Always good to welcome a new arrival: Girl Jean (originally Bonnie Lass) is currently sitting in Cromwell Harbour being modified.

Details:  Built 1973, reg. LH73, wooden, a bit less than 12 metres, beam 4m, 30 tonnes. She'll be a prawn trawler, with 2-3 crew: Owner John Fairgrieve Jr. with son Dean crewing. Until recently she was in Arbroath for 5 weeks for maintenance and MCA.

Go down and 'have a gander', but don't interrupt John; he's busy!

photo by Kenny Maule

 

There was a good turnout at the Annual Meeting for our harbour users, held on 5th December at Bleachingfield. These meetings are designed to review matters of significant interest to the harbour’s stakeholders and this year included discussions on:---

• the need for toilets at the harbour,
• our sea defences,
• plans for improved security for our boats ,
• campaigns to keep the harbour tidy.
• for Minutes, see:--

http://www.dunbarharbourtrust.co.uk/index.php/about/minutes-of-meeting/531-minutes-of-the-annual-general-meeting-held-on-5th-december-2019

photo by Kenny Maule

 

 

 

 

 

At the RNLI's crew Christmas dinner, Dunbar RNLI honoured two long-serving lifeboat volunteers: Kevin Keillor (left in photo) and David Koch each received badges for 20 years service. Both have served on the all-weather (ALB) and inshore (ILB) lifeboats.

Kevin, 37, who was 17 when he joined the crew, said: “It was something I always wanted to do, having spent time on fishing boats since I was 10 years old.” In May 2007 he received a medal certificate for his part in the rescue of a couple from a yacht stranded 37 miles out to sea in a force eight wind and seven metre waves.

David Koch, 48, a director for Dry Fusion, hadn’t been a volunteer for long when he was part of the crew tasked to a report of a plane crashing into the sea near Torness. “It turned out it was a Tornado jet and the pilot and navigator ejected before it crashed but it was a scary moment before we discovered that.”

photo by Nick Mailer

It rained a heavily on the Lammermuirs, inland from Belhaven, over the night of December 12th. This filled the Biel Burn and the following day came a red river of mud which sped under the Bridge to Nowhere, past the Yetts and down the coast, helped by wind and tide.

For a while the fresh water 'floats' on the denser salt-water before finally mixing.

This effect is not seen often as it requires a combination of many factors. Some of our most-intriguing sights are seen in the winter! Keep watching, carry a camera and contact me:  webmaster@dunbarharbourtrust.co.uk

photo by Kenny Maule

 

A compass rose, sometimes called a 'windrose' or 'rose of the winds', includes True or Magnetic North on a map. Usually the difference in degrees is listed (declination a.k.a. variation) and constantly changes as the weeks and months go by.

In September, for the first time in 360 years, True North and Magnetic North lined up at Greenwich. This occurrence is so rare that it hasn't happened since the Greenwich Observatory was built back in 1676! Due to magnetic changes in the Earth's molten core the location of the magnetic North Pole 'wanders'. Navigators have always needed to make continuous adjustments for the difference. Magnetic North moves around 10 kilometers a year. 

Naturally a Scotsman, John Ross, led the first expedition to reach the North Magnetic Pole. He found it on June 1, 1831.

Sir John Ross, (b.1777, Balsarroch, Wigtownshire —d.1856), was a British naval officer whose second Arctic expedition in search of the Northwest Passage, located the North Magnetic Pole. Leaving the ship during a sledge journey, his nephew James Clark Ross located the pole using a magnetic dip-circle and the Pole Star. The following year the ship was crushed in the ice. John Ross and his men were rescued by a whaler in the summer of 1833. Not a dull moment in those days! Both John Ross (uncle) and James Clark Ross (nephew) were two of the greatest polar explorers of the time. NB: James Clark Ross was very dashing and was known by the ladies as 'the handsomest man in the Navy'. 

By the time you read this the magnetic declination at Dunbar will be -1.2 deg. (ie: 1.2 deg west)

Diagram: Magnetic North's movements Credit: NOAA

Dunbar RNLI crew member Becs Miller embarked on the trip of lifetime: a transatlantic yacht race from Gran Canaria to St. Lucia. Becs was onboard yacht, Challenger 2, one of several hundred yachts taking part in 2019's ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers).

And she did it!  After 17 days and 2,700 miles Bec's yacht reached St Lucia after crossing the Atlantic.

Becs said: “After just 17 days we crossed the line in St Lucia. It’s been an amazing adventure, testing us all physically and mentally. We had a fantastic skipper, first mate and watch leaders who pushed us to improve our skills and stay safe at all times. I feel very privileged to have sailed the Atlantic.
Thanks to everyone for the kind messages."

Click READ MORE for the arrival in St. Lucia

Fair winds and protected harbours, Becs!

photos courtesy Dunbar RNLI

At the Battery on Saturday 14th December, there were singers, guitarists and a 'full-house' audience; a lovely afternoon with #ChurchesTogether singing carols and reciting poems. Delicious mulled wine & mince pies too! 

The weather was cool with a setting sun and joy bolstered the singers (I almost joined in); an excellent afternoon as the darkness descended with a real Christmassy feeling. 

photo #1 by Kenny Maule, photo #2 by Yvonne Wemyss

Click READ MORE for the joy of mulled wine and mince pies.

In recent years the sand from the East Beach has been disappearing, leaving ugly rocks and undermining Lamer St.

The Dunbar Shore and Harbour Neighbourhood Group (DSHNG), led with enormous energy by Pippa Swan, have made welcome plans for two breakwaters. Supported by the Council, work will start in Feb 2020 on the south breakwater, weather allowing. A further marine licence will be required for the northern breakwater to start just afterwards, early in 2020.

Tons of beach kelp have been distributed to Winterfield Golf Course, Phantassie, and the Community Gardens. Meanwhile, luckily, there has been a discernible return of sand, aggregating from the SE.   Fingers crossed….

Dave Northcott explained the project at the DCC meeting on Monday 16th December. There will be a ELC public information session to be held on Monday 13th January 2 – 7pm at Bleachingfields. All invited.

photo by Kenny Maule

Recently a sperm whale, stranded on the Isle of Harris, died with a 100kg "litter ball" in its stomach. Fishing nets, rope, packing straps, bags and plastic cups were among the items discovered in a compacted mass. We're all guilty.

Locals said: "We walk on these beaches nearly every day and pick up litter, most of which is fishing-related.”

photo #1 courtesy SMASS (Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme), photo #2 by Kenny Maule

Click READ MORE for some of our very own, our very own, rubbish 

"Masters will be responsible for the conduct of and fully accountable for any loss, injury or damage, or nuisance caused or committed by their crew, agents or guests while on board a vessel or on duty within the Harbour."

Recently there was a significant oil spillage into the harbour. This is considered to be avoidable and the Chairman has written to the owner. It was also agreed that an oil spillage kit will be procured and that anyone causing such a spillage will be charged for the clear-up (an amount that is likely to be in excess of £400 for a minor spillage and very much more if Briggs Marine have to be involved).

All commercial users will be advised of the need to be vigilant to keep their oil on their vessel and not allow it to escape into the harbour. Spillages cause many environmental problems and the fumes 'stick around' because the harbour-walls make a biscuit-tin effect, gasp.....

Well, we all know the harbours are beautiful spring, summer, and autumn, however winter visits can also make your heart sing.

• photo #1: all the commercial boats bunched up in Cromwell, taking refuge from an 8ft. swell. The low, winter sun accentuates the colours.
• photo #2: an appreciative stroller spots the full moon rising from the east. The telescope is ideal to view events like this (but NOT the sun!) 

Click READ MORE to see photo #2

photos by Kenny Maule

Everybody thinks they know our boats, however can you guess this one?

She’s named after the brightest star in the constellation of Boötes, and the third-brightest star in the night sky. 

• photo #1: at night in Broadhaven
• photo #2, off the Breakwater (click READ MORE)
• answer is on the READ MORE, next page, in very small font
• prize for correct answer: a small smile of self-satisfaction

photos by kenny Maule

The Rowing Club has made the most of cold, clear days, drinking mulled wine, and eating mince pies. Oh, yes, and sometimes they've been rowing too.

Bob Fleet took this super photo --- here they are, shadows on the harbour entry wall, 'Waving on the Waves' to wish you all a .........

      Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!    

Click READ MORE to see Santa hiding on the Poo Buoy (photo #2 by Kenny Maule)

We're very pleased to give you advance notice (warning?) of the Battery's next project. We'll be walking 134 miles across Scotland to tell the story of Dunbar's most celebrated son, John Muir.

There'll be more information on dates in the new year, but we look forward to you joining us in June 2020. Mark your diary.