THE SPIRIT OF MYSTERY UNDER FULL SAIL
Having been delighted to sponsor an event at Newlyn Fish Festival I was duly invited to attend as a guest. The event is held every August bank holiday to raise funds for the “Mission” (The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen). This worthy organisation ministers to fishermen past and present and their families, being always around when, as inevitably happens from time to time, disaster strikes. Its unique style of non intrusive non denominational “sleeves rolled up Christianity” is a vital thread in the close knit fabric of our fishing community.
The festival has been running for many years being organised by a very hard working committee, it takes over the Harbour for the day, becoming yearly, an increasingly significant undertaking, which invariably attracts massive crowds. It gives the public, locals and visitors alike a unique chance to see the fishing industry and its products first hand. Whilst each year may appear much the same it is as always the ideal place to catch up with friends and acquaintances, enjoy the craic and the music that just seems to get better and better every year.
Historic fishing vessels are now cherished and thankfully preserved for posterity, being represented in force this year, the Barnabas, Happy Return and newly restored Ripple were upstaged by a newcomer which while only a replica is, nontheless, a beautiful example of the shipwrights craft.
The Spirit of Mystery was concieved and built by legendary yachtsman and adventurer Pete Goss to retrace the epic voyage of the 36 foot lugger Mystery from Newlyn to Melbourne in 1855. During the afternoon the Spirit of Mystery was oficially named and blessed by Keith Dickinson the popular highly respected Superintendent of Newlyn Mission. It is hoped that the Spirit of Mystery will set sail from Newlyn in October on the first leg to Cape Town.
As usual Neil Brockman gave a stunning display of shiphandling while putting the Penlee Lifeboat(www.penlee-lifeboat.ik.com/home.ikml) Ivan Ellen through her paces in front of the fishmarket, Neil makes it look so easy, he seems to be a part of the boat. Then it was the turn of a Sea King from 771 Squadron RNAS Culdrose which gave a further awesome display of their skills. Again these Guys make it look so easy but 771 Squadron along with the RNLI are always ready, whatever the conditions, to go to the rescue of those in peril at sea.
Fishing vessels were open to visitors including the Stevenson beamer Billey Rowney, Mike Coryns beautifully painted Sapphire and Newlyns soon to be biggest crabber the recently converted Rowse fleet Emma Louise ( formerly the Stevenson beamer ABS ). The Rowse fleet are unique in bearing the TO (Truro) registration which gives a clue to the familys origins as Perraners.
In addition the Cornwall Sea Fisheries Committee patrol vessel St Piran was open and the crew were busy showing a steady stream of visitors around. As a Committee member it was good to witness the public seeing what they get for their money but the fuel crisis has hit this fast fuel hungry vessel particularly hard, presently costs are in serious danger of spiralling out of control due to circumstances currently beyond anyones control.
Effectively just for a day these worries were put to one side, judging by the atmoshere it was hard to realise that the port is (temporarily) on its knees being hit by so many malign influences simultaneously. Most of the active vessels were actually at sea taking advantage of the neap tides if not the less than perfect breezy conditions. This was reflected in the display of fresh fish which lacked the usual variety but benefitted from Nick Howells ingenuity in making a little go a long way, whilst the display may not have fed five thousand there were definite undertones of Tom Bawcock.
It must be borne in mind that as the old rigid Newlyn order increasingly loses its grip on absolute power newer more vigourous and diverse operators will fill the vacuum created by a visibly collapsing autocratic monolith that has had its day.
