Brigid-Mary

Hello Perry and all Yes I do agree that these things are a bit of a menace,and most times the fishermen who deploy them are a sensible about the way they are marked. Some however,take a very selfish stance and dont bother to mark them at at all well. I think the boating press gets a little paranoid about the issue and for the most part, the pot markers just get pushed away from the bow of a boat as it passes and not too much of a problem exists, the problem comes when there is a longish pick up line attached to the mark and this can get caught in the propellor. We have to remember that the fishermen have as much right to set pots at sea as we have the right to use the sea during our rightful navigation. A bit of dialouge would be more helpful than confrontation. People get paranoid about them in the daylight- god knows how they deal with the situation at night. I do a good percentage of passage making at night and I dont think about markers as I wouldnt venture out if I was too concerned about them. I once passed a marker that must have been 3-4 meters high, unlit as they all are, in 5000meters of water in Biscay in the very early hours. They exist, they are a nightmare, so do, and are, sand banks. Cant think who to send a petition to about the sand bank peril!! May be down in a couple of weeks Paul

This is Beachy Head on Saturday at the most benign I have ever seen the sea conditions! And this is sunrise over the Greater Gabbard on Sunday. Delivered a boat to Lowestoft from Portsmouth over the weekend and the conditions were near as perfect as you could get. Left Pompey at 0400 with 3 POB with a good forecast. Very little traffic exiting the Solent but saw a couple of big P&O cruise ships inbound to Soton. Went though the Looe channel as we enjoyed a couple of Bacon sandwiches and settled down to the realization of a long, slow passage to Lowestoft.Nothing more to add to the tedium untill crossing from Dungey to dover the navigation lights were not working. So diverted into Dover and made some 'adjustments' and exited the western entrance to continue. The passage up the Gull was interesting as the owner was ill and left myself and the engineer to complete the passage. very little traffic around and the trip went well. Just made the 1600 bridge into Lowestoft after a 36 hour passage at 5 Knts. Long, tiring and boring!!!! Paul

Jill, although my interest is more to the east of the broads, these pictures are superb. Thank you for the time you have spent putting together such wonderful images. Paul

John, Every picture tells a story. Why do you think they have shut the road way around the harbours mouth, then there is the closeure of Gorleston pier, the only way the public can see any thing of the outer harbour is from the sea or the air. They dont want Joe public to see what a complete farce the whole thing is. The ships that have used it could have got into the inner harbour including a couple of barges that have been in. The UR 101 barge belonging to the now defunct Subocean laid on Atlas wharf for months a couple of years ago. There is a grain terminal in the harbour which is not used to load or unload because of the swell, the grain ships have to go into the inner harbour to work cargo. Then there is the constant survey and dredging going on, but thats another story. Paul

This a photograph taken at 1500 this afternoon. 2 container cranes that have been sitting in the outer harbour for,what, nearly 2 years. They never lifted a container to earn a ha'penny. Thats East Port for you. Its all very well blaming a down turn in container traffic,sorry, dosnt wash with me. Harwich, Felixtowe and the new Thames port are still going great guns, what does that indicate to you. It tells me that there is a major problem with the planning and infrastucture connected with Gt Yarmouths East Port The outer harbour is not busy at all. No ships will go in there as there is too much swell.Too expensive as well. OK there is a Sea Jacks crane barge in there at the moment but that is jacked up on its legs. They need to spend much more money on the port before it will become uasable. There is talk that they are considering narrowing the entrance to cut down on the swell, I think the only way they will cut down on the swell is to close the entrance up completly!!! Rant over Paul

Morning All, I was up the Thames on Saturday with this left Lowestoft at 1000 and got here at about 1500 We went up as far as Shepperton Marina and it is well worth the trip. The locks are not too much of a problem and there are plenty of stopping off points. Got to Shepperton at 2000. Watch out for the parakeets from Eel Pie Island onwards I prefer Limehouse to St Kats. St Kats breeds rats the size of dogs, the Japaneese tourist take delight in taking as many photographs as possible,and the place is expensive, been once, never again. Paul

Thats the very one! Was up at Snape for ages thenwent down towards Aldeburgh on a mooring buoy. Paul

The Nadir is just across the lake from me, I noticed she was low in the water on Sunday and reported it to the Port control, I dont think they did any thing about it as Monday Morning she was sunk. There is a salvage attempt under way at the moment I think they are waiting for some low tides. Its a shame as the owner is spending a lot of brass onher. Paul

Christ, someone needs to warn the dredger crew that they may well find someones head in there!!!! About six years ago when I worked for the RNLI Sea safety group, I was demonstrating MOB recovery techniques when the head fell off the dummy I was using. It was a very realistic looking head. It was only a dummy though, honest constable!!! Paul

Just been sorting through some photographs as we are now properly putting the old girl up for sale. came across this one from 2008 when dear lady wife had the boat out ready for Ocean to finish the Newcastle-Lowestoft leg of the Round Britain Race. I had to smile as I wonder what the lifeboat is doing there, is she waiting for Brigid Mary to get into problems or Ocean ? Not too sure about that one. Nice picture though. Paul

Rod, I think you mean Charity and Taylor in Lowestoft, they are still there. Foxs do a Blundell Harding chart correction kit, bit expensive but it has the pens and a template. SCD at Woodbridge (Melton) do them as well. UKHO have just issued new charts for Approaches to Gt Yarmouth and lowestoft to take into account the Buoyage changes done in November. New issue date was 23/12/10, just bought them last week Paul

Penlee Lifeboat Disaster - December 1981 | Cornwall Guide Enter your search terms Submit search form Cornwall » Mousehole » Penlee Lifeboat Disaster - December 1981 | More Penlee Lifeboat Disaster - December 1981Often considered the most beautiful fishing village in the county, with its windy narrow streets and ancient granite cottages clustered around its harbour, Mousehole is a close-knit community steeped in seafaring tales. However, not all such tales have a happy ending, and the one which took place on the 19th of December 1981 is a case in point, for it was on this day that the Penlee Lifeboat, Solomon Browne, set out, with eight of Mousehole’s men, to aid a stricken vessel, never to return. Although a quarter of a century has now passed, the tragedy still haunts the village, especially around the anniversary of that ill-fated day. A cargo-carrying coaster, the Union Star, was on her maiden voyage between Holland and Ireland that stormy December day. The eight people on board were Henry Moreton, her captain, a further 4 crew members, and Moreton’s wife along with her two teenage daughters. A few miles off Land’s End, near the Wolf Rock lighthouse, the ship’s engine cut out and Moreton put out the news on the radio. A tug boat, the Noord Holland, offered help and, indeed, started out towards the stricken boat, but the captain refused the assistance owing to the financial implications of being salvaged. As the storm worsened, and still unable to start the engines, Moreton put out a distress call to the Falmouth coastguard as his ship was washed increasingly closer to the jagged rocks off the southern Cornish coast. In gusts of nearly 100 miles an hour and average wind of around 80, a Sea King helicopter was dispatched from RNAS Culdrose but, such was the ferocious state of the sea, it was unable to lift a single soul to safety. By this point the tug was also in the vicinity, but Moreton held out and, in any case, the Union Star was now in such a position near the coast, in waves upwards of 50 feet, that the tug’s skipper felt it impossible to get close enough to establish a link and was unwilling to risk the lives of his 11 crew in the attempt. At this point, the Solomon Browne, the wooden 47’ lifeboat stationed at Penlee Point near Mousehole, raced down its slipway into the raging seas of Mount’s Bay. Aboard were eight men, all volunteers from the village of Mousehole, under the command of coxswain Trevelyan Richards. He had chosen his crew carefully, taking the most able seamen and, crucially, only one member of each family; as was the norm on perilous call outs such as this. Unlike the tug, the Solomon Browne steamed in towards the stricken vessel and struggled for some time to get alongside it. The boiling sea tossed the lifeboat around, sometimes even landing her on the deck of the Union Star. In the darkness and chaos of the enormous swell four people eventually managed to clamber aboard, however it was the lifeboat men’s selfless return to rescue the remaining four that proved fatal. It was at exactly this moment that radio contact with the Penlee Lifeboat was lost, and one can only surmise what happened next. All hands were lost, and only four bodies eventually found. The same was true of the Union Star. This loss of life hit Mousehole very hard as, in one fell swoop, a large chunk of its men was wiped out. Local fundraising accrued a staggering £3 million for the families of those lost at sea, but this could not fill the gap left by the disaster. Every year, on the anniversary of this tragic day, the famous Mousehole Christmas Lights are switched off for an hour as the village remembers their men. Although empty, as the modern replacement lifeboat is now stationed at Newlyn, its coxswain the son of one of those lost in 1981, the lifeboat house at Penlee Point stands as a memorial to its brave crew. Furthermore, 2006 saw the making of a poignant television documentary recounting the fateful day and entitled The Cruel Sea: The Penlee Disaster. The lost crew: •Trevelyan Richards (56) (Coxswain) •James Stephen Madron (35) (2nd Coxswain/Mechanic) •Nigel Brockman (43) (Asst Mechanic, fisherman) •John Blewett (43) (Emergency Mechanic, telephone engineer) •Kevin Smith (23) •Barrie Torrie (33) (fisherman) •Charles Greenhaugh (46) (landlord of Ship Inn, Mousehole) •Gary Wallis (23) Mousehole infoMousehole infoMousehole photosThings to do in MouseholeMousehole restaurantsMousehole art galleriesMousehole accommodation Mousehole hotelsMousehole cottagesMousehole hostelsMousehole campsitesMousehole B and BsMousehole MapMap data ©2010 Tele Atlas - Terms of UseSW 4308 2285 (SW4323) Related articlesJonathan Couch - Scientist and Natural HistorianBodmin Moor - Ancient SitesWilliam Lovett - ChartistPorthmeor StoneThe KnillRosamunde Pilcher - NovelistPenzance History - Part 2Silas Hocking - AuthorKing Mark of CornwallHenry Bone - Potter and PainterBen NicholsonView all related » Birdwatching - The Rame PeninsulaThe China Clay IndustrySir Arthur Quiller-Couch (Q) - Cornish based author and literary criticBoleigh FogouNewlyn School of Painters - ArtChysausterTim Saunders - Bard and Cornish Language PoetJohn of Cornwall - Medieaval ScholarRobert Morton Nance - Cornish language revivalistChapel Carn BreaTater Du LighthouseTregiffian BarrowThe Selus StoneChun CastleArt in CornwallWinston Graham - Author of PoldarkJudith Cook - Journalist and political campaignerMadron WellJohn Betjeman - Writer and poet laureateToday's weather 9°C Wind: 12.7mph / SEE Towns & villagesAccommodationPhotosAttractionsEventsHistoryArtFoodSurfingWeatherWildlifeHomeWest Cornwall CamborneHayleHelstonIsles of ScillyThe LizardPenzanceRedruthSt IvesSt JustRoseland & Fal FalmouthPenrynPortscathoThe RoselandSt MawesTruroNorth Cornwall BodminBoscastleBudeLauncestonMinionsPolzeathPort IsaacRockTintagelNorth Coast NewquayPadstowPerranporthPortreathSt AgnesSouth East Cornwall FoweyLiskeardLooeLostwithielMevagisseyPolperroSt AustellSaltashTorpointback to top © 2010 advertise forums contact us cornwall beaches devon privacy policy Regards Paul . I had just started my lifeboat career when this happened. Just one of many I'm afraid.Remember Longhope and Fraserbourgh too

No Dave, it is free admission and car paking at the jumbly, but the stalls are £15.00 Paul

On Saturday, 11th of September, Lowestoft Haven Marina Cruising Club are holding our annual Late summer Bar-Be-Que. There will be live entertainment from Local Band the Breeze, and some of you may know Rod Clark who will be putting in a guest appearance. There will be good food, a late bar, and reasonable priced bar fees. There will also be the inevitable prize draw. The price of the tickets is £9.00 for members and £12.00 for non members Then,on Sunday Morning we are staging the 3rd LHMCC boat Jumble, starting at 0900. If the weather is kind there will be quite a good turnout. 1 or 2 trade stands have already committed so this could be the ideal opportunity to get shot of some of that unwanted tat, or buy some wonderfuly useful stuff at remarkable prices!!! The Chandlery will be open, the 3rd crossing will be providing refreshments, so it should be an all round good egg weekend. If you want to come by boat, I feel sure some favouable mooring fees can be arranged for Saturday night! If I had known what work is involved in arrangeing somthing like this I would have adopted Teflon coated,sloping shoulders!!!!! Please try and support this weekend if you can, I wouldn't mind posting this on one or two other sections of the forum, but quess what? havent a clue how to do it. Paul.

Well, here I sit at 23.00, mulling over the past 24 hours, out side there is hardly a breath of wind. We stood on Southwold pier this afternoon and the sea state was the top end of slight.certainly do able down as far as the Kentish knock. Then at 1800 there was 40 knots of wind at the knobs and snobs. The forecast for tomorrow is stil sh1t so we have had to cancel our trip to Portsmouth, as we needed to be at Cowes on Wednesday morning, and what was forcast for Wednesday? near perfect conditions. There are 5 disapointed people in the vicinity, but I am afraid that prudence rules. Maybe after the weekend the weather will improve and we can get to Ijmuiden. Thanks to Wayne and Barry for their understanding. It was good to meet up with Wayne Tracey and Barry today, although It transpires that I was abusive to Barry a couple of years ago. I'll leave Barry to fill in the details!!!!!! Been a good canter, thanks for all your responses. Paul.

I saw the boat in Lake Lothing yesterday, loaded with diving gear and an ROV on the stern. Apparently the police and border agency would like to chat to the crew, but they cant be found. I remember the Viking when she first came to Yarmouth way back in the seventies early eigthies, was a superb vessel. Paul

I have just looked at XC and it has just been updated. The point I am trying to make is that there is such a wide discrepency in the published 4 casts. Even with the updated indicator on XC,east of Bawdsey, where I am most concerned with, as it is mid way of our first leg, shows 17 Knts at 1300 which is a force 4-5, nowhere near the predictions of severe gale 9 that the met office is saying. If the wind speed is any more than 20 knts at 1000 tommorrow, then we dont go. Paul

Tomorrow( Monday) a posse from these parts, including 2 other members of this fraternity, are due to leave Lowestoft, aboard Ocean , en route to Ramsgit, and then on to Pompey on Tuesday. My question- what are the chances of this soiree taking place in view of the various weather forcasts that are on offer at the moment. My favorite site, XC Weather, shows nothing untoward, maybe 15 knts at lunch time, but if I am to believe the Met office, there is a severe gale 9 expected! I must say I have never placed much faith in the Met office 4casts! With todays technology, why is there such a huge difference in interpretation, possibly with dire results. I have just watched the sunset and it left a nice glowing red sky. We are all meeting up in the morning and will decide then wether to go or not.I suspect we will go!!!!!!! Watch this space! Paul

The tiller arm attached to the rudder stock slipped around the stock whilst we were going astern. The resultant pressure of the water acting on the hardover rudder made it rotate even more and forced the rudder blade onto the prop. That was the result!! Stopped the engine dead, no manouverability whatever in a narrow channel wind gusting 8-9 and foul tide.We were very lucky not to have suffered more damage. I just chucked the anchor over the side and that gave us time to sort things out. Paul

Unfortunatly, we have had to lift the old girl out again as we were aware of a vibration proplem. During the Whit bank holiday we had a very close call at the top end of Breydon, during the high winds over the holiday. The rudder rotated further than it should have, locking the steering and stopping the engine. When we went down to the Orwell a couple of weeks ago,we noticed that we had lost some speed and the fuel consumption had increased considerably, also there was quite a vibration when going astern. It was difficult to manouver too. So guessing there was a bit of a ding in the propeller, we hoisted her out, this is what we found There are bits missing from the other 2 blades as well. we should be back in again with any luck by the middle of next week with a nice shiney repaired prop.

Yes it was a good weekend, perfect just to get away for even a short while. it normally takes us about 5 hours to get to Shotley. Thats with a fair tide so we have to leave Lowestoft at LW Dover which is the start of the flood. Conversly we have to leave the Orwell at HW Dover and carry the ebb back up. I got it wrong in the Thames once (just the once) where we were going against the ebb, it took an age to get past Tilbury at 1 knot!!!!!!!!!. I dont mind going at displacment speed as I dont have to watch my fuel tanks empty at a phenominal rate, although I do get bored S------s at times! Thanks for the complement on Frigid Brigid, she is a fine ship, we are lifting out on Wednesday as we seem to have a problem with propellor vibration. Paul

I am running an ICC course next Thursday. Paul.

At last we managed to get away for the weekend. I hadnt had a weekend off for 5 weeks and so the past weekend was a truly welcome break. We had intended to leave early evening on Friday but the domestic pump decided to give up the ghost and I had to scrab around for a replacment. Finallly were ready to go at 21.00 and thus missed the best part of the fair tide southwards. So, we had a Gin or 2 and decided to leave on the 0300 outbound bridge lift. God, what a time to get up!!! Off we went and what a glorious trip down to the Orwell. At first the sea state was rippled becoming slight, sunrise was wonderful,all was well but I got bored as I normally do. Arrived in the Orwell and went up the stour to do a spot of fishing by the trot of mooring buoys, as usual, my fishing skills were to no avail and I wasted 15 quids worth of bait. Back up to Shotly in the early evening, a couple of pints and a meal in the Shipwreck and bed, and slept the night away untill 10.00. we met up with a couple from Lowestoft cruising club, and I was sure I saw Dave and Perry's boats and on closer observance, there they were, so I said a quick hello and introduction, and had to get back to Frigid Brigid as we were to leave soon to take the ebb back up North. I just got fired up when I heard an old friend coming into the locks. As we hadnt seen D and his wife for a while, they came over to J pontoon for a quick cup of tea and then we were off. A good trip back up to Lowestoft was enjoyed in fine weather and visibility, the wind starting off due south at Harwich and then North by the time we reached Lowestoft. We were back on our berth by 19.15 and safe arrival drinks consumed,had an early night. A good weekend, very relaxing and an opportunity to meet up with people like Dave and Perry. Next time down at Shotley we must have a drink or 2!!!! Paul

Hello Wayne and Barry, I look forward to your company for the trip down, we can take a total of 4 people so there are still 2 places available. Should be an interesting run down. If you can PM me with contact numbers, I'll call you with the arrangements. We are off to the Orwell on the 0300 bridge lift tommorrow and overnighting in Shotly. might catch up with Perry and Dave. Paul

Hello Barry, good to hear from you and your interest in 'Pirate'. I took part on Prate in the 2008 race and what a suberb event it was, lots of knockers, but we were one of only 3 boats that went all the way round on water, not boat trailers. The provisional date for departure from Lowestoft is Monday 23rd August. More details as time goes by, but I'll buy you a pint or 2 in the Belgian Bar at Ramsgit!!!!!! Have a look see here www.oceanpirate.co.uk Paul