What a difference a day makes.

Pounded to pieces, just some of the damage inflicted by yesterday's un-named storm force 10 winds that lashed the Western Approaches...

over in the 12th Century harbour new heavy duty steel ladders have been installed...

while on the slip the newly named Fladda Maid and numbered UL 209...

or as she was known, Crystal Sea II is all...

painted up below the waterline...

 ready for her new life north of the border...

back on port this morning is the huge Belgian beam trawler Marbi...

back in Newlyn for a few jobs and time for a Springtime bottom scrub...

the inshore trawler Sowenna as a great example of a how to get the best from a small boat...

there's a chance of a few light showers this morning...

as the sun makes the world seem a whole lot brighter this morning...

even the resident seal is enjoying a late breakfast, one less for the netters to worry about stripping the fish from their gear...

in a day or two there win't be a boat in port, with the big Spring tide the netters are all waiting for the neaps to begin...

Bonnie Lass, all set to dry out on the hard later...

over in the Jubilee Pool the long arm of the...

liquid cement machine set up to line the bottom of the pool is all set for today's delivery.

French trawler St Christophe falls over at low water and sinks in Dartmouth harbour.

Five French fishermen were rescued from their trawler as she started to list heavily on a falling tide in Dartmouth Harbour.

Three French pair trawlers from Cherbourg had sought shelter in Dartmouth Harbour from the very rough conditions at sea.

Two of them, the Sagittaire and the Saint Christophe, were tied up to the Town Quay when the emergency services were called. Both trawlers were listing severely, there was a report of a fire on board one and both crews needed evacuation.

The Dart inshore lifeboat evacuated three of the crew from the Sagittaire over the stern and then returned for the next two, one of whom had to be lowered from the transom with a rope. The Fire Service sent two Appliances from Dartmouth, one from Kingsbridge and a pump and a Command Unit from Totnes. They rescued the crew of the Saint Christophe by ladder and established that there was no fire.

The spring tide was at its lowest at 12.33am and it became apparent that the Saint Christophe was not re-righting herself. The lifeboat crew were asked to try and establish whether there was internal flooding in the vessel. They did so and found it to be severe.

The two crews were taken to the lifeboat station for hot drinks and to warm up. A boom was placed round the vessel by the Dart Harbour Authority vessel, Hercules.

The Caen registered St Christophe sank in Dartmouth harbour last night...

Photo courtesy of Darren Douthwaite

in a quayside berth...

AIS courtesy of VesselTracker

she had taken shelter from the same storm 10 winds that kept the yacht Dongfeng in Plymouth.

Your chance to win a national competition - calling all student chefs!

We are delighted once again to invite you to enter The Young Seafood Chef of the Year competition. The competition is open to your full-time and college based modern apprentice chefs under the age of 25. Now in its seventeenth year, the competition has been backed by some of the best chefs in the UK today including Jean-Christophe Novelli, Tom Aikens, Mitch Tonks, Franck Pontais, Valentina Harris and Atul Kochhar. This year we welcome Cyrus Todiwala to the judging panel.

Previous winners, college tutors and competitors have described this competition as an essential date on the hospitality calendar which provides all young chefs with a platform to demonstrate their flair, understanding, skill and ability using seafood sourced from sustainable sources. The Young Seafood Chef of the Year is proudly sponsored by many major companies and actively supported by Seafish.

Colleges can enter as many teams into the competition as they wish, ensuring each team consists of two student chefs. Using the species listed in the competition rules, the teams must prepare a three-course menu (including costing analysis and full recipe details including method) and submit it by post for paper judging.

Click here for all the competition information you need.

This closing date for entries into this year's competition is Thursday 31 March 2016.

#HellOnHighSeas - Dongfeng update

If anyone is wondering why the skipper of the Sport Relief yacht Dongfeng took the decision to run into Plymouth just after midnight last night... 

the wind recorder on the Sevenstones Lightship tells all - with wind speeds reaching nearly 50 knots...

the current situation by wind direction....

at the same time, those who make a living at sea are still fishing away between the Lizard and Plymouth.

Mid-week storm hits the Western Approaches.

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• 
  

Shipping forecast Plymouth:

• 
  

• Wind

  Northerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 for a time, decreasing 5 or 6 later.

• Sea State

  Rough or very rough, occasionally high.

• Weather

  Occasional rain.

• Visibility

  Moderate, occasionally poor.

Three beasm trawlers for this morning's market as storm force 10 winds push in a few more boats...

like the netter Britannia...

and the beam trawler Resurgam...

being landed by young Roger...

while inside the market the buyers are busy...

bidding on top drawer fish like these red mullet...

megrim...

plaice...

tub gurnard...

and John Dory from the Algrie...

with many of the fleet in prices should be good to cover the expected shortfall...

 two shades of Dover sole...

the mackerel boats were able to fill their boots yesterday...

shore ropes held tight in the strong gusts...

up on the slip for her survey prior to being sold away, the ex-Crystal Sea II is now sporting her new numbers, UL109...

all eyes will be on the No14 shirt in the England team this Saturday as @Nowellsey15 runs out for his country against Wales at Twickenham...

strong clouds over the harbour.

Amazing #HellOnHighSeas live video of the Sport Relief yacht, Dongfeng off the Lizard!

Sport Relief yacht Dongfeng can just be seen in this amazing video as she heads for the Lizard with @MissAlexJones from the @BBCTheOneShow and her celebrity crew on board.

Catch Hook & Net - a new, free online fishing magazine

For all those looking to stay in touch with the latest developments - technological or otherwise it's time to check out Hook and Net. This is an app published for the commercial fishing industry, tailored for your smartphone and tablet. 

Best of all it is free – no strings attached - just download tyhe app to your phone or tablet and keep in touch wherever you are. There is an IOS app in the app store – search for Hook and Net (3 separate words). The Android version is available from Google Play – search for hookandnet (all one word).

The current issue covers a wide range of fishing industry news and information 

the app (iOS) has a simple interface once you have run the installation 

 Hook and Net is published by GlobalOne Press Ltd