Tuesday 18 February 2014
Movement in Newlyn
While there is hardly a breath of wind in the harbour this morning there is still plenty of movement in the water. Ordinarily a boat lying next to the quay would be motionless with so little wind in the air - not so this morning with the effect of the huge seas that have invaded the Western Approaches in recent days still being felt as is evidenced by just how much the Sapphire II is kept straining at her mooring lines.
Monday 17 February 2014
February at sea as seen by a Breton fisherman: "At night, it became Dantesque"
This is the story of the Breton trawler, Phoenix 1 that fished off the Scillies from February the 1st to February the 13th. The text is translated directly from the skipper's account.
To put this voyage in perspective, apart from a few days, the entire fleet of boats - large and small - that fish from Nelwyn were kept in port by the weather.
'Dante' refers to Dante's Inferno - enough said.
"At night, it became Dantesque" - Rémy Baranger, a fisherman skipper from Loctudy in Finistère, sent a video he has taken in recent days aboard his trawler, the Phoenix 1. Images of the raging sea, where fishing can be risky.
It is south of Ireland that the trawler Loctudy Phoenix 1 encountered Dantesque sea conditions for 14 days of raging sea. But his last fishing season will remain forever etched in his mind and in the memory of his crew.
Leaving Loctudy on February 1, Phoenix 1 returned last Thursday, February 13. 14 days in the heart of storms that swept the North Atlantic in recent weeks. 14 days the crew were tossed by waves in the strong winds. "We took advantage of a weather window from February 1, while all other boats were returning". We arrived in the fishing area, halfway between southern Ireland and the Scilly Islands (west of Cornwall), Phoenix 1 encountered sea conditions very difficult. This is also in an area nearby and fishing that night (from 1 to 2 February) that the Le Sillon, a trawler Guilvinec be the victim of a rogue wave . The six fishermen aboard Le Sillon abandoned their boat and were then rescued by a helicopter from RNAS Culdrose.
Fishing day two: Very rough seas, the crew of the Phoenix 1 has already braved many occasions. But, what was especially felt by these fisheries professionals, it was the power of the winds encountered in recent days. "Gusts of wind that they were not used to seeing." Gusts that make this area where there is no "high waves and where the sea is less formed," waves becomes terrible, winds 50 to 60 knots with peaks in excess of 85 knots , as shown by the anemometer aboard the trawler in the video made by the skipper. A raging sea that makes these seasoned sailors sometimes afraid. "It has taken two packets so serious that could break." "Some of my crew told me they had never seen it like this." "These are conditions that we see only once in a lifetime" says skipper Rémy Baranger. In these very bad sea conditions, fishing is done every other day on average so as not to not take too many risks "when the sea becomes Dante" . The crew may well be seasoned and boat designed to withstand extreme conditions, "we are not so far hotheads" wishes to clarify Breton, and even "if we know that given the little fish available sale, that we bring cost twice as much. "
In these images Rémy Baranger returned last week, you recoil at seeing the trough where the trawler sinks. These videos were taken from inside the bridge and aft. These were not the worst conditions that the Phoenix 1 has had to endure. In situations of extreme sea fisherman boss could not help but be at the helm to maneuver his boat."
To put this voyage in perspective, apart from a few days, the entire fleet of boats - large and small - that fish from Nelwyn were kept in port by the weather.
'Dante' refers to Dante's Inferno - enough said.
"The storm as seen by a Breton fisherman:
"At night, it became Dantesque" - Rémy Baranger, a fisherman skipper from Loctudy in Finistère, sent a video he has taken in recent days aboard his trawler, the Phoenix 1. Images of the raging sea, where fishing can be risky.
It is south of Ireland that the trawler Loctudy Phoenix 1 encountered Dantesque sea conditions for 14 days of raging sea. But his last fishing season will remain forever etched in his mind and in the memory of his crew.
Leaving Loctudy on February 1, Phoenix 1 returned last Thursday, February 13. 14 days in the heart of storms that swept the North Atlantic in recent weeks. 14 days the crew were tossed by waves in the strong winds. "We took advantage of a weather window from February 1, while all other boats were returning". We arrived in the fishing area, halfway between southern Ireland and the Scilly Islands (west of Cornwall), Phoenix 1 encountered sea conditions very difficult. This is also in an area nearby and fishing that night (from 1 to 2 February) that the Le Sillon, a trawler Guilvinec be the victim of a rogue wave . The six fishermen aboard Le Sillon abandoned their boat and were then rescued by a helicopter from RNAS Culdrose.
Fishing day two: Very rough seas, the crew of the Phoenix 1 has already braved many occasions. But, what was especially felt by these fisheries professionals, it was the power of the winds encountered in recent days. "Gusts of wind that they were not used to seeing." Gusts that make this area where there is no "high waves and where the sea is less formed," waves becomes terrible, winds 50 to 60 knots with peaks in excess of 85 knots , as shown by the anemometer aboard the trawler in the video made by the skipper. A raging sea that makes these seasoned sailors sometimes afraid. "It has taken two packets so serious that could break." "Some of my crew told me they had never seen it like this." "These are conditions that we see only once in a lifetime" says skipper Rémy Baranger. In these very bad sea conditions, fishing is done every other day on average so as not to not take too many risks "when the sea becomes Dante" . The crew may well be seasoned and boat designed to withstand extreme conditions, "we are not so far hotheads" wishes to clarify Breton, and even "if we know that given the little fish available sale, that we bring cost twice as much. "
In these images Rémy Baranger returned last week, you recoil at seeing the trough where the trawler sinks. These videos were taken from inside the bridge and aft. These were not the worst conditions that the Phoenix 1 has had to endure. In situations of extreme sea fisherman boss could not help but be at the helm to maneuver his boat."
Out on a shout and bounders
Tonight's AIS tracks tells two stories - on the one hand the Penlee lifeboat Ivan Ellen gets called out to deal with three young girls doing what local kids do at high water - jumping off the prom - unfortunately for them this resulted in both inshore and offshore Penlee lifeboats being called out on a shout to rescue them - though one of the girls, herself the daughter of a lifeboatman was praised for her prompt action which led to a satisfactory rescue!
Here's an update from the Penlee FB page:
Both Penlee Lifeboats launched on service at 17:44 this evening, Falmouth Coastguard received a call from a member of the public reporting three young girls in the sea and in difficulties in rough seas between the Promenade and Battery rocks, Penlee ILB arrived on scene first and located the girls and quickly got them aboard the Lifeboat, they were then taken to Penzance harbour where an ambulance was waiting, thankfully the girls are ok but very lucky, Penlee Alb, Rescue 193 helicopter and Penzance Coastguard CRT also on scene.
meanwhile, the netter Ajax has seven tonnes of ice on board and is heading off to sea to catch some hake.
Latest news - the MMO’s role in bad weather
As part of the Defra network the Marine Management Organisation has offered its support to the organisations dealing with the impact of the recent bad weather.
The MMO’s coastal offices continue to be open and will act as a local point of contact for members of the fishing industry.
Fisheries
While fishing activity may be lower during the winter months we recognise the exceptionally difficult conditions facing the industry and coastal communities at present.
Our quota managers are working hard to help maximise fishing opportunities for the industry. We will be flexible and make best use of the pool quota for vessels which aren’t members of Fish Producer Organisations when they are able to get out to sea. For example we are trialling quarterly, rather than monthly catch limits.
Fish Producer Organisations manage the quota allocations for their members.
Further information on quota management is in the fisheries section.
We are currently working with Defra to look into what help is available to fishermen that have been affected by the storms.
The MMO’s coastal offices continue to be open and will act as a local point of contact for members of the fishing industry.
Fisheries
While fishing activity may be lower during the winter months we recognise the exceptionally difficult conditions facing the industry and coastal communities at present.
Our quota managers are working hard to help maximise fishing opportunities for the industry. We will be flexible and make best use of the pool quota for vessels which aren’t members of Fish Producer Organisations when they are able to get out to sea. For example we are trialling quarterly, rather than monthly catch limits.
Fish Producer Organisations manage the quota allocations for their members.
Further information on quota management is in the fisheries section.
We are currently working with Defra to look into what help is available to fishermen that have been affected by the storms.
Back to normal or snafu as they might say in an American movie
Well, the fine weather lasted all but 36 hours before a familiar pattern emerged - falling air pressure and rising wind speeds...
Plymouth
Gale warnings - Issued: 2135 UTC Sun 16 Feb
Southerly severe gale force 9 expected soon
Shipping Forecast - Issued: 0405 UTC Mon 17 Feb
- Wind
- South 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering west 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
and yet another severe gale warning from the Met Office...
and lo!, the sea areas off the west of the UK turned pink again as the number of gale warnings increased.
Sunday 16 February 2014
What a difference a day makes
Hardly a boat left in port now as the weather puts on a smiley face and brings a little sunshine to the seas off Cornwall.
Saturday 15 February 2014
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