Raves & Rants . . from Penzance

Earlier in the year I photographed the Valentine's Day storm ripping apart Penzance promenade, even though it is constructed of two-ton granite blocks. The swells were heavy enough to break up the jigsaw construction and scatter hundreds of them along the shoreline.  Valentine's jigsaw destruction The blocks were recovered from the sea bed and craned onto the top of the prom where they have rested all summer, awaiting someone to come and replace them. Someone genius enough to unscramble the pile and rebuild this jigsaw. Storm damage to the old railings Jigsaw pieces So yesterday I went down with a camera to see how the crane and workmen have been piecing it back together over the past few weeks.  Each block has been measured Main keystones laid Flat blocks laid down between key stones and held in place with steel bars drilled through the block. Holes drilled in the blocks so they can be lifted  The engineers st...

Yesterday was a fantastic day down here in Cornwall, the second sunny one after a massive storm that smashed sections of Penzance promenade, the Jubilee Pool and Newlyn Green. On Sunday the promenade was almost as crowded as on Pirate Day with locals and visitors alike inspecting the damage to the prom and pool.  A sort of Dunkirk spirit pervaded the atmosphere. Waves in the 'ride-able' size now  At Sennen it was the same story, the cove filled with half-term holiday makers strolling in the sun, having a look at what all the fuss was about in the national press when '200ft Waves' were reported crashing into the cliffs at Sennen.  Today there were decent surf-able waves, the sunshine making Sennen look more like its normal inspiring self. Apart from the sand, that is. The bed rock of a beach There is a distinct lack of sand on the beach at the moment, the giant scouring swells of the last weeks having shifted it out into the bay, an oceanic action repeat...

It was morning, and work timings had unusually left me free for a couple of hours. That would normally mean the surf was onshore, or blown out, or flat or something, adhering as it usually does to the First Law of Surfing . But not today. Blue Rinse Today looked like a bleak, grey, midwinter day with (from a brief glimpse of the sea on the school run) a weak looking swell and the wind threatening to go onshore. But I had time. Time to take pictures. So I trawled along the coast looking for surf or seascape images, but found very little. Until I came to the reef. Which, oddly, seemed to be firing. Fryer  Several locals and some of the Aggy crew were making the most of a small day before the expected 'Hercules II' storm at the weekend. An acceptable peak Empty Dan Joel Mole getting critical Captain Fryer on a set wave A chill wind cut through the grey pall that hung over the break, warmed slightly by the relaxed atmosphere. Styling ...

SO everyone was out storm chasing, instead of sitting in at home like a good little bunny and not going out unless ' Your journey is really necessary', as a lot of TV and radio reports urged. This being the biggest storm in living memory for this area, a drive about with a camera was warranted. The south coast was pretty sheltered really, but the north coast was going ballistic, with the wave bouy reading up to 56 feet, and a force 10 onshore wind, the beach, cafe and harbour at Sennen were really taking a battering. Huge amounts of spray flooding the village and blocking out the sun. Creamy wind driven spume rolled in on top of ragged whitewater waves. The setting sun giving it all an apocalyptic sheen. Certainly the biggest waves I've ever seen. This image appeared in the Daily Mail online, Daily Star, Daily Mirror and the Times, and in the US National Examiner. Many thanks to Apex News Pics for getting it out there. Please get in touch if you'd like a print. Whilst ...