Crew. "Passage Crew" to the Guernsey Nigel Lambert (Skipper) Rob Harman, Ben Jones and Ben Readhead.
Crew. "Intermediate Crew" for Island hopping. Nigel Lambert, Mike Brown, Roy Burkill and Roger Bignell
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The Skipper. A seasoned sailor with many sea miles under his belt. A late convert from Stink Pots. Sensibly married to a gorgeous girl who is also a Skipper. How lucky can one man get!
Roy, long time crew member having sailed hundreds of miles with Roger. How lucky can one.....
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Roger, Yacht Master and Roys sleeping partner, How lucky can one ...........
Mike, Cabin Boy, Crew fitness Guru and Fisherman. Probably Shawns crime boss.
Crew. "Final Crew" for Island hopping and return passage. Becky Lambert and Nigel Lambert.
Passage Plan. Queen Anne Battery Plymouth, Torquay Marina, Portland Marina, Cherbourgh, Aldernay, Guernsey, Jersey, St Malo, then return to from whence she came.
It should be noted for the record, that the above passage was a scaled down version of Nigels original intention to sail the whole coastline of Great Britain in six weeks. However after a number of telephone conversations this was modified to a more realistic journey.
I guess there have been a number of planning meetings about this adventure by all personnel involved but the only ones that I can report with any degree of accuracy are "The Intermediate Crew" ones. In total there were three. One at The Fox Inn, Old Down and the rest at The Three Brooks. Contributors to these meetings were not necessarily potential crew members, hence the presence of Dean and Shawn on a couple of occasions. However Shawns plans for the Great Tesco Till Robbery was an interesting, if somewhat alarming diversion.
The meeting at The Fox was probably the most valuable as actual charts and pilot books were examined. There, amongst the debris of the Faggots and Gammon the passage plan was outlined. It was debated that the Intermediate Crew (Us) would either fly or ferry to Guernsey. The principal objection to going by ferry was the ungodly hour of the departure time. However Roy undertook to research the options and subsequently reported that we could leave the booking of the ferry until two weeks before departure. This was misinformation by the ferry company as the price had risen by £30 a head and we had to pay for different return port.
The Great Island Hopping Voyage Begins.
Early June 2010
The first part of the voyage surprisingly went to plan as Nigel and Becky brought "Drifter" from Plymouth to Torquay in some fine sailing weather. I think having Becks as a crew member answers the incredulity posed in this paragraph. Because, with any other crew "Drifter" would have been wind-bound in Salcombe for at least a week!
23rd June 2010
1800 Traveled with Roy Burkill in his new huge Mercedes to The Three Brooks to meet Nigel, Mike, and Dean. Shawn could not attend as he was casing Liddle!
The meeting was very productive and centred around one crews members baggage allowance. It was felt that in line with "Virgin Airlines", who have reduced their allowance from two 50lb bags to one 50lb bag, this particular member would have to discard his double quilted, feather filled, folding mattress. All agreed and the beef burger, gammon, chicken and tortilla chips complemented the smug feeling of something achieved! Mike scarily stated that he intended to drive and navigate on the forthcoming voyage
30th June 2010
Delivered a Channel Island Brochure to Skippers house and received e mail of thanks he also said that the original first leg ( Torquay, Portland, Cherbourgh, Aldernay, Guernsey) was going to be modified to (Torquay, Guernsey) the reason being that there was bad weather predicted for Sunday the 4th July so a direct route on Saturday 3rd seemed prudent.To use the tides, it was decided that they would set off at 0400 assuming a 13 hours journey at 5 knots. The tides were at neaps so the E/W sets could almost be discounted. I think the course is 155T however this is from memory.
3rd July 2010 2000
Have watched "Seaside Rescue" on TV and no reports of vessels in distress so assume that all is going well and Drifter is in site of Guernsey.
Text from Skipper : He is moored in St Peters Port sucking a cold one! Presumably he means a bottle of beer.
Sunday 4th July 1100
Text from Nigel in answer to my request for passage details :
0400 Start Saturday morning!
Passage period 14 hours
Wind force 2 to 4
Course 158 degrees
2200 Mooring fun in Marina.
Plan for Sunday :
Sailing to Aldernay arriving about 1800
Tides : Look interesting!
Sunday 1800
Text from Skipper : Aldernay. Great sail sun, blue sky. Going ashore to impress locals and get pissed.
N.B. There are slightly more Forts on Aldernay than there are pubs and there are a lot of Forts! On a earlier sailing trip to Aldernay I was lucky enough to be introduced to the ex vicar of Bermuda who owned one of the Fisherman's Cottages overlooking the bay (Incidentally the town is called BRAY so he could be The Vicar of Bray! L.O.L.). He kindly took us for tour of the Island and his description of Aldernay was " 2,000 drunks clinging to a large rock".
Monday 5th July
E mailed and rang Mike to get his address. It would appear that on Mikes mobile I come up as his sister. Memo to self : Check on boat sleeping arrangements. Mike said "Should he bring his fishing rod?" I said "Have you got one?" He said "No!"
Roy called in to check final journey arrangements.
Tuesday 6th July
Skipper rang from Jersey where they are staying for a couple of days. He said that they found Aldernay very quiet.Good Tai meal but no life in the pubs, so Monday morning at 0430 caught the tide down to Jersey. The weather has been perfect for sailing and they want to Go Foreign, St Malo, before returning to Guernsey on Friday.
1200
Just had an e mail from Nigel Bright who has been cruising the Channel Islands and will be heading home Wednesday.
Wenesday 7th July
Text message from skipper "Arrived in St Malo, Interesting experience negotiating lock gates. Weather great. Not much wind Force 2. Heading back to Guernsey on Friday or earlier if weather changes".
Friday 9th July
Text message from Skipper they should be back in Guernsey by 1700.
Skipper rang from Guernsey. It seems that the "Passage Crew" have an early plane to catch and we may cross them. Skipper wants us to ring him when we land on Saturday morning, he says he will be up.
Rang Mike (Answer phone) and Roy and updated them.
Saturday 10th July 2010
The Intermediate Team set off. Roy and Rog check that the Condor leaves the dock successfully ....
......Whilst Mike checks out the galley! He recons stewardess are like B.A. but fatter.
The Skipper welcomes his crack team to St Peters Port Guernsey!
Nigel welcomes the crew and passage plans are discussed. Mike suggests Brixham. Nigel says that later on in the year they are taking Shawn to Butlins as he needs to get experience with the older women. Is this a sailing plan?
Had breakfast in a Greasy Spoon near Marina which is popular with locals. V Good. Mike has salt and a full English! Noted a Lobster salad was £11.
Gathering intelligence Part 1 Found out that Wednesday was Bastille Day in St Malo. It will be very crowded in the marinas and you cannot book in advance.
1130 weather hot with a breeze.
Shopping for fishing tackle and food in M&S. Nigel says that when Becks comes he will use the boat as a caravan. Roy reckons this will wear the keel down.
Lunch on board: Wine, Bulls Dick, Humus Dip then sleep.
Supper at the Ship restaurant on the Marina. Served by Latvian waitresses. Moules Frites and 2 bottles of wine gets Nigel rambling.
Roy fell out of bed.
Sunday 11th September 2010. 0600
Off to Jersey. Weather warm with some drizzle. Under engine. Fishing. Felt queasy trying to make VHF work.
1400 Rafted on waiting pontoon with about 70 other boats. Some rafting eight deep with no shore lines. There is going to be tears! Mike making Spam sandwiches.
1600 Entrance to Marina open. 50 boats heading for 12 foot gap to get in before leaving boats join the fray. Chaos!
Nigel moored "Drifter" on finger pontoon. Distance today 34NM
1900 In town watched football on TV! boring. Roy slips into a coma with excitement. Fish and Chips back on the boat.
Monday 12th July 2010. 0900
Heavy rain in the night. No wind. VHF, no sound on receive. Nigel contacting suppliers.
Forecast strong winds for middle of week which stops us heading further south.
1000 Locked out, sun shining. Anchored in St Aubins Bay. Rubber duck out and Roy and I go ashore and Nigel takes a dip. Mike still fishing.
1700 Following bacon and egg sandwiches locked in. Moored next to couple from Harwich.
2000 Mike had trouble climbing off boat. Decided he is going to donate his body to medical science.
Chinese meal in The Diamond. £90 I will have to die on Thursday at this rate of spend.
Nigel's tells us that a former girl friend used to collect and Analise foreskins as they contain information about the body. The mind boggles!
Mike gets ready for bed.
Tuesday 13th July 2010. 0740 Nigel on deck as he slept badly. Doctor Roy recons that Mike snoring is caused by reflux!
Mike gets bombed by Herring gulls.
0950Waiting for VHF fitter to come and replace set. Weather overcast with some rain. Mike goes shopping for beer and Roy and I shop for victuals. I am going to make a Spag Bol tonight.
The girls in the town are expensively dressed, great shoes! Roy recons I have a shoe fetish!
Gathering Intelligence Part 2. Found a bike hire place and decided to cycle the 15 mile round trip to Corbier Lighthouse.
Mike stops for breath!
Spag Bol for supper, played cards then bed.
Mike stops for breath!
Found a monument to life saving following a ship hitting a rock in a force 5. Apparently 307 passengers were saved with the help of God and many strong arms! Whats God got to do with it he put the bloody rock there in the first place!!!!
Spag Bol for supper, played cards then bed.Wednesday 14th July 2010 0750
Roy bought some very cheap sailing shoes and delighted in telling us that they were sold with two pairs of laces and wondered why! The clue is in the outer lace holes Roy!
Roy bought some very cheap sailing shoes and delighted in telling us that they were sold with two pairs of laces and wondered why! The clue is in the outer lace holes Roy!
Mike recons the second laces are for tying the shoes together then throwing the shoes over telephone lines,this will mark the edge of his territory. There are not that many turf wars in Duckhol. Roy has yet to wear the shoes.
Gathering Intelligence Part 3. As bad conditions until week end, suggested that we jump ship and head for home. Nige was quite relaxed about this and said it gave him the opportunity to do all the little jobs that have been accumulating. I think he means clean the boat up before inspection by Becky.
0915 Changed booking to 1300 this afternoon.
1030 Said goodbye to Nigel and left for home.
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