how Steve has gone about preparing for the Jester Challenge, read his blog at www.newlyn maid.wordpress.com/2014/01/
If you would like to sponsor Steve, visit www.fishermens mission.org.uk/donate.html
Sunday 20 April 2014
Don and the other woman in his life Lisa make it home in time for an Easter Sunday roast
All clear to enjoy the coastal path from Wherry Town to Newlyn...
apart from a short section...
bound in Through the Gaps...
while the gig heads out...
skipper Don's son Scott does his version of the Indian Rope trick...
into the safe hands of Rambo...
it's a little fresh in the gaps...
not something to bother a beam trawler the size of the Barentzee...
the oldest St Ives lugger still sailing, the Barnabus is looking all the better for a coat of paint topsides and below the waterline...
the scalloping season is about to get underway...
another new boat for the port...
calmer waters make for better practise conditions for the gig rowers...
latest trawler to join the fleet from north of the border...
is the Aurora...
another high speed craft to work the inshore grounds...
almost ready to go into production - the new ice works is nearing completion.
Channel Scallop Workshop news - It’s good to talk! French & English scallop fishers unite in call for more science
GAP2 workshop builds dialogue between French & UK Channel scallop fishers in Brixham, Devon. 15-16 April 2014.
[17th April] This week, over 60 participants from both France and the UK attended a two-day workshop in Devon to develop relationships within the Channel Scallop fishery; Britain’s most valuable non-quota fishery, previously blighted by 2012’s ‘scallop wars’ between French and UK fishermen. Organised by the GAP2 project (an international EC funded research project), attendees, including fishers, fishers’ organisations, scientists, NGOs and Government representatives, took part in fisher-led discussions on the first steps towards developing a sustainable, regional and collaborative management plan.
Agreements between French and English delegations were wide-ranging (see below), but were particularly heart-felt when it came to the need for more science and a bottom-up approach, led by industry.
“We have heard from scientists in the UK and in France – they are frustrated due to lack of resources from Government departments. We in the industry have said “we’ve got the platforms, come out on our boats and gather the data – teach us to become gatherers of data”. Fishermen are willing to do that, but they need to be guided which takes time and resources…but it can happen, and I think it should happen, and I hope it does happen” Jim Portus, Chief Exec, South Western Fish Producer Organisation
What was agreed? Mixed working groups were established, each with a focus on a different ‘topic’ in relation to the fishery – for example: management, science, marketing, communication – to develop consensus points, forming a framework for future collaboration:
It was agreed that:
Improved data is vital to the long-term, sustainable future for the fishery. Currently stock and capacity data is poor, which would act as a barrier to developing a coherent regional management plan in the future.
Fishers would welcome the opportunity to support scientific studies directed towards a full scallop stock assessment. Greater resources should be directed towards this kind of participatory scientific research.
A full capacity assessment of scallop boats operating in the Channel should be undertaken.
Particular attention should be paid to ICES area VIId, including the harmonisation of technical measures. This will require further discussion to reach consensus.
All measures must be driven, bottom-up, by industry. Whilst this is already broadly the case in France, in the UK greater emphasis should be placed on fishers’ potential contribution to management planning and decisions.
The establishment of a dedicated working group, with a specific focus on the Channel scallop fishery, would be beneficial to moving forward with agreed suggestions – potentially facilitated through the NWWAC’s current Channel working group.
“The event has been extremely successful in facilitating discussions between Member States…GAP2 has provided a much needed forum to address the challenges within this very important fishery. We look forward to continued engagement with participants, to implement measures to improve sustainability going forward” Giles Bartlett, Marine Projects Manager, WWF
The meeting took place at the heart of the UK scallop industry, in Brixham, Devon. Events began with a reception for all delegates on the evening of Monday 14th April, followed by two days of talks, presentations and excursions across the 15th and 16th April. Incorporating field trips to local scallop dredging boats, the Brixham harbour and Brixham fish market, the event offered a flavour of the local community, as well as a range of opportunities for both formal and informal discussions.
Further information:
For further information or images, please contact Katrina Borrow – Katrina@mindfullywired.org.
See http://gap2.eu/gap2general/gap2-workshop-channel-scallop-fishery/ for further information and updated agendas
 |
| The boats use dredges to fish for scallops |
[17th April] This week, over 60 participants from both France and the UK attended a two-day workshop in Devon to develop relationships within the Channel Scallop fishery; Britain’s most valuable non-quota fishery, previously blighted by 2012’s ‘scallop wars’ between French and UK fishermen. Organised by the GAP2 project (an international EC funded research project), attendees, including fishers, fishers’ organisations, scientists, NGOs and Government representatives, took part in fisher-led discussions on the first steps towards developing a sustainable, regional and collaborative management plan.
Agreements between French and English delegations were wide-ranging (see below), but were particularly heart-felt when it came to the need for more science and a bottom-up approach, led by industry.
“We have heard from scientists in the UK and in France – they are frustrated due to lack of resources from Government departments. We in the industry have said “we’ve got the platforms, come out on our boats and gather the data – teach us to become gatherers of data”. Fishermen are willing to do that, but they need to be guided which takes time and resources…but it can happen, and I think it should happen, and I hope it does happen” Jim Portus, Chief Exec, South Western Fish Producer Organisation
What was agreed? Mixed working groups were established, each with a focus on a different ‘topic’ in relation to the fishery – for example: management, science, marketing, communication – to develop consensus points, forming a framework for future collaboration:
It was agreed that:
Improved data is vital to the long-term, sustainable future for the fishery. Currently stock and capacity data is poor, which would act as a barrier to developing a coherent regional management plan in the future.
Fishers would welcome the opportunity to support scientific studies directed towards a full scallop stock assessment. Greater resources should be directed towards this kind of participatory scientific research.
A full capacity assessment of scallop boats operating in the Channel should be undertaken.
Particular attention should be paid to ICES area VIId, including the harmonisation of technical measures. This will require further discussion to reach consensus.
All measures must be driven, bottom-up, by industry. Whilst this is already broadly the case in France, in the UK greater emphasis should be placed on fishers’ potential contribution to management planning and decisions.
The establishment of a dedicated working group, with a specific focus on the Channel scallop fishery, would be beneficial to moving forward with agreed suggestions – potentially facilitated through the NWWAC’s current Channel working group.
“The event has been extremely successful in facilitating discussions between Member States…GAP2 has provided a much needed forum to address the challenges within this very important fishery. We look forward to continued engagement with participants, to implement measures to improve sustainability going forward” Giles Bartlett, Marine Projects Manager, WWF
The meeting took place at the heart of the UK scallop industry, in Brixham, Devon. Events began with a reception for all delegates on the evening of Monday 14th April, followed by two days of talks, presentations and excursions across the 15th and 16th April. Incorporating field trips to local scallop dredging boats, the Brixham harbour and Brixham fish market, the event offered a flavour of the local community, as well as a range of opportunities for both formal and informal discussions.
Further information:
For further information or images, please contact Katrina Borrow – Katrina@mindfullywired.org.
See http://gap2.eu/gap2general/gap2-workshop-channel-scallop-fishery/ for further information and updated agendas
Friday 18 April 2014
Thursday 17 April 2014
Fresh Newlyn fish for Easter!
The Trinity House flagship, Galatea soaks up the morning sun in the Bay...
there's a pair of Morgere doors on show in the harbour...
quality fish for Easter...
one Breton visitor the, L'ar Voaleden alongside the market...
gives the guys something to talk about...
as another tier of nets gets taken off for repair from the Gary M...
which one was not built in France?...
looking smart this morning...
heavy duty transport...
tranquil Old Harbour view...
time to get the gear off...
before the sun comes up...
looking out Through the Gaps...
waiting for the tide to drop...
Lousia N bound away...
always a good show down the cove in keeping with tradition...
sparkling seas make the trip to the Scillies on the Scillonian well worth the effort on a day like today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)