• Annual Harbour Users Meeting on Dec.10th, by Zoom
• You only need to click on the Zoom 'blue link' at 6.45pm (may need to wait a few seconds or retry)
• 6.45pm start with an intro from Alasdair Swan (allows 15 minutes for everyone to join)
• 7pm, presentation of the 'slide-show': an explanation of harbour improvements during the last 3 years.
• There is no need to attend the Zoom meeting, you can watch these silent 'slides' anytime, they are self-explanatory:
• http://www.dunbarharbourtrust.co.uk/images/PDF/Harbour_Improvements_2018-20__General_Fishermen_RNLI_Leisure_blue.pdf
• 7.30pm 'slides' end, 8pm close of meeting, both approx.
• Please email any questions later to webmaster@dunbarharbourtrust.co.uk
• Zoom link details below (I'll email them again on the day)
• Alasdair Swan is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Dunbar Harbour Users' Meeting
  Time: Dec 10, 2020 6:45 PM London
  Join Zoom Meeting  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88695915148
  Meeting ID: 886 9591 5148

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On the scent of …….. Fergus, a flat-coated retriever. In the best tradition of tabloid reporting and dodgy puns here is a shaggy-dog ‘tail’.

The ILB crew was briefed: “There’s a wet dug on they rocks at Belhaven. Fetch!” It was a slim lead, just a sniff but they set off, on the scent, engine snarling. The ILB arrived at the rocks, saw Fergus was ‘terrier’fied and bedraggled, with a hang-dog expression. He had been hounding birds, in ‘pup’suit of a young gannet and had ‘pawsed’ on the rocks, Toto-ally ‘pup’lexed. One of the crew disem’bark’ed then collared Fergus and man-handled him into the boat. Retriever retrieved …..  It had been a ‘ruff’ day, so he’ll be kept on a short leash noo!

Photo credit Dunbar RNLI, fb page

Video:https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157987161103175&id=560288174 (credit Gordon Kirkham)

Dunbar RNLI:  “It was a rude awakening for Dunbar’s volunteer lifeboat crew this morning (12 Nov.) when they were called out at 1.30am to rescue a fishing boat that had run out of fuel. It was the third shout this week after local boat Spitfire became stranded three miles north west of the town.

The ALB launched from Torness shortly after 2am and was on scene around 20 minutes later. A tow was set up and the ALB had the Spitfire safely back in Dunbar harbour in half an hour. 

The RNLI’s advice for any sea-going, motor-powered vessel is to always make sure you have enough fuel for the trip, carry reserves and regularly maintain your engine.”

Photo credit: Dave Anderson, Dunbar RNLI

What were these 2 drone-pilots doing at the Battery? They explained they were drone-filming our coastline as background for a future film of a solar-powered airship. It plans to take off from East Fortune, maybe in 2022 and fly transatlantic non-stop to the USA or Canada (or thereabouts?), as a proof of concept. Manufacture is currently underway in the South of France. Project website: https://theheliosproject.org/

Incidentally, last year marked the 100th anniversary of the first transatlantic flight from Britain to the United States. On 2 July 1919 Airship R.34 departed from East Fortune Airfield, landing on Long Island, New York 108 hours later. https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/science-and-technology/airship/

The Helios Project should be one of the greatest adventures of the 21st. century: A journey of over 4,500 miles across the vast wilderness of the Northern Hemisphere. A wonderful dream, 12 years in the making - and it is (almost) finally here! It is expected to be:--

• The Longest Solar-powered, Manned Flight In History
• The First Solar-powered Aerial Crossing Of The Atlantic Westwards
• The First Solar-powered Flight Both Transatlantic And Transcontinental
• The First Manned Solar-powered Flight Venturing Beyond The Arctic Circle

And good luck to all who 'sail' in her.

Note to drone-users: You must comply with the CAA's guidance, see https://dronesafe.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Drone-Code_October2019.pdf  You would be wise to call the Harbour Master beforehand who can advise on safe positions, wind, weather and the presence of large groups at harbour events.

Photo by Kenny Maule.  Click <<READ MORE>> below for photo 2: the expected route.

Dr Arran Johnston & Captain Fletcher shown above, were commemorating the events of the 14th November 1745 when HMS Fox foundered in full view of Dunbar. HMS Fox was a 24-gun sixth-rate vessel launched in 1740 and ran aground in Belhaven Bay on November 14, 1745, just two months after those onboard had fought in the Battle of Prestonpans. Only nine sailors survived, with as many as 200 believed to have perished in the sea.

Arran Johnston stated: "It is always interesting to hear more about the maritime part of the '45 and events that happened at sea. As much as the battles on land, the events that happened at sea, battles, ships being captured or lost by the weather, were as critical for the final outcome. It is therefore important to remember the loss of those men from all sides who perished at sea during the Jacobite uprising and pay respect to their memory."

Arran Johnston & Captain Fletcher of Alan Breck’s Regiment performed a short ceremony and cast a memorial wreath into the sea from below Dunbar Battery. See video: https://www.facebook.com/Prestonpans1745/videos/1096224840814479

Events are normally publicised on the Battery website, however sometimes private events (eg: during Covid-times) are not-publicised, for obvious reasons.

Photo by Kenny Maule 

 

 

 

We have our first resident!  See the note below from Liz Curtis and Tanya Jepson - our DSHNG Biowall Watchers!

"To let you know that the first limpet has been found on the new biowall on Dunbar's East Beach. The limpet, measuring about 1.5cm across, was spotted by Tanya on Sunday 22 Nov. It is on the south side of the fourth section of the wall (counting one to seven from the landward end). The recently-constructed groyne is made of textured concrete, designed to attract marine life. This modern biowall wall, which replaces the previous wooden groyne, was completed in October. The limpet is the first sign of life on it. Photos will be taken weekly to track the marine life."

Photo credit Liz Curtis

Alex Weatherhead, architect, and great friend of the Scottish Coastal Rowing community. Alex was from the family firm Weatherhead & Blackie (established 1958) which built boats from the old Port Seton ‘tattie store’ at the harbour from 1966-76.

Stuart Mack, ‘Boatie Blest’: "Many people within the Scottish coastal rowing fraternity will know of Alex - he was an instrumental part of building the three Boatie Blest skiffs and helped many others in the early days. Sadly Alex has passed away and our thoughts go out to his family and wife Isobel. Alex has been increasingly unwell recently, but had attended many regattas over the years to support the club he loved. His contribution was so great that his name was on the stern of the third skiff when it was launched at the 2013 Worlds in Ullapool. This was a very proud moment for Alex who enjoyed the building side of Scottish coastal rowing. The heritage of boat-building was a passion he enjoyed as his family name was one of historic boat-building in East Lothian. Many people will have rowed in the craftsmanship which Alex prided himself upon, and many more will enjoy his skills in the future as the boats live on in his memory." Photo credit: Stuart Mack.

Man of classic boats, Johnny Johnston: "I have known Alex for many years, he was one of the many members of the Weatherhead family that kept traditional boat-building alive and he will be sadly missed by all who knew him." 

Condolences to his family and many friends.

Recently an unauthorised diver was asked to leave the harbour.

Our Harbour Master wishes to state: "We welcome responsible divers at the harbour but unauthorized diving within the harbour itself is not permitted and is a prosecutable offense under harbour byelaws. The police were informed but no further action was taken because the diver immediately left the harbour. Be advised: Propellor injuries can be fatal and horrific. It can jeopardise someone's livelihood if they were to accidentally run over a diver. Never dive unauthorized within the harbour or at the entrance. If necessary contact the Harbour Master for advice."

Divers must receive professional training and follow a code of conduct https://www.bsac.com/safety/safe-diving-guide/the-divers-code-of-conduct/

 

 

 

About 40 to 55km off Dunbar's coastline, SSE Renewables are planning to construct Berwick Bank and Marr Bank wind developments which could deliver 3.2GW, making them Scotland’s largest offshore wind farms, even bigger than the NnG project currently under construction 30 km off Torness.

SSE Renewables, headquartered in Perth, is a leading developer and operator of renewable energy. Berwick Bank and Marr Bank offshore wind farms could bring opportunities for businesses of all sizes across a wide range of disciplines and SSE are aiming to utilise as many local, Scottish and UK based suppliers.. The turbines should just be visible, peeking over horizon when viewed from Dunbar (good eyesight and binos recommended!).

The SSE public consultation runs until 7th Dec. Any questions? Contacts and FAQs: Berwick Bank and Marr Bank  ---- Photo from SSE's website.

What was Seafari Explorer doing in Dunbar? Their office stated: "A large crude oil carrier, Elandra Kilimanjaro, has been offshore for a few weeks waiting to go to Hound Point off Edinburgh to fill up. There have been more and more vessels anchoring off Dunbar in the last couple of years as once they pass the Forth Ports limit-line they get charged huge fees to anchor within the Forth, so many opt to wait outside the port limits to save some money.  Dunbar Harbour is a very handy port to use for the crew-change jobs and the Harbour Master has been very helpful to us. The new crew goes out and the old crew must wait until their replacements arrive. It will help bring in some much needed income for the Harbour Trust so everyone is happy!"

ELANDRA KILIMANJARO is a Crude Oil Tanker that was built in 2020, sailing under the flag of Liberia with a mainly Latvian crew. The ship has a carrying capacity is 299999t DWT and her current draught is reported to be 20.1 meters. Length (LOA) is 330 meters. Width is 60 meters.

Photo 1 by Kenny Maule.  Click <<READ MORE>> for photo (credit marinetraffic.com)

A message from the Forth District Salmon and Fishery Board:- "The 31st October 2020 marks the end of the salmon and sea-trout fishing season around the Forth. The season will reopen on the 1st February 2021. Fishing for migratory species after the 31st October is a criminal offence and Board bailiffs will be patrolling rivers throughout the Forth. We cannot be everywhere at all times so if you spot someone fishing for salmon or sea-trout in a river around the Forth during the closed season, please contact the Forth District Salmon Fishery Board bailiffs and/or the police."  

Contact details:-   Lee Fisher, Superintendent Bailiff – 07887 835549, Police Scotland – 101, River Tyne/Esk Bailiffs – 07736 466725 Please report as much information as possible when calling in. The below is a guide as to some of the information which might be useful:

Christmas Eve 16:00- 18:00

At Dunbar Harbour by booking only. For £6.00 per child they can have their photo taken with Santa, have a gift and a small ice cream. Half the money will be going to a charity in Dunbar.  

SORRY BUT BOOKINGS ONLY AND 2M RULE MUST BE ADHERED TO WHEN AT THE VAN.

SnoCream Ices: ‘Book at: www.Facebook.com/snocreamices or call 07757 122663

Photo above by by Kenny Maule.  Click <<READ MORE>> for photo of Santa, by SnoCream Ices

Rhona says: "Exciting news... the Toastie Van will be opening on Friday the 18th of December until Sunday the 10th January. Our hours of opening will be 11.30 until 3 (ish). We will be closed Christmas Day but open Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

We are open for collection of pre-ordered chocolate novelties and will have a range of homemade chocolates and shortbread on sale. For more details check out our Facebook page '1296 Cocoa Van' aka the 'Toastie Van'. Our Christmas menu will include all our usual hot rolls and toasties and our festive specials including - pigs in blankets, crispy chicken fillets and hot steak-and-onion rolls. 

We have new hot-chocolate drinks including, white, dark and double chocolate as well as our own homemade non-alcoholic mulled wine. I would also hope to have the Toastie van festively decorated both outside and in, offering a jolly atmosphere to our beautiful harbour."

We’d love to see you. Have a Covid safe Christmas and a fantastic 2021."

 Tasty, Toastie Christmas ..... 

Photo above, Rhona's samples,  click <<READ MORE>> for Harbour Hounds: dog-friendly choccies.