0:00:02 > 0:00:05Stretching from Land's End to Dover...
0:00:05 > 0:00:08this is the busiest seaway in the world.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14And come hell or high water...
0:00:14 > 0:00:16Three, two, one.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18Firing!
0:00:18 > 0:00:21No amount of training can ever prepare you for what we faced that night.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25..it's open for business 365 days a year.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28Over 90% of the world's trade travels by sea.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31It's not just TVs and refrigerators, it's everything around us.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Teeming with every type of vessel...
0:00:34 > 0:00:36Everyone on board reckons their job is the hardest.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39..and a rich diversity of wildlife.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47It's kept safe by those who patrol its seaways.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Throw it onto the boat!
0:00:49 > 0:00:51Their actions standing between triumph...
0:00:51 > 0:00:53SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
0:00:53 > 0:00:55..and disaster...
0:00:55 > 0:00:56Ease off, ease off.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59..on the unpredictable waters of the English Channel.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Today a tiny tug boat steers a giant tanker
0:01:07 > 0:01:09safely into port.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12If you delay turning into minutes then you would
0:01:12 > 0:01:15be in serious difficulties coming around the turn.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19Young British sailors attempt a speed record to France...
0:01:19 > 0:01:21So at the moment we're in the middle of the shipping lane.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24This is the worst place, really, that the wind would have died.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27If we get in front of these big ships then we don't want to be there.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31And a boyfriend and girlfriend team try to muscle in
0:01:31 > 0:01:33on the whelk fishing market.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36If everything comes up empty, all this work was free.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38No-one makes any money.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46Surrounded on all sides by the sea,
0:01:46 > 0:01:50throughout history Britain has always been a nation of sailors.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54Sir Ben Ainslie is the most decorated Olympic sailor in history.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57But when it comes to deep water sailing,
0:01:57 > 0:01:59we're lagging behind.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02So on a cold February morning down at the River Hamble
0:02:02 > 0:02:07near Southampton, a new generation are about to take to the water.
0:02:07 > 0:02:08We'll drop this down here, Will.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12Yacht racing Team Concise are dedicated to producing Britain's
0:02:12 > 0:02:15future deep water race wins.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Ned Wakefield is the skipper of their 40-foot yacht
0:02:19 > 0:02:22and today he's set the boat a hefty challenge.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24We're going to race across to Cherbourg
0:02:24 > 0:02:27and we're going to try and break the record.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31There was a record set in 2004.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33It took them seven hours.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36We're out to basically beat that.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40The forecast is sort of average, it's not really in our favour
0:02:40 > 0:02:42but this boat's quite quick.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44I think as long as we're really on our game, and pushing the whole way,
0:02:44 > 0:02:47we've got quite a good chance of beating it.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49We're determined to break the record.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53We've got one of the fastest, if not the fastest boat in her class.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55We've got everything on board we need
0:02:55 > 0:02:57so should be quite good to go.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59Will Semken looks after the boat
0:02:59 > 0:03:03and made his first Channel crossing when he was four.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07I've been sailing since, well, since I can remember, really.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11I never think of giving it up.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13I tried for a little bit, yeah.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15The girlfriend decided that I needed to spend more time at home
0:03:15 > 0:03:19and then that didn't exactly work out.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21Will may be wedded to the sea,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24but even he knows she can be a fickle mistress.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27The English Channel is a very weird mix of water
0:03:27 > 0:03:29because you've got the amount of sh...
0:03:29 > 0:03:32You've got a stupid amount of shipping going down it.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35You've got loads of racing and you always get really quite weird
0:03:35 > 0:03:37wind systems with the jet stream.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41Every time you sail on it, it's never the same.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Sailing to catch the mid-afternoon tide,
0:03:46 > 0:03:49Ned and the crew are out on the River Hamble
0:03:49 > 0:03:51towards Southampton Water.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55So basically this is our only downwind leg
0:03:55 > 0:03:57and then as soon as we go around The Needles,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00it's peeling to one of our bigger jibs
0:04:00 > 0:04:03and then it's going to be a reach all the way across to Cherbourg.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06Hoping for the fastest time possible,
0:04:06 > 0:04:08the team have left nothing to chance.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10We've got so many sails on board
0:04:10 > 0:04:13because we sail in so many different angles of the wind.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15So what we'll do is Solent up,
0:04:15 > 0:04:19this thing down, change the sheets, change the halyards, back up.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Come on, Billy, hoist it.
0:04:21 > 0:04:22Mast.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25With over 80 miles between them and France,
0:04:25 > 0:04:29and two of the world's busiest shipping lanes to negotiate,
0:04:29 > 0:04:32breaking the record is no easy task.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34And to beat it they need to maintain an average speed
0:04:34 > 0:04:36of 11.5 knots.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41They're making good headway.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44But as the sun sets two hours into their voyage,
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Ned and his crew must navigate the rest of the journey
0:04:46 > 0:04:48to Cherbourg in darkness.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00We've got about 40 miles to go now,
0:05:00 > 0:05:02maybe 45 miles to go to Cherbourg.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06Erm, so actually, we're sailing along, doing about 10 knots
0:05:06 > 0:05:10over the ground. We're making really good headway.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12After the first half of the voyage,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15Team Concise are in a good position to break the record.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18But with conditions in the Channel changing at a moment's notice,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21they're at the mercy of the elements.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23The breeze has just got up a little bit,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26so we've started to see 16/17 knots of wind.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30Basically, the sail we had up is a light wind, up wind sail and
0:05:30 > 0:05:34we can't hold it in that sort of breeze. It's just too light.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37There is a possibility of the sail ripping.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39So it's all hands on deck quickly.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42The Concise 8 is now flying at a rate of knots.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44But cutting into the shipping lanes at these speeds
0:05:44 > 0:05:46isn't for the faint hearted.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49We are starting to see some of the ships up ahead of us
0:05:49 > 0:05:52so we've got this first shipping lane coming up.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Will, can you just have a look at the AIS and check there's nothing around?
0:05:55 > 0:05:58For the team to break the record,
0:05:58 > 0:06:00maintaining a direct course is vital.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04Below, Will is in charge of monitoring the ship's GPS systems.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07Now we're getting up to the shipping lanes, we've got
0:06:07 > 0:06:10a couple of ships that we need to worry about.
0:06:10 > 0:06:15In the olden days we'd get a hand bearing compass out and work
0:06:15 > 0:06:18out where they were and see if you've got closing bearings, etc.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22Now we've got something called AIS and it tells us
0:06:22 > 0:06:26what their speed, course, direction etc is.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30This display will tell us if we're on a collision course
0:06:30 > 0:06:32and we need to worry about it.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35There is currently two ships out there.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39One is on our port bow, which we don't need to worry about.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43The one that is on our starboard, we might actually need to worry about.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46- I've got that one on the bow. - Starboard?- Yeah, I've got it.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49Yeah, it is undoubtedly unnerving sailing at night.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52You can't see anything around you and you have, especially crossing
0:06:52 > 0:06:55a shipping channel, you have some fairly big boats.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59Or in the fog you have some fairly big boats. It's a similar thing.
0:06:59 > 0:07:05We rely so much on sight. Yeah, it can put you off your game completely.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08It's why it's so important to have some really good equipment.
0:07:10 > 0:07:16Generally, power gives way to sail but because they're massive
0:07:16 > 0:07:20and going in one direction and find it quite difficult to manoeuvre,
0:07:20 > 0:07:23we'll probably get out of their way.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28But it's actually a lot closer than you think.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32That's why we make sure we keep a visual eye on the AIS.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39The AIS has told us that it doesn't... We're not going to hit it
0:07:39 > 0:07:41but the AIS is telling...
0:07:41 > 0:07:44This computer is very, very accurate.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48That could tell us that we're not going to hit it by about four metres.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51We're just going to have a look,
0:07:51 > 0:07:55make sure that it's on our personal radar, so we're going to make
0:07:55 > 0:07:58sure we give it a nice, clean berth and don't worry anybody.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05I'm going to go behind him, but fairly close.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07Obviously, I don't want to go in front of it.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11For a cargo ship plying these waters, slowing down or changing
0:08:11 > 0:08:15course by a fraction can cost thousands of pounds in extra fuel.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Fortunately, without drastic changes in course,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29the two ships pass safely in the night.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33We had the ability to look down below on the computer screen
0:08:33 > 0:08:36and check its speed and heading and we were pretty confident
0:08:36 > 0:08:38we knew exactly where it was.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40They may be out of the danger zone,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43but they can't afford to let their energy levels drop.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Lancashire hotpot, which is one of our favourites.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48We quite like it.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54In a racing yacht everything is down to the bare bones.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56The whole galley's hung on a hook.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59Cool.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03When the water's boiled, give it about 30 seconds,
0:09:03 > 0:09:05then the ration bag's boiled.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07It should be done in about two minutes.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13You forget how much you get out of this.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15You know, when you're stuck behind a desk and you're in the warm,
0:09:15 > 0:09:19you think, "Why are we sailing? Why do we love it?"
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Actually, being out here, sailing across to France,
0:09:22 > 0:09:27being with a good bunch of guys, being outdoors in some kind of...
0:09:27 > 0:09:30Just being out in the elements, there's not much that beats it.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33A nice hot meal.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38I could be back in Hamble watching TV,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41sitting in my bed, nice and warm but...
0:09:43 > 0:09:45I wouldn't give up this for anything in the world.
0:09:52 > 0:09:53Perfect!
0:09:53 > 0:09:56As the lights of Cherbourg come into view,
0:09:56 > 0:10:01it's been a valiant effort by Team Concise to break the record.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05But, as with all such endeavours, it's the wind that holds sway.
0:10:05 > 0:10:10Unfortunately, all these record attempts are so weather dependent.
0:10:10 > 0:10:15We had a high-pressure system moving over and the high-pressure
0:10:15 > 0:10:18system moved slightly faster than we had anticipated.
0:10:18 > 0:10:23We ended up with the breeze further forward than we were hoping.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27It just made the record attempt slightly not possible.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30We were going to have to average 11.5 knots
0:10:30 > 0:10:35and probably on this trip we've averaged something closer to nine.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39So it was good, it was unfortunate that we didn't do the record
0:10:39 > 0:10:42but it was good training for us, we'd sort of be out here as much
0:10:42 > 0:10:46as possible and checking the boat. We can come back again and do it again.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49They may not have been successful this time,
0:10:49 > 0:10:52but they'll hopefully get a good night's sleep before making
0:10:52 > 0:10:56the return journey home tomorrow in as short a time as possible.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02SHIPPING FORECAST ON RADIO
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Every vessel on the Channel is at the mercy of the wind and waves.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12FORECAST CONTINUES
0:11:12 > 0:11:15But thanks to the Met Office, and its 500 meteorologists,
0:11:15 > 0:11:19sailors of all kinds, now more than any other time in history,
0:11:19 > 0:11:23have a better idea about the conditions heading their way.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25SHIPPING FORECAST
0:11:27 > 0:11:2940 years ago, our ability to predict major storms,
0:11:29 > 0:11:33or dangerous storms more than a couple of days ahead,
0:11:33 > 0:11:35two or three days ahead, that has changed so much.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39Now we can look with considerable accuracy to five days ahead.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42Clearly, that's plenty of time to enable ships to take avoiding
0:11:42 > 0:11:45action, or maybe never to set sail in the first place.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48'Plymouth, North Biscay, southerly veering southwesterly,
0:11:48 > 0:11:52'then westerly later, five to seven, perhaps gale eight later.'
0:11:52 > 0:11:56We get information, obviously, from satellite these days.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00Many ships, also aircraft and, of course, buoys on the sea, as well.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Once we've produced the forecast here, it goes...
0:12:03 > 0:12:06We do produce it on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency,
0:12:06 > 0:12:08so initially it is sent to them.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11They make it widely available through various transmission sources
0:12:11 > 0:12:14to all users of the sea, whether it's small boats or big boats.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18We also send it to BBC Radio 4,
0:12:18 > 0:12:20who then transmit on longwave
0:12:20 > 0:12:23and that's been going on for many years.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25'South Trafalgar, northerly, four or five...'
0:12:25 > 0:12:31The shipping forecast by the BBC is always 330 words long.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35A simple, informative and vital resource to all
0:12:35 > 0:12:38those in peril on the sea.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40I think of people on the ships, particularly
0:12:40 > 0:12:42the further away from land they are.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44In particular, when there's, let's say,
0:12:44 > 0:12:48a more nasty storm coming in, I know how important it is to get this
0:12:48 > 0:12:51right, to get that information out there.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55That is a big driving force to save those lives at sea,
0:12:55 > 0:12:59to avoid unnecessary property and especially life loss.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05Of all the vessels, big and small on the English Channel,
0:13:05 > 0:13:07out in all weathers, life aboard a fishing boat is
0:13:07 > 0:13:09one of the hardest ways to make a living.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15And with over 1,000 fishing boats registered along the south coast,
0:13:15 > 0:13:16competition is fierce.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Up before dawn, aboard the Gunner's Glory,
0:13:21 > 0:13:24a boyfriend and girlfriend team, Kevin and Tash.
0:13:24 > 0:13:29We started whelk fishing about three years ago and we do all right.
0:13:29 > 0:13:30We're holding our own.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33We're not the best boat in the area but we're certainly not the worst.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37The best time to fish for whelks is between February and April
0:13:37 > 0:13:41and due to growing demand for the shellfish in the Far East,
0:13:41 > 0:13:45the catch has become increasingly lucrative in recent years.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47But, as with any fishing trip,
0:13:47 > 0:13:49you never know what you're going to get.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53Everyone on board is a share fisherman, taking a share of the catch.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56There are days when we go out and the bait is either bad,
0:13:56 > 0:13:58or we put it on bad ground and get nothing.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00So no-one makes any money.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06We look to catch, or we aim for about a tonne of whelks a day.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09That's...
0:14:09 > 0:14:12around 30 of these bags per day.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14We should have a good day today.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17Things change in a nanosecond out there.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Yesterday we got one string that came up totally empty.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24Whelks are fished by catching them in baited pots,
0:14:24 > 0:14:27resting on the seabed.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29At the moment they are one of the few fish in the Channel that
0:14:29 > 0:14:32aren't regulated by fishing quotas.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35Today Kevin and Tash, together with crew member James,
0:14:35 > 0:14:40need to haul in the 500 pots that they baited yesterday.
0:14:40 > 0:14:45Divided into ten strings, each haul will bring up 50 pots at a time.
0:14:45 > 0:14:50But with so many boats after the same thing, stocks are in decline.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53There is a lot of boats doing it now, probably too many.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57We've got regulations coming in later in the year to cut
0:14:57 > 0:15:01the amount of pots we're allowed to use within six miles of the land.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04We need to look after the stocks of whelks. They're dwindling.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07Rather than take everything now and leave nothing behind.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Whelks prefer sandy but rocky ground
0:15:10 > 0:15:13and Kevin uses a GPS sonar to guide him.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16We just have to know roughly what's beneath us and make
0:15:16 > 0:15:20an educated guess on whether we've got whelks on that type of ground.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23But the seabed is constantly shifting,
0:15:23 > 0:15:26affected by currents, tides and bad weather.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29Oh...
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Man, that's windy. Here she comes.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35I'm on the hauler, controlling the boat and getting the pots on board.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37Nothing!
0:15:37 > 0:15:40James is on the riddle, emptying them and getting them ready for Tash
0:15:40 > 0:15:43just to rebait and put down on the decks.
0:15:43 > 0:15:44Ready to put back.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48Everyone on board reckons their job is the hardest.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53That's better.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02With all 50 pots from the first string emptied and bagged up,
0:16:02 > 0:16:04Kevin starts his tally.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06Tash? What did we get in that one?
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Two bags.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Two bags is not good.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13Erm, it needs to be three, four - five would be nice.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17No-one's actually getting paid until there are 24 bags on board
0:16:17 > 0:16:19and then we'll start getting paid.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22To break even on the trip, Kevin and his crew need to
0:16:22 > 0:16:26catch at least 23 bags to cover the boat's overheads.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30Hit 24 and then that's £50 a day each
0:16:30 > 0:16:33but you get six more bags and that goes up to £100 a day.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35- Yeah, another go.- Yeah.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39But it's not just Kevin's crew that's competing for a wage.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41We've got another boat sitting just over to the west of us.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45If you've got a good patch, people will move in on it, simple as.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47You just have to try and hold your ground.
0:16:47 > 0:16:48How does that work?
0:16:48 > 0:16:50The biggest bloke wins.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58With only two bags from their first string,
0:16:58 > 0:16:59what will their second bring?
0:17:00 > 0:17:02Better.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Coming your way.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12It looks like things might be improving.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14Whoo!
0:17:15 > 0:17:18- Are you all right there, Tash?- Yes.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22Even today fishing is considered a real man's job
0:17:22 > 0:17:25and a woman crew member is a rare thing.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Tash is the only one at the moment. Some of the other girls have been out.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32Some of the girlfriends, but Tash is the only one that's full-time whelking.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35Yeah, Tash uses it as a free gym.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39So she gets paid to be out here and she doesn't pay gym membership.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44But, unfortunately, it's not that type of muscles they're after here.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47What did we get out of that?
0:17:47 > 0:17:50- Three. What's on the riddle? - We'll work there on that one, then.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54- Just 3.5 bags.- That's not bad, 3.5 bags is good for us.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00Everyone out of the way of those ropes because they're hideous.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02- Weight's gone!- Cool.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04One of the most dangerous parts of the job is dropping
0:18:04 > 0:18:07the heavy weight off the back of the boat
0:18:07 > 0:18:10and getting out of the way of the pots as they shoot into the water.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15He's got his leg caught before when we were whelking.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19Thankfully, his boot came off and he didn't go over the side.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Though it has happened, not to us, but it has happened to other
0:18:22 > 0:18:25fishermen and they have wound up 30 metres down.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29If he was to get caught in a rope, I'd shout Kev,
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Kevin would stop the boat and we would try and get him back on board.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36- No, we will get him back on board! - We will get him back on board.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38But, yeah...
0:18:38 > 0:18:42He nearly went over, luckily he lost his boot instead.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49Yeah, looking good.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54But, even a string, even through 50 pots,
0:18:54 > 0:18:58the first five can be good, the next 45 could be bad.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08The ground changes so much
0:19:08 > 0:19:11that one second you're on a good bit of ground,
0:19:11 > 0:19:13the next second it's all finished.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16Come on, Shorty!
0:19:16 > 0:19:17TASH LAUGHS
0:19:19 > 0:19:22Despite being a couple working in such an intense,
0:19:22 > 0:19:23pressured environment,
0:19:23 > 0:19:27Kevin and Tash haven't let the job affect their relationship.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30Work's work, that's how we deal with it.
0:19:30 > 0:19:31At work I'm not his other half.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34At work I'm just another crew member.
0:19:34 > 0:19:41Yeah, we have our ups and downs but generally speaking, we're all right.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45He certainly doesn't see me as his girlfriend at work.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47We work together, we kitesurf together,
0:19:47 > 0:19:49so we're with one another a lot of the time
0:19:49 > 0:19:51so we have a rule at the end of the day,
0:19:51 > 0:19:54you have ten minutes to say your piece about the day.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58Where I will say my piece, anyone else can say their piece
0:19:58 > 0:20:00and we work it out from there.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02As soon as that's finished, job done.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04Go home, forget about everything.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13But home seems a long way away as their lucky run seems to have
0:20:13 > 0:20:15taken a turn for the worse.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18Not so good as the others so far.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23We're down to around six or seven whelks in a pot now,
0:20:23 > 0:20:24which is no good at all.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27It started off OK...
0:20:31 > 0:20:34The bait hasn't even been eaten.
0:20:34 > 0:20:35No-one's on a payday yet.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40If everything comes up empty, all this work was free.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42No-one makes any money.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49While fishermen search the ocean depths to bring us
0:20:49 > 0:20:53the spoils of the sea, in the Channel's industrial ports,
0:20:53 > 0:20:56cargo from around the world is guided to our shores.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04Graham Pearson is the master of the Phenix,
0:21:04 > 0:21:08one of six tug boats towing and escorting huge oil tankers in
0:21:08 > 0:21:12and out of Southampton Water and Fawley oil refinery.
0:21:12 > 0:21:17The reason we escort crude oil tankers through the Solent
0:21:17 > 0:21:21is that there are certain points in their navigation through
0:21:21 > 0:21:25the area that are particularly narrow, shallow.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29If they get steering failure, we are able to produce steering forces
0:21:29 > 0:21:32to steer them around the narrow areas of the Channel.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37What can happen in these tricky waters was made all too plain
0:21:37 > 0:21:39just a month earlier.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43The area that we're navigating today is the same area
0:21:43 > 0:21:47where the Hoegh Osaka, a large car carrier,
0:21:47 > 0:21:49got into difficulties.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Today, Graham and his crew are responsible for the safe
0:21:55 > 0:21:58escort of the Tempera, a crude oil tanker,
0:21:58 > 0:22:03measuring over two football pitches long and almost 180 feet high.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07And the number two on the Phenix, Ollie Amil,
0:22:07 > 0:22:10has a vital role to play in ensuring a safe passage.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Basically being the captain's eyes and ears on deck
0:22:14 > 0:22:16and relaying the communication
0:22:16 > 0:22:19up to the captain as soon as we are fast.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23Ollie has been working on the Phenix tug for six years.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Generally, shipping, you're keeping away from large vessels,
0:22:26 > 0:22:29with tug vessels it's the complete opposite.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32You're trying to get close to the vessel and, erm,
0:22:32 > 0:22:33up close and personal, as it were.
0:22:33 > 0:22:38Quite impressive, because you're so close to such a large vessel.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46The first job is to attach itself to the stern of the oil tanker.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50So I'm just going to hitch a...
0:22:50 > 0:22:53I'm going to hitch into this messenger now
0:22:53 > 0:22:56and I'm going to tell them to... Give them a signal to wind it up.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58They're going to pull it up now.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01This is a lighter line which allows them
0:23:01 > 0:23:05to heave on our main tow line there now.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07The ship will attach that to their winches
0:23:07 > 0:23:10and they'll winch up our main tow line.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12Dwarfed by the giant tanker,
0:23:12 > 0:23:17the powerful Phenix is almost ready to help guide the ship into harbour.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21The tug in terms of the size of the ships that we deal with
0:23:21 > 0:23:23is punching way above its weight.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25When in escort mode,
0:23:25 > 0:23:30we've got over 7,000 horsepower of engine power.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34In terms of the size of the tug, the horsepower is very, very large,
0:23:34 > 0:23:38which enables us to assist crude oil tankers
0:23:38 > 0:23:41in excess of 250,000 tonnes.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Captain Graham will be using his tug to take over
0:23:46 > 0:23:48the steering of the tanker.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52We are going to provide the steering forces aft so that the ship
0:23:52 > 0:23:56completes her turn successfully into the Thorn Channel.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00It is a particularly narrow and shallow area of the Solent.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04It's up to the pilot on board the Tempera to tell Graham which
0:24:04 > 0:24:07direction he wants the tug to manoeuvre the tanker,
0:24:07 > 0:24:11as it gets in position to make the big turn into the Thorn Channel.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16- PILOT:- Phenix, if you come out on the starboard side now, please,
0:24:16 > 0:24:19and we'll try it with quarter weights.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24Phenix, quarter weight on the starboard quarter.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27So you can turn me to port.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30Yeah, copied on the Phenix.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Currently, Graham and the Phenix's aft line
0:24:34 > 0:24:37are pulling the tanker around to port.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41But as soon as it's heading one way,
0:24:41 > 0:24:44they've got to prepare for the next manoeuvre.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47Phenix, if you work your way round to the port side, please. Standby.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51Onto the port side and standby.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04The tanker's pilot also decides how much power the tug
0:25:04 > 0:25:06should use to steer his ship.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09Quarter weight and then steady.
0:25:09 > 0:25:10Phenix, quarter weight.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17- Up to half, please.- Up to half.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21Because it takes so long for the tanker to turn, it's vital
0:25:21 > 0:25:24that Graham responds immediately to the pilot's instructions.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28Three quarters.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Phenix, three quarters.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36That's the Phoenix all stopped.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38Phoenix all stopped.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41That is the ship steady now so we just stand by now,
0:25:41 > 0:25:44ready for the next manoeuvre into the Thorn Channel.
0:25:46 > 0:25:51Your margin for error is particularly reduced in that area.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55You have to be very precise with your navigation,
0:25:55 > 0:25:57make sure your ship's head is exactly where you need it to be.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00We need to be concentrating all the time now.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02If you delay turning into minutes,
0:26:02 > 0:26:05then you would be in serious difficulties coming round the turn.
0:26:05 > 0:26:10Navigating £35 million worth of cargo down a narrow channel
0:26:10 > 0:26:13is a slow and exacting business.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20But as the day breaks back in Cherbourg,
0:26:20 > 0:26:24skipper of the Concise 8 racing yacht, Ned Wakefield,
0:26:24 > 0:26:28is determined to squeeze every ounce of speed out of his boat.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30I'd a few hours' kip last night
0:26:30 > 0:26:34so we're preparing to do our next challenge which is back to Hamble.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37We've set ourselves a 7.5 hour goal,
0:26:37 > 0:26:39so we're going to push the boat pretty darn hard
0:26:39 > 0:26:41and see if we can do that.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43After failing to set a record on the way here,
0:26:43 > 0:26:47Ned wants to set a personal best time on the way back.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50Today personally, I have to admit I would be pretty disappointed
0:26:50 > 0:26:53if we don't beat this time goal we've set ourselves.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59The problem is, when we do things like this,
0:26:59 > 0:27:00we are such competitive people,
0:27:00 > 0:27:04we just have this inherent drive in ourselves.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07We will be frustrated if we don't do it, so every time we go to sea,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10it's really important that we make sure we're recreating
0:27:10 > 0:27:12a race situation.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Leaving Cherbourg in good weather, they only have light winds
0:27:17 > 0:27:20and set off with a renewed determination.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25A beautiful morning for a sail.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29You can see it's nice and early, the sun's out, slightly brisk,
0:27:29 > 0:27:31but we're looking forward to it.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38It's not long before they pick up some unexpected passengers.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46A pod of bottlenose dolphins.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52Attracted by the bow pushing through the water,
0:27:52 > 0:27:56they are getting a power boost to a new feeding ground.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01Or maybe they're just having fun.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08For some, seeing a pod of dolphins
0:28:08 > 0:28:10this early in the year is a good omen.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14But as soon as they appear, they're gone.
0:28:18 > 0:28:23The team are left to handle the rest of the crossing alone.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25We've just left Cherbourg behind us.
0:28:25 > 0:28:29We've got about 10 knots of wind, which is OK, that's what we forecast.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32We've just put up our big mast,
0:28:32 > 0:28:37so we've effectively got a broad reach across back to The Needles.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41So I think, so far, we're on track.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43We're doing nine knots through the water and the average
0:28:43 > 0:28:47I wanted to achieve was eight so we're above target at the moment.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49As long as we can keep this up the whole way,
0:28:49 > 0:28:52we should beat our 7.5 hour record.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01It's a good start, but the English Channel is unpredictable
0:29:01 > 0:29:06and as they head north, the mood changes as the wind drops.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09Come on, breeze! We could do with a little bit more.
0:29:09 > 0:29:13The breeze is actually dying off now. We have eight knots.
0:29:13 > 0:29:17Our average boat speed is going down. We're still just on the cusp.
0:29:17 > 0:29:18I just had a look at the computer
0:29:18 > 0:29:22and we're probably half a mile off the pace at the moment,
0:29:22 > 0:29:25so I've got Will down below trimming.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27You can just feel it now, we've had a puff,
0:29:27 > 0:29:29so we've gone back up to 12 knots of breeze
0:29:29 > 0:29:32so as long as we keep that going, we'll still be on pace.
0:29:34 > 0:29:38I'm pretty happy on trim, four and a half trim.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41Can I get you to unclip that kite, mate?
0:29:41 > 0:29:42Chuck it below.
0:29:44 > 0:29:48We're still probably a quarter of a mile off where we should be,
0:29:48 > 0:29:51so we've just got to really keep pushing.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53Let's keep the race pace up, as it were.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57So we're all right on this at the moment.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59As they struggle to keep the pace up,
0:29:59 > 0:30:02the next challenge is the shipping lane.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04We're just going to keep a visual.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07We're coming up to the shipping lane
0:30:07 > 0:30:09so boats will be coming left-to-right,
0:30:09 > 0:30:10so just keep an eye out.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12Once we cross that, we're in the transition zone
0:30:12 > 0:30:16and then we're into the next one with the ships coming the other way.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20The next hour or two are quite important.
0:30:21 > 0:30:23I don't really want to divert course.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25I'm sailing at the fastest angle at the moment
0:30:25 > 0:30:28but we've got a waypoint which is where we're going to, The Needles,
0:30:28 > 0:30:30and we want to sail as quickly as we can to that point.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33If I have to divert off of that, I'm sailing more miles
0:30:33 > 0:30:35and I'm sailing at a slower angle.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39We're up against it, if I'm honest.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44Then just at the wrong time, they lose the wind.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47We're just going across the busiest shipping lane
0:30:47 > 0:30:49and the wind has just completely shut down,
0:30:49 > 0:30:52so things are getting pretty interesting.
0:30:52 > 0:30:54We're doing two knots of speed over the ground
0:30:54 > 0:30:58and we've got a fairly large shipping tanker just coming behind us,
0:30:58 > 0:31:00so at the moment, middle of the shipping lane,
0:31:00 > 0:31:03this is the worst place that the wind could have died.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06Obviously, the problems are,
0:31:06 > 0:31:11getting in front of some of these big ships and their distances are huge.
0:31:11 > 0:31:13We really don't want to be there,
0:31:13 > 0:31:16so we just have to make sure we're really careful
0:31:16 > 0:31:19and looking around and talking to the other ships
0:31:19 > 0:31:20and make sure they know our intentions,
0:31:20 > 0:31:21they know our course,
0:31:21 > 0:31:24they know the fact that we actually cannot change our boat speed
0:31:24 > 0:31:26because we're sailing.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30As they get closer, the tanker wants to know what they're doing.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35This is Concise 8, over.
0:31:35 > 0:31:41We just want to know your intention.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46Our intention is to currently carrying on sailing
0:31:46 > 0:31:47and avoid you.
0:31:47 > 0:31:49You are maintaining your course and speed?
0:31:49 > 0:31:52Yes, we are maintaining course and speed.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56OK, I will pass you.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00Thank you very much.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03We've let them know that we are going to maintain course and speed
0:32:03 > 0:32:06and that way, they know what we're doing and they can make sure
0:32:06 > 0:32:10that if they need to, they can change their course.
0:32:14 > 0:32:18So, it's a tense time at the moment.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22Just in the nick of time, the ship passes close behind.
0:32:22 > 0:32:26We've narrowly avoided a fairly large tanker behind us.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30It's not just the one tanker they have to worry about,
0:32:30 > 0:32:34as ship after ship comes into view.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37Slightly worrying because we haven't got a huge amount of steerage
0:32:37 > 0:32:39and we have these large ships around
0:32:39 > 0:32:40so we're just keeping a real visual
0:32:40 > 0:32:43and making sure we're keeping radio contact with the ships
0:32:43 > 0:32:46and letting them know what we're doing.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48We've got to hope the breeze picks up.
0:32:49 > 0:32:53Fluffing around like this, we're now doing 1.7 knots over the ground.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58Just like on the way over, things haven't gone their way.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02We've still got absolutely no wind
0:33:02 > 0:33:04and we're way off our target now.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07It's not going to be any possibility that we can get in
0:33:07 > 0:33:09in our seven and a half hours.
0:33:09 > 0:33:13In the end, skipper Ned makes a decision to abandon the attempt
0:33:13 > 0:33:16and motor out of the shipping lanes to safety.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19With no wind, his seven-hour challenge
0:33:19 > 0:33:22turned into a 14-hour epic.
0:33:22 > 0:33:23To be honest, that's sailing.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25We're completely at the mercy of the elements.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27That's why we love it. That's why it's exciting.
0:33:27 > 0:33:31It's out of our control, so, OK, we didn't beat our challenge,
0:33:31 > 0:33:34but we had some really good training conditions,
0:33:34 > 0:33:36we pushed ourselves, we pushed the boat
0:33:36 > 0:33:40and we've made it back, so, all in all, we can take lots from the trip.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48Beyond the behest of wind and sail,
0:33:48 > 0:33:53the workhorses of the Channel's ports rely on their powerful engines
0:33:53 > 0:33:57and, in the Solent, the tug boat Phenix is about to manoeuvre
0:33:57 > 0:34:01the giant oil tanker Tempera as it makes its final big turn
0:34:01 > 0:34:04up towards the Southampton docks.
0:34:05 > 0:34:11It's... The Thorn Channel is up between the buoys up there.
0:34:11 > 0:34:12That's where we're heading.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15That's the direction that we're aiming for.
0:34:15 > 0:34:17- Up to half.- Up to half.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22The tanker is being entirely guided by the tug
0:34:22 > 0:34:27and £35 million worth of crude oil is in Captain Graham's hands.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35- Take it up to three quarters, please.- Phenix, three quarters.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53The pilot seems very calm so I think everything is under control.
0:34:57 > 0:34:59Hello, Phenix. We'll take it back now. Thanks very much.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02Just drop to stern.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05Yeah, drop rudder stern. OK, thanks very much, Bill.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09That's all right. It's very reassuring, that.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11With the turn complete,
0:35:11 > 0:35:15the plucky little tug has shown its worth to the giant tanker.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18That represents the crude oil tanker
0:35:18 > 0:35:20and that's the approach into the Thorn Channel,
0:35:20 > 0:35:22this being the Thorn Channel.
0:35:23 > 0:35:27Now aligned down the narrow channel, a second tug joins the Phenix.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32She's going to go up and make fast on the port-side
0:35:32 > 0:35:36and she will assist the ship and help to push her onto the berth.
0:35:36 > 0:35:41But there's still one vitally important job for the Phenix to do.
0:35:41 > 0:35:45A loaded crude oil tanker of approximately 100,000 tonne dead weight,
0:35:45 > 0:35:49that is the tonnage of the cargo on board,
0:35:49 > 0:35:51without assistance from a tug,
0:35:51 > 0:35:55would take several miles to come to a complete stop.
0:35:55 > 0:36:00With our assistance, the vessel will be stopped
0:36:00 > 0:36:02within half a mile or so.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04We're approaching berth five now,
0:36:04 > 0:36:09so it won't be long before the pilot asks us to put weight on astern
0:36:09 > 0:36:10to stop him.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23When tankers carry such valuable cargo,
0:36:23 > 0:36:26time is money and, before off-loading,
0:36:26 > 0:36:29the Tempera must first be turned through 180 degrees
0:36:29 > 0:36:33so it's ready to embark on its next voyage.
0:36:33 > 0:36:35We're going round to this side of the ship
0:36:35 > 0:36:39so we can help it manoeuvre around,
0:36:39 > 0:36:41as before we were slowing it up and stopping it.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46So, now, the main objective is to manoeuvre it round
0:36:46 > 0:36:48and get it alongside the berth.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55The first time it is, you know, quite exciting
0:36:55 > 0:36:58because it's something new.
0:36:58 > 0:37:03You're up close with the vessel and, as I say, you're in awe of the power
0:37:03 > 0:37:06that the tugs have and the manoeuvrability
0:37:06 > 0:37:09and how much a ship depends on you, really.
0:37:10 > 0:37:15It goes to show, you know, if we are needed to be used in anger,
0:37:15 > 0:37:20we can and we're very effective at doing it. Some people don't...
0:37:20 > 0:37:23They look at the tug and think it's small compared to the ship,
0:37:23 > 0:37:26but it packs a hell of a lot of a punch.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28After safely guiding the tanker
0:37:28 > 0:37:31and its multimillion pound cargo to its berth,
0:37:31 > 0:37:35the Phenix and her crew have earned a well-deserved rest.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41But still out at sea on the whelk fishing boat Gunner's Glory,
0:37:41 > 0:37:45there's no let-up and things are going from bad to worse.
0:37:47 > 0:37:49Now, this string? Absolutely terrible.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52- Yeah!- It's dead.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54There's hardly anything in any of the pots.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57I have to say, the stand-up temp has really been doing grand.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00- They don't work that well in... - In big tides.- Big tides.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02Nothing.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05If Kevin, his girlfriend Tash and crew member James
0:38:05 > 0:38:09don't catch enough to cover the cost of the boat, bait and insurance,
0:38:09 > 0:38:12they may go home without making a single penny.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16- You ready, guys?- No.- Be ready!
0:38:16 > 0:38:19- I need some information from you. - What do you want?
0:38:19 > 0:38:22We've got... We're towing a dan. I didn't know we were towing a dan.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24The weight's nearly ready to go. You're the eyes on deck.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27With the last couple of strings bringing up next to nothing,
0:38:27 > 0:38:31they're well down on their original target of 30 bags.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34We could just be over a slab of rock.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36Just a bit of ground that whelks don't like.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38Some ground they just don't like.
0:38:40 > 0:38:41Nothing in that one, either.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47Please, God, make us get two bags out of this.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50We're likely to hit two.
0:38:50 > 0:38:51No?
0:39:00 > 0:39:01Yeah, I know.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06Let's see if this string works.
0:39:06 > 0:39:07Nearly empty again.
0:39:11 > 0:39:12What's that? One bag?
0:39:12 > 0:39:15Not good. Not good at all.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18They've only managed to catch 16 bags' worth of whelks
0:39:18 > 0:39:21after pulling up seven of their ten strings.
0:39:21 > 0:39:23Going to run it off the end of this one.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26They've got just three more strings to try and make it
0:39:26 > 0:39:31to at least 23 bags, the point where they start to earn money.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33- Do you want to wait?- No, no, no.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36- We're nowhere near where we want to be.- No, not yet!
0:39:36 > 0:39:38They've certainly got their work cut out
0:39:38 > 0:39:42but, for Kevin, a life at sea has its compensations.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45I love being out here.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48We've got various other jobs we go to later in the year,
0:39:48 > 0:39:50while James carries on netting to make his living.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53It's just a balance of the three of us making a living.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56And not wanting to be in an office.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03A fisherman's life has nothing if he doesn't have patience
0:40:03 > 0:40:05and it looks like Kevin and the crew's hard work
0:40:05 > 0:40:07might be about to pay off.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10Oh, my God!
0:40:12 > 0:40:14That's a good pot.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16We're about halfway down this string.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18Doing all right, aren't we?
0:40:20 > 0:40:2221 bags so far.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27They could be on target for a decent haul
0:40:27 > 0:40:31but it's been a long shift getting there.
0:40:31 > 0:40:35- That was close, wasn't it? Did you see that?- What's up?- Slow down.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38- Did it get your fingers?- No, it had my glove off the end quick.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40Put my hand in the wrong place.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42- What happened?- As I was moving,
0:40:42 > 0:40:46I just caught the rope in my hand and put my glove through there.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49If my fingers had been in it, I would have had broken fingers.
0:40:53 > 0:40:57- How many did we get out of that one? - Three.- Great. Diamond.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59Weight's gone.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06He's done. We've got one more to go.
0:41:06 > 0:41:10They've made it to 23 bags and finally break even.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13Everything rests on the final string to see if they'll get paid
0:41:13 > 0:41:15for all their hard work.
0:41:16 > 0:41:20- We can't make up to a full day's pay.- Well, we don't know yet.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24- Unless this string comes up... - With six bags.- With six bags, yeah.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31Oh, dear.
0:41:31 > 0:41:32It's only the first one.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40Christ, I didn't even hear a whelk in that pot.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44Starfish!
0:41:44 > 0:41:47The first few pots don't look good,
0:41:47 > 0:41:49but things start looking up.
0:41:49 > 0:41:53- Strewth! Some whelks! - Is that whelks? Yay!
0:42:03 > 0:42:06The final string has produced another three bags,
0:42:06 > 0:42:10making their total a healthy 26.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12They've earned £50 each on the trip
0:42:12 > 0:42:15and it's time to head back to shore and unload.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23Oh, get it up there!
0:42:23 > 0:42:27By the end of the season, I look like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
0:42:27 > 0:42:28Guns on her arms.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33The whelks will now be transported abroad,
0:42:33 > 0:42:36feeding popular demand for the shellfish in the Far East.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39Diamond. Cheers, bud.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41The crew of the Gunner's Glory may not have earned
0:42:41 > 0:42:43as much as they'd hoped
0:42:43 > 0:42:46but, for them, any day out at sea is worth it.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51What was looking like a very good day turned out to be an average day
0:42:51 > 0:42:53but an average day is still way better
0:42:53 > 0:42:56than being in an office and having a boss.
0:42:56 > 0:42:57I'd still rather be out there.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09Whether it's for work, adventure
0:43:09 > 0:43:13or the vital job of keeping these waters moving,
0:43:13 > 0:43:16the English Channel is an office that never closes,
0:43:16 > 0:43:18for all its inhabitants.