There was no flying to and from St Mary?s Airport on Thursday 29 August, prompting the eighth late sailing of the Scillonian this season.

Hundreds of passengers were transferred to the Scillonian returning from Scilly at 4:30 pm but as people arrived at the airports at Newquay and Lands End and the Heliport at Penzance during the day, it became apparent that hundreds would have to travel on a later boat. The post was also delayed coming into the Islands and instead of its usual ?first flight? trip on the helicopter, the Scillonian brought it at midday.

The Scillonian left Penzance for the second time at 8:20PM and docked in St. Mary?s at 11:10PM. Passengers due to leave the Islands by air congregated on the quay from about 9:30 in order to board the Scillonian back to Penzance which was due to dock at about 2:30AM, completing a gruelling day for stranded passengers and the crew.

Passengers leaving the boat seemed relatively good humoured and some commented on the positive way they were treated by the crew of the Scillonian. The Scillonian completed a turnaround in St Mary?s in about 25 minutes with an estimated 1000 people departing and boarding.

The fog which hampered flying today was thick both in Scilly and on the Mainland throughout the day and with a similar forecast for tomorrow, some are already taking a pessimistic outlook.

The next day, on top of poor weather conditions, the Twin Otter had technical difficulties at Land?s End, prompting further delays. The twin otter 10:35 am flight to Newquay took off at 12:00 midday.

Actor Steve McFadden, 43, was flown away from his holiday on the Island with a shoulder injury. He flew out with girlfriend Lucy Benjamin (32). The couple act in the BBC soap ?Eastenders? as ?Phil Mitchell? and ?Lisa Shaw Fowler?.

He was taken to St Mary?s Hospital last night. He was flown to RCH Treliske by RNAS Culdrose helicopter this morning. He has now been discharged from the RCH and returned to the Islands.

The two actors have been staying on the Islands on their yacht for the past week or so, spending much of their time on Tresco and St. Agnes. It is not clear how the accident happened but national newspapers have been keen to research the background to the incident.

The annual local event of celebrating the end of the summer holidays with a party on the green was underway today in brilliant weather.

With beer tent featuring a ?beer festival?, the nearby bouncy castle which has become a trademark of these events and many stalls organised by different people the event was a great success. Different bands play throughout the day, from the Five Islands? School bands to the older bands.

No floats this year because they were put into action during the Jubilee weekend. This weekend?s event was organised by more individuals than usual, as the normal hosts wore themselves out at Jubilee weekend.

Stalls ranged to the regular RNLI stall, Carrik Dhu Gardens, the Wildlife Trust and fun and games stalls on the Green and up the Strand.

In the last month there has been a more activity with Trinity House?s helicopters. They have been busy servicing both Bishop Rock and Round Island Lighthouses.

Bishop Rock is being repainted and has had it?s two lightening conductors serviced.

Round Island Lighthouse has also been repainted, there has also been visits by planners in regard to the forthcoming solarisation. Both Round Island and Wolf Rock Lighthouses are to be converted to solar power as announced by Trinity House on 26 July 2002.

A press release on the Trinity House web site states that “Solar power will be used instead of diesel generators to operate the light and fog signal at each of the Lighthouses. This will eliminate the requirement to transport and store fuel offshore and eradicate potential pollutants from exhaust and heat generated by the existing diesel engines. The scheme will achieve annual savings in excess of ?55k.”

Rear Admiral Jeremy de Halpert said: “The solarisation of Round Island and Wolf Rock Lighthouses is a further step in our plans to harness alternative energy sources and avoid adverse impacts on the environment.”

Official links:
a href=”/out.php?url= http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/ ” target=”_blank”Trinity House/a: ?The General Lighthouse Authority?

Following problems with the water cooling system on the port engine of the Scillonian, first encountered on Saturday?s return trip, the Steamship company have announced that they are still hopeful the problem can be fixed to allow a sailing at some point today, possibly in the early afternoon. An afternoon sailing would be beneficial for helicopter or Skybus passengers who may be stranded at the airports by the fog.

This news comes as a direct update, obtained from the Steamship Company offices in Penzance at 8:55 on Tuesday Morning. [JP]

This morning the airport was fogged out. The first arrival was helicopter ?EB? at 1130 hrs, which means both there is now flying, and that ?EB? is now fixed after yesterday?s problems.

Between 1604 and 1816 the Scillonian made a short stop to catch up with the past two days? perishables, cargo and passengers. [SD]

Hundreds of holidaymakers have been facing disruption to their travel plans today as a technical fault meant that the Scillonian could not sail. Hundreds of people travel to and from the mainland on a daily basis (a substantial proportion of whom are day trip passengers).

It was made clear by Sunday afternoon that the Scillonian would not sail on Monday and visitors booked in for Monday were advised to make alternative arrangements. The problem worse affected visitors staying in guesthouses, as in many cases, they could not be re-accommodated in the same guesthouse. Campers faced fewer problems as there were still spaces available on all the Island’s campsites.

Helicopter and Skybus services have been struggling to cope with the massive extra demand for seats. The problems were further extended by the fact that one of British International’s two helicopters remained grounded.

Engineers were still working on the fault at teatime on Monday whilst Steamship company officials were still hopeful of a Tuesday sailing. A further update on the sailing will be posted on Scilly News at 9:00AM on Tuesday morning, with the latest news direct from the Steamship Company offices in Penzance.

Meanwhile, freight services to the Islands have been disrupted with Fruit and Veg re-scheduled for the Monday night sailing of the Gry. For the meantime, the Scillonian remains docked in Penzance until at least tomorrow morning.

One of Brintel?s two helicopters is ?on the blink? again today as it breaks down for the umpteenth time this season. On 27 July we reported that the helicopter was having technical difficulties, now 16 days later, it has broken down again.

To make matters more stressful, the Steamship Company?s Scillonian III has broken down. This means, as well as diverting most ferry passengers to the SkyBus, the helicopter will not be able to offload some of it?s passengers to the boat.

It is unknown whether the Scillonian will sail at all today, but it may make a late sailing.

It will be a busy day for all today - fixing the Scillonian and helicopter, and SkyBus having to cope with more passengers.

Brintel were going to buy new helicopters, the EH-101 being the favourite, but calculated that they would have to increase their return ticket prices from just over ?100 to around ?150.

Steve Watt, head of Island tourism said: “They will be flying the Sikorsky until they run out of spares and cannot get CAA safety certificates I suspect.”

But with one of the helicopters causing a lot of problems this season, will it be long before they run out of spares?

Brintel?s FJ landed at St Mary?s at 1700hrs, so it is assumed that it is EB with the problem.

New Zealander Graham Dalton?s ?Around Alone Race? attempt had a major set back when the yacht?s mast snapped on 7 August.

250 miles SW of the Islands, his craft the ?Hexagon?, suffered the injury in 15-20 knot winds.

He was in the middle of qualifying race between Plymouth, Devon and Rhode Island, covering the required 2000 miles.

Links:
http://europe.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/sailing/08/07/dalton.ppl CNN.com Inside Sailing: ?Dalton?s Hexagon Dismantled?

Main picture: Scilly?s Round the Island race went successfully dispite the small wind.

On 1-4 June, Tresco played host to a beer and sausage festival during the Jubilee weekend.

It featured 27 real ales from Cornwall and the Islands.

It had sausages such as monkfish, scallops and prawns in a ?seafood sausage?. Apparently, 230 kg of sausages were sold.

The organiser, Robin Lawson, is preparing for a similar event in 2003.

Links:
a href=”/out.php?url= http://www.carnmenellis.demon.co.uk/html/one&ale.htm#trescofest ” target=”_blank”One and Ale/ a: ?Beerfest Triumph for Scilly?

Of the 100+ meant to be competeing, 80 turned up for the start and 39 finished.

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