To the bitter end

Despite being submerged for over 60 years, the still solid oak timbers of the Trewar's keel proved more than a challenge for the breakers!Terry, from Mount's Bay Engineering had to cut away bolts through the keel iron.
Out of desperation, the swing shovel was used as a final resort to remove the keel timber from inside the iron channel.And the heart of the oak keel - still green!
Penlee lifeboat heads out for an evening exercise.
The Bryan D, next vessel for breaking, has now been shifted prior to her going under the gas torch.The Roseland has escaped the breakers and has been sold away from the port.

History in a skip

Down the cannery slip, a final skip-load of timbers from the Trewarveneth await collection. Behind the skip, the keel waits to be cut up with a gas axe.

It would be interesting to gather some recollections from previous skippers and crew of the Trewar'. In particular, those who sailed with 'Big' Clifford or possibly someone who has knowledge of these Admiralty boats being built.

Down to the last few timbers and an interesting find from the splintered timber frames.

But first, the first sighting of an entirely new sport - wind skateboarding - ever inventive, but just who is the mystery skater?
Sunday and Monday saw Trewarveneth reduced to a small pile of smashed timbers.
Just the keel remains largely in one piece.
Concrete ballast was difficult to remove from between the bilge area of the engine and fishroom frames.

Looking down the length of the remaining keel.
The huge stern post remains intact.
One way to move a skip.
Almost at the accommodation bulkhead.
'Maverick' secures a full load of boat timber.
Breaking up the remaining engine room bilges.
One of the engine beds, they came out in one piece.
All that remained on Sunday morning, the stern section containing the accommodation.
'Mav' supervises from the back of the lorry.
Among the smashed bow frames in the bilges, a mystery coin. Was this coin, a 1905 penny (perhaps the year the boatbuilder was born) placed there for luck, a common ritual? If the penny had dropped in the bilge it would surely have corroded completely and been worn smooth over the years. Either way, the coin will be a suitable memento of time spent with the vessel for one ex-skipper.

Berthed near the Cornish Ice Company, the Bryan D Stevenson is the next boat in the fleet due to go under the breakers torch.

Breaking news

As the family firm, W Stevenson & Sons face 37 charges involving the handling of illegal fish at the port, one of their oldest trawlers, PZ196 Trewarveneth enters the final stages of her life in the port - under the breaker's hydraulic grabs.

If you get the chance when visiting the port, there are a number of ceramic tile pictures depicting boats on the sides of buildings owned by the family firm. Here is the Trewarveneth, captured by the artist in her hayday as a sidewinder trawler.The breakers were down to ripping out the fishroom by Saturday.





Lending Clive a hand to fill the bucket, labourer Mac lends a hand.
View from all that remains of the forefoot.
Ripping out the formeost section of the keel.

Mojo Marine's Mac Johns takes a break from labouring to inspect the curious purple discolouration of the oak timbers.

On a misty morning, Z198 Kees Korf first time visit and landing.

No clear sky this morning as the sun rises over the art deco Jubilee pool in Penzance.

The Trewarveneth awaits the breakers.
Z198, Kees Korf is in Newlyn for the first time visit and landing. The crew are from Urk and the vessel is named after a young fisherman who was lost at sea some years ago.