Visit to the Coastguard & Lifeboat Station at Girvan

Despite a low attendance from club members the visit went ahead. First we visited the coastguard station. Where Alex took us through all the procedures and duties these guys undertake.

                                        The lifting equipment demo of an injured person from the cliffs

Then it was across the road to the lifeboat station where again we were taken through all the procedures and duties that these guys, who are all volunteers, undertake. An added bonus we were taken out in the lifeboat we were shown a man overboard procedure where one of the crew kindly jumped into the water twice! To show us how they go about getting a man back

All n all it was an excellent nigh t hopefully we do not need the assistance from these guys but it is comforting to know that they are there.

                                          Willie at the controls of the lifeboat with coxswain Gary

                                                                               Man overboard!

Safely back

Inside the lifeboat

 

 

Some freswater action

Stewart had a nice Salmon and a  Sea Trout during the week.

Martin managed to get his kayak afloat last weekend and had some Perch and Bream.

 

Crinan Skate Trip

Willie and I headed to Crinan on Friday with Ticketty Boo! II with my friend Colin to take advantage of a weather window before the yucky weekend arrived. 

The day started and ended fairly quietly, but we twice had double skate hook ups and boated fish of 174, 180, 182, 186 and 201lb between us for a total of 923lb. This total is certainly a PB for my boat. We lost  another biggie and had a seventh fish spit the bait after a short run.

Tides were to be fairly small, but this didn't stop the 2.5lb leads from bouncing away a couple of times.Most successful bait was squid, which took four of the fish. All skate were measured and released.

The 201lb big girl puts Willie in pole position for the skate trophy this year. With my very last drop on the small rod, I was lucky to bag a Black Mouthed Dogfish which won't do my species hunt hopes for 2015 any harm.