Fryderyk Chopin moves to a drydock at Falmouth

Picked up by VesselTracker's AIS, the Fryderyk Chopin has been moved to one of Falmouth's huge dry docks.

Not so nero risotto.

 For two people you'll need risotto rice (short grain like arborio) to which finely chopped spring onion or red onion has been added along with garlic to taste.......

 keep adding at least a litre of vegetable stock in the time-honoured risotto cooking fashion (a little at at a time whilst stirring constantly(ish) and near the end of cooking time - approx 15 minutes...... add a fresh copped red chilli and the sliced squid.......

 the chilli needs frying off for 30 seconds.......

and then add the squid for a couple of minutes at high heat - at this time of year an even better dish is to get some of the very much in-season cuttlefish - and even better - make sure you add the ink sac from the cuttle to the rice - forget the unappetising grey look - the flavour of the ink is all.

Commemorative wallpaper for your mobile.

The Fryderyk Chopin under tow by the fishing vessel Nova Spero 100 miles south of the Scillies.

Free to download the image for your mobile phone's wallpaper - finger tip painting - picture created on an iPhone using ArtStudio - a bargain!

Sea Cabbage and Poppies.

 "Any gear left on the quay must be clearly identified" by order of NPHC.........

 this guy's been everywhere man........

 there's one trawler in the port continuing to use a stone trap pioneered by net designer and maker Winston Phillips........

 under pressure.......

 heading back to a pontoon berth to sort the fish, Ryan cadges a lift.......

 it must be somewhere........

 they say two are better than one.......

 that came round quick!.......

 next weekend will see another annual Remembrance Service at the foot of the War memorial outside the Mission.......

 another constant reminder for those lost at sea.......

 it would have been Vince's birthday this week, one of the crew lost when the Margaretha Maria sank off the Lizard in 1997......

 the current weather and heavy seas have scoured the beach from Newlyn across to the prom revealing several features, the hull ribs of which boat is this laying buried just in front of Tom?......

 so far the gales have left the green untouched.......

 and allowed a few variety of sea kale from which all cabbages and brassica are descended to flourish.......

 a head of shingle has formed in front of the Wherry Town outlet.........

 an old starboard channel buoy provides a working canvas for the local graffiti artists........

 the practice of digging for lugworms still continues at low water.......

 the remains of another long-gone feature off the promenade (like the sand) have been revealed, this one in front of the Queens Hotel........

there's still time to enrol for courses and join the oldest Art School in the country.

Fryderyk Chopin - from the perspective of Sennen Lifeboat coxswain, Terry George.

Skipper Shaun Edwards

 

The Nova Spero in Newlyn this morning.

Although the events last weekend hit the national media briefly as the local fishing boat Nova Spero contended with a Force 9 gale going to the aid of the dismasted Fryderyk Chopin 100 miles off the Scillies - 37 young Polish students were more than grateful to skipper Shaun and his crew for coming to their aid. 

Taking over from the St Mary's lifeboat on Saturday afternoon, the Sennen lifeboat continued to escort the tow for some 15 hours. In this report sent in to Through the Gaps, Sennen lifeboat coxswain Terry George commends skipper Edwards on his actions in successfully coming to aid the tall ship and acting in accordance to the wishes of the master of the Fryderyk Chopin. This was after the larger French trawler, Bara an Aod had failed to attach a tow to the tall ship - as a footnote the same French trawler was subsequently involved in a collision with Route du Rhum yacht race contestant, Un Monde Bleu tout en Vert, on Sunday night, the sole crew Christine Monlouis was then taken on board.

Bara an Aod

Fryderyk Chopin incident.

"The Fryderyk Chopin was partially dismasted in bad weather some 90 odd
miles southwest of Scilly early on Friday 29th October. The vessel had a
total of 47 persons on board; 36 teenage cadets and 11 crew. Several merchant vessels responded to the ship`s request for assistance along with a French stern trawler and the Newlyn netter Nova Spero. The Fryderyk Chopin - at 48m in length - was in no immediate danger. The steel hull was intact and sound and no-one had been injured in the incident. As a lot of rigging and spars were over the side, the Captain considered if he used his engine his propeller would become fouled - consequently he needed a tow to safety.

Clearly the merchant vessels were unsuitable to tow the Fryderyk Chopin - the French trawler had several attempts to pass a line but conditions were too poor and he gave up. The Nova Spero arrived on scene and succeeded in establishing a tow. The Captain of the FC reiterated that all persons were safe and well aboard the ship and no-one needed evacuation. He - correctly - maintained this stance right through the operation.

A Sea King helicopter had been staged to St Mary`s in case it was needed, but was later stood down. St Mary`s RNLI Lifeboat launched mid afternoon on 29th and after a five hour passage in severe conditions, arrived with the FC and Nova Spero around 2000 on 29th. The lifeboat escorted the tow through the night and was released Saturday morning as conditions moderated.

With southeasterly gales forecast, the Coastguard requested Sennen Cove RNLI lifeboat to launch on Saturday afternoon. After a 2 hour passage, the lifeboat was with the flotilla ( now including the salvage tug Independence) at 1700. The lifeboat escorted through the night in poor conditions and was relieved at 0730 on Sunday morning by Falmouth RNLI lifeboat. During 15 hours on scene, the tow had made good 21 miles over the ground. Falmouth lifeboat remained with the flotilla in improved conditions until arrival at Falmouth first light Monday morning. The Independence suffered a steering failure during Saturday night following shipping a sea across her stern and made her way into Mount`s Bay for repairs. She was not available until midnight Sunday, by which time the tow was in Falmouth bay. 

In my opinion, the skipper and crew of the Nova Spero offered the only available solution to this situation on the day in question. The tow was carried out over a period of 72 hours or so in an extremely professional manner in, at times, very difficult conditions. The master of the Fryderyk Chopin was in full control of the situation at all times and was the man `calling the tune`, as was his right.

It was difficult to understand from ashore why he did not evacuate the youngsters - once on scene in the lifeboat, it was obvious that they were much safer where they were, rather than risking evacuation which would inevitably have carried significant risks.

So Shaun Edwards and his crews are heroes in Poland - so they should be. If I had had teenagers aboard that boat, I would consider them heroes too.

Terry George
Coxswain
Sennen Cove Lifeboat.

Black Friday again.

On a fish-starved market this morning, roughly one box of fish for each buyer.........

which meant that Ocean Fish did well to get four boxes......

and some even more.......

the Filadelfia touched on the black gold harvest with some of the W&S fleet putting multiple landings ashore to Plymouth market for the first time in the firm's history......

the cuttles leave their mark on the market floor, Lionel's favourite time of year......

along by Newlyn Green, Tom keeps watch over a misty Mount's Bay........

where the recent onshore winds have covered the beach in seaweed......

local graffiti artists at work.

Seafood Cornwall Training's Fishmongery Masterclass.

A quiet morning on Newlyn’s fish market didn’t stop today’s group of fishmongers from enjoying a day sharing ideas, experience and best practice at Seafood Cornwall Training. All of today’s attendees who took part in the Fishmongery master class led by Annie Sibert, benefitted from funding from South West Food and Drink to attend the one day course, which aims to develop and enhance skills and expertise in fishmongery.

Today’s group of Fishmongers made up from left to right: Sarah Nicholas (Crabby Jacks), Carolyn Bean (Kernow Sashimi), Robert Thompson, Tamsin Hoskin (Fishey Gils) , Annie Sibert (Trainer) and Mutsuko Bean (Kernow Sashimi)
Photo courtesy of Sarah Crosbie SCT.