Cornish tuna round two!

Things are a bit quiet in the harbour now that most of the fleet has sailed after a particlularly unpleasant start to July so why not catch up with the Cornish tuna boys as they head south to the Bay of Biscay, a long way from home as they chase their elusive quarry!

"but red and green must not be seen"

"red to red, green to green, but red to green must not be seen", or "green to green, red to red, perfect safety, go ahead" so goes the various rhymes to remember the collision regulation, when meeting vessels head on, alter course to starboard and pass down the port side....
another hull gets a fresh coat of anti-fouling....

the Emma Louise now has her boarding steps cut into the shelterdeck....
there's a new feature down the stone quay, shellfish vivier tanks have been installed in the old buildings by the light, here the water is pumped up from near the gaps and out again....
the Resurgan is up on the slip for anti-fouling....

as the Elizabeth N gets away for another trip.

Down by the head

A quick glance at the waterline around the bow will tell the informed observer how much fish any boat has at the end of a trip, hence the expression "down by the head". The small white area is the major indicator - on a big trip the CKS would see all of the 'moustache' under the water. Below are typical bows on a number of other netters in the port.
A rather untidy paint job seen here - with no fish on board having landed...
and the same here (well not the paint job which is much more tidy) - of course all hands in the port get to know the look of each vessel on an individual basis so can gauge the volume of the catch on a boat by boat basis...
on the Nova Spero, seen here with none of her usual fleet of nets and gear abaord, much tuna will be needed to put her bow down in the water...
and this boat will need a seriously big trip to hide the 'moustache'

there were a few big mackerel shoaling off the end of the quay this evening.

On the hard

With her classic wooden MFV sidwinder lines, the Anthony is still on the hard...

and has been joined by the more modern, beamy seiner Valhalla, yet to make her way out through the gaps with her new main engine.

Face the wind

A bleak view across the Bay from Newlyn Green, a stretch of land still reserved for local fishermen to spread their nets if so needs be (like the patch of ground to the west of the Bowjey, now well and truly overgrown)...
the fleet is back in port owing to a highly unseasonal gale, watched over by the memorial statue....
visiting Irish beamer Mary J has shifted to safer berth alongside the market for the weekend...
while the Jacoba appears to be contininuing with last years creative streak - is this their entry for the Turner Prize boxed up and reagy to go? It's title is 'Girvan' apparently.

now there appears to be something missing aboard the Jessica Grace it seems?

Colourful bits despite the inclement weather

A good place to eat when the sun shines, Indulgence gives a poolside view of the finest Art Deco outdoor pool in the Westcountry and fine food to boot....
the Sea King has moved to the dry dock for repairs.....
chance for someone to snap up a fine waterside residence....
a case of the blues......
one of the fleet of visiting scallopers, the Orient from Padstow.
with the wet weather continuing, another Padstow registered boat, the Nantewas has yet to be anti-fouled.

Gales? but it's July

Saturday morning is greeted with an incoming gale keeping the prom clear of visitors...
which keeps a handful of fishing visitors from Devon in port....
among them the stern trawler Ocean Spirit.....
which the crew have a hard time getting against the quay to board her....
big new Ebonne, crabber from Brixham amongst them....
I wonder how the cyclist is and have the MCA been informed about this collision?.......
big scallopers from the land of Lithy water Mary J and the Jacoba barely fit on the end of the quay
not what the organisers of the Sea Salts and Sail festival want to see this morning, the weather will keep the old luggers and other visitors away from the harbour - they would stand a good chance of damage when grounding as the tide drops away in the harbour - the boats are currently on pontoons in newlyn....

and just to make the point the harbour office has put up a warning sign for any visitors who haven't noticed the conditions.