Spirit of Mystery passes up the Cape Verde Islands

Just a quick update on progress aboard the Spirit of Mystery with the boat now just off the Cape Verde Islands well to the west of the African mainland. There's plenty to keep the boys interested in addition to their daily chores, including keeping the decks wet under the heat of the sun - we should be so lucky!

Of doors and barn doors

No prizes for gussing what the boys will be up to on the Crystal Sea II today - they'll be hoping for some sunshine as all fishermen hate working in the rain when they are ashore....
not the only scales in the harbour evidence that the sardines are still coming ashore during the night hours......
brand new gear aboard the Dom Bosco, part of the Emma's fleet of pots......
not much doing on the market this morning......
an unusual sight at this time of year, a big 'barn door' skate from the Gary M's trip - the mud (protected by slime on the surface) on the skin of the skate reflects the kind of ground that skate prefer to live on....
the winter sales have started, maybe the Star should persuade one of the local breweries to create a beer in honour of the Mystery's voyage?.....
soon be bare naked trees in keel alley.....
well, who would argue with Debs?......

Badcock's Gallery have a new show for November month, these days affordable art may just be a wise investment!

CEFAS publications

As the winter nights draw in, pour yourself a hot toddy, sit in front of a roaring log fire and take the opportuntiy to do some background reading and research on the humble pilchard - here's a publication from CEFAS in 1966 - hot off the press!

Better still, does anyone have any stories or photos taken aboard PZ88, the Madeline, that was commssioned to undertake trials in 1961-63? Some things don't change - in those days the work was viewed with scepticism - for a short while:

"In addition to her main tasks of exploration and gear trials, MADELINE was also expected to search the traditional grounds when fish were scarce and to report any shoals found to the drifter fleet by radio. At first many drifters were reluctant to follow our advice, but after a few boats had made good shots from shoals located by MADELINE they answered the call so promptly that it was often difficult to get our own shot completed before the drifter fleet crowded us out."

Rememberance Sunday at Newlyn

The rowing gig Portheras heads in through the gaps after a testing training session in heavy swell conditions.....
"keep the home fires burning", a bonus for trawlers working in some areas is the amount of sea-coal still to be had from fishing handy to wrecks....
in the foreground, the beamer Filadelphia on the slip with, what was once a common site, is a coaster (from JST Services in Ayr) alongside the stone quay - the captain had asked to come into the port as they were rolling through 25° in the heavy swell sat out in the Bay - she's en route from Plymouth to Waterford......
a tarpaulin covering the bagged net gear strains in the stormy conditions.....
forever carved in stone, the names of local men lost during both wars last century....
wreaths laid in memory to those local men who gave their lives in war surround the base of the memorial outside the Mission in Newlyn.

Star Inn role

Debbie will see that young Mr Hicks knows how to celebrate in style, or just ask Bruce......
not the Mystery on the pub sign but the Rosebud, but that's another story and a fascinating insight into how one part of Newlyn was changed forever......
at the end of 40 fathom combination bridles languishes the
Crytal Sea II......
also from St Ives, the Dignity is here for the winter....
after attempting the Indian rope trick, it's time for the St Georges to move....
landing on Saturday morning ahead of the weather.......

as Harveys pick up the crab stocker.

Prime fish and more paint and pots

A late landing for Barney Thomas' Ajax......

reminding the buyers that the monk tails aboard the Sadia Louise having been kept in slush ice are A1 quality...

at 13p a tag this fishermen need to know that his line caught fish will make top-dollar...

Friday's market had fish end-to-end....

and included boxes of 7-8 kilo hake from the netter Ben My Chree....

these should be called golden mullet, such is the quality...

rare variety of black speckled gurnards...

not many cuttles about at the moment...

haddock in perfect condition from the netter Sowenna...

almost there with the paint job on the Emma Louise...

heavy skies with heavy showers on the way...

JST Services from Ayr is at anchor in the Bay...

some final touches involve still more welding aboard the crabber.

Paint and pots.

Waiting for new tenants, the Abbey Slip development.....
and waiting for a soaking, the new pots aboard the Emma Louise.