Polish sail training ship Fryderyk Chopin & Nova Spero update.

The St Mary's RNLI lifeboat, The Whiteheads, under the command of Coxswain Peter Hicks, was launched at 3.06 yesterday afternoon (Friday 29 October) to go to the aid of the Polish tall ship, the Fryderyk Chopin, which was dismasted and drifting 93 miles south west of the Scilly Islands.

Of the 47 people on board the brig, 36 were teenage cadets.

The Newlyn registered fishing vessel, Nova Spero, managed to get a line on board and took the stricken vessel in tow.

Fly past.

 The big clean-up, one day later and all that's left is a few nets, a trawl and a pile of fish boxes looking for a new home......

 if its not the main its the genny.......

 another dazzling display over the Bay this morning......

 greeting the Scillonian III on what should be the last trip of the year to the islands.......

 a little later and another change in colour fills the harbour.......

 at this time of year St Ives sees most of its fleet move elsewhere owing to the dangerous weather conditions in the winter.......

boat builder John Moore will be none too pleased to see one of his creations looking weather beaten......

 no chance of shakes in the stem of the William, just rusted out plates instead, good to see the apprentice avoiding looking at the welding - he'd only get arc-eye once in his life to know better........

 who's the odd one out then?........

 off come the anodes having done their job.........

starlings give an early morning fly-past over Newlyn Green.

Nova Spero tows dismasted sailing boat to safety.

The Fryderyck Chopin with 36 sail trainees aged 14 is being towed to a rendezvous point to meet a tug from Alderney. There are no reports of injuries to the crew or its adventure seeking trainees.

Polish sail training ship Fryderyk Chopin dismasted 100 miles off Cornwall.

An SAR helicopter from RNAS Culdrose is on standby on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly ready to fly to the aid of the dis-masted sail training schooner Fryderyk Chopin. The boat has 47 people on board of which the majority are 14 years old.

MCA Press release:

A Polish registered Sail Training Vessel Fryderyk Chopin is awaiting assistance after losing one of its two masts 99 miles south west of the Isles of Scilly.

The master of the vessel has requested immediate assistance at 8:03am, stating they were in danger of losing their second mast and was currently experiencing severe weather conditions of Severe Gale Force 9. Falmouth Coastguard put out a broadcast to shipping for assistance and 3 vessels are currently on route the Container Vessel Andromodar, Bulk Carrier Cornelia which are both 6 hours away and a large Fishing Vessel Nova Spirro which is expected on scene in 12 hours. Rescue helicopter 193 from RNAS Culdrose is on standby on the Isles of Scilly.
James Instance, Regional Coordination Centre Manger, Falmouth Coastguard, says:
There are currently 47 people aboard the training vessel, no injuries have been incurred and the vessel is awaiting tow. We are constantly monitoring the situation and staying in touch with the Master.


If you are concerned about a family member or friend call the Polish Consulate on 0207 291 3914

The Newlyn fishing vessel Nova Spero is understood to be making her way to assist.

Fryderyk Chopin web site.

At sea.

Athena under tow off Falmouth and still burning .

The ETV Anglian Princess has the disabled fishing vessel Athena under tow around 5 miles south of Falmouth with the tug, Typhoon acting as escort. Attempts will be made at daylight to cool the still burning vessel using the fire jets aboard the Anglian Princess before assessing the situation. During the night a huge release of gas forced the remaining skipper and firefighters aboard the Athena to be taken off, some where airlifted to Treliske hospital for smoke inhalation treatment. The vessel is now effectively dead in the water. Fighting fires aboard vessels is considered to be a firefighters most dangerous exercise.

BBC news story at 0800.

Four boats boost fish supplies in a slack week.

Filling the end of the market with beam trawl fish......

Mission man Steve watches the sale of monk or angler fish tails.......

while the fish get measured.......

the ChloeT has a touch on the cuttles at the start of the black fish season.......

plenty of gas bottles in reserve on the slip for the William.......

as she gets the full under the water line treatment......

including a hull analysis.

New harbour commissioners - new broom sweeps clean.

A nature reserve twenty years in the making, installation art, call it what you will but the old trawls, gill nets and even one of the current commissioners own fish boxes under the shade of a magnificant buddliea tree are about to be 'relocated'........

as Royden makes the stocking of a 25 fathom prawn trawl fast to the forklift........

harbour commissioner Kevin Bennets and fisherman Andrew Pasoce watch in awe.......

as the forklift reverses back along the quay.......

on its way to the skip........

Newlyn's annual celebration of art and artists starts in a few weeks time........

anchor and anchor chain get the clean treatment.......

from this steel motor yacht on the dockside in Penzance.......

a sign of the changing face of eating and drinking habits in Penzance - the once notorious Dock Inn, or 'Lock Inn' as it was more commonly known which used to be patronised by a rather select clientele - an eclectic mix of dock, Steamship Company, Trinity House workers and fishermen along with a few eccentric creative types and some of the town's residents on first hand names with the boys in blue (who, if a job went down would vist late at night just to see who was about) - now provides WiFi, has a Facebook page, caters for all the family does Sunday lunches and even offers loyalty cards to its regulars - outrageous!

Skipper Alec Lincoln and the the boys on the Boston Boats wouldn't recognise the place!

Twenty five years ago, by then also catering for a diminishing number of workers associated with the harbour, the Dolphin Inn next to the Dock was given a full makeover by the owner's, St Austell Ales brewery. Lured by the offer of a free pint on opening day, local Newlyn fisherman Dick Harvey reported back on the new regime in a gruff tone, "typical trippers' 'alf pint an' a pasty pub now"!