Penlee's pedallers - saddle sores - not us!

Six members of Penlee’s volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew are training in preparation for a gruelling 50 mile cycle around the hills, valleys, twists and turns of the west Cornwall peninsula on Saturday 29 January for the charity’s SOS Day.

The Swift On Saddles challenge will take the intrepid crew from the lifeboat station in Newlyn, up the A30 to St Ives, along to Lands End and finally back to the station. Meanwhile, other members of the volunteer crew will be doing their annual Soap Our Saloons car wash between 10am and 4pm at the inshore lifeboat station. Here people can get their cars washed by the crew while enjoying a hotdog from their Sizzle Our Sausages BBQ.

Patrick Harvey, RNLI Coxswain at Penlee lifeboat station says the team, made up of volunteer crewmembers, David Raymond, Sam Gillchrest, Zac Haining, Wayne Davey, Paul Kneebone, are determined to finish the 50 mile route in under eight hours, he says; ‘We’ve been training hard in the gym and on our bikes, every weekend we have done a long ride, it was especially hard going in the wind and rain we had on Saturday. Some of the hills are long and steep; it’s going to be very tough, but we want to finish within our time limit and get back in time to enjoy a burger on the BBQ!’

So far the crew have raised over £600 in sponsorship, but need help to reach their target of £2,000 which will go towards the training and equipment the volunteer crew and lifeguards need to do their lifesaving work safely. There’s no shortage of options in supporting the crew; visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/penleehttp://www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/penlee , fill out one of the many sponsorship forms in Newlyn or pay a visit to the boathouse to make a donation.

At the Centre of things - hear it straight from the Commissioners.

There's an open invitation for an audience with Newlyn Pier and Harbour Commissioners at The Centre in Newlyn, February 7th (Monday evening) at 6pm courtesy of the Cornishman newspaper - Editor Jacqui Walls will host an open meeting - fishermen, local residents and any other interested parties are cordially invited to attend, listen and ask questions.

The evening will start with a presentation from Gilbert McCabe, chair of the commissioners who will be outlining new proposals for the port. Afterwards, there will be a chance to question those members of the board who are present.

Any questions or any comments can be fed to the meeting in advance via Cornishman staff reporter and Newlyn corespondent, Ellie Evans at the newspaper's office on 01736 365824 or via email eevans@c-dm.co.uk.

Boy Curtis, Mr Bass!

 There's big moon over the harbour this morning.......

 to greet the Billy Rowney, plenty of work lined up aboard her to sort the winch problems she has returned to port with - hence the derricks being lashed to the rail......

 giving her a port list........

 early start for the Ocean Spray as she takes ice.......

 hot foot from the sale........

 and a happy Mr Curtis senior as the price ranged all the way up to £9 per kilo........

 as Robin Turner finishes of auctioning over 700kg of bass landed by the trawler Elisabeth Veronique, one of those hauls every trawler skipper wants to enjoy!.........

 big tub gurnard, a cheaper alternative to bass when baked whole buried on sea salt

at the other end of the market the Filadelfia landed a good shot of monk.

Some work for the FishFight campaign!

Still the biggest ad in the fish and chip shop window is for cod and chips - an opportunity for the Cornish FishFight mac bap campaign!

Sat am.

 Pigeon post, the plague of Penzance Dry Dock.......

 undergoing her major transformation,the Jacoba is now sporting a new PZ registration......

 the "thickest 1/4 plate" in the west,still waiting to go in the Dolomite.........

 a helping hand, but where is George?..........

 a quick turnaround for the Elisabeth Veronique........

 clear skies and cool hues...... 

 fill the Bay........

 and cover the Orion Art Gallery.........

 under the waning moon.

Hot from the training kitchen!- the first mack baps in Penzance?

 College students take up the FishFight and set about preparing the mackerel- pin boning the fillets.......

 for many, the first time they have handled fish, never mind filleted them.......

 fresh fish need fresh bread rolls, a batch of baps have just finished the second rising......

before they make their way to the oven.......

 with them needed in advance of the battered fish.......

 all whisked by hand.......

not forgetting beer to give it the that classic smooth and fluffy batter texture.......

 two fillets at a time go in the deep fryer.......

before being transferred to warm paper lined trays........

 not forgetting to get the signage done to advertise the wares.......

one mack bap ready to go.......

means one happy customer!

20 tubs of black.

Cold enough to cover the seaside grass and bench in frost......

and why not........

just a faint ripple to disturb the harbour water......

last of the lemons to be sampled.......

and the hunt for the elusive otolith begins, in lemons these are very small but easily aged......

all you need to do is spot it on the glove!.........

Marisco's fish are on the move.......

while Smart's bought into the small cuttles picked out of the Cornishman's huge 20 tub trip.......

three types of ray or skate.......

end to end with Cornish cuttles........

not quite a match for these quality monk tails........

and time for another commemorative shot for the green team.......

this tide the St Georges stuck to chasing fish........

enough to make Hugh's mouth water, line caught pollack......

Marisco monk tails.