BroadAmbition

Amendment The amount of diesel I posted earlier is incorrect. Having discussed it with Robin, I was told the amount in cost of the Brooms fill up not the amount in Litres (Not by Robin) so a mistake, an honest one but still a mistake. . Therefore can a pesky mod alter the figures in my earlier post to:- Brooms 1123 x Ltrs Total 2'909 Thanks, Griff

She is safely on her mooring now btw Griff

Ok then, I'll post this up on Robins behalf as he is somewhat busy at present. Sailed from Plymouth on Friday morning the 02nd Feb with brimmed tanks - 2405 x Ltrs Friday evening at Ramsgate - Took onboard 839 x Ltrs Sunday morning at Brighton - Took onboard 947 x Ltrs Monday afternoon at Brooms - Took onboard 1123 x Ltrs Grand total = 2909 Litres That for 2 x main engines at 500hp each and the 50hp generator (Which was not running 24/7, used shore power when alongside) Griff

Independence has now completed at Brooms taking on fuel. She will be shortly moving to her new mooring. The AIS now disabled. So apart from getting her alongside Robin and Independence are now at their new home. Thank goodness for that! Some adventure eh? Griff

Letting go lines now. Apparently Bridge is lifting for pilot boat so Indy can go through as well Griff

Emergency vehicles would have the same issue no matter what time of day the Bridge lifts Anyroadup I have been on to the bridge control and they now hope to open Haven Bridge at 1015 fingers crossed. AIS will be enabled just before Oh and BTW I’m not onboard but in Donny at work Griff

Team Indy - All home safe,. I walked in at 0130 to have our Macie dog go bonkers as per the norm. It's snowing here good and proper and settling too so another cold morning to look forward to. Back down to earth with a crash, stripping out a shower room in just over 6 x Hrs, I'm so tired it will have to be a shower in t morning. Clay shooting Wednesday evening. Did the adventure really happen? Remind me not to move anyone's boat from anywhere to anywhere at sea ever again unless it is in the summer in sunny calm seas with nowt more then a zephyr, let alone a gentle breeze Thanks again for all your comments / best wishes, proper humbling Griff

We think the whole trip was around 320nm to Haven Bridge Griff

No Wetherspoons or pints for me tonight, or the rest of the team either. Too knackered. Snacks onboard, tidy up. Then drive home Griff

Well, as you are all aware, we are here. I ache everywhere. 1). Haven bridge operates are covering / waffling - I call it LYING and I’ll explain why later 2). We got alongside Town House Quay for 1600 after a hell of a lot of stress, pushing ourselves and Indy to do it, all that way from Dover Marina to Haven Bridge 96nm in the worst seas since Plymouth - well chuffed 3). Robin onboard, met us on arrival 4) Me and Howard sorted out 240v - now all to the good 5). Thank you one and all that have offered encouragement / complements to Team Indy it’s appreciated 6). A thanks from me to team Indy, you were great 7). Big thanks to Robin for allowing me to skipper Indy - a great privalige and honour My boy Dale will be here sometime this evening to drive me, Howard, Brian, and Wizard Home. Work for us in t morning Personally - (I will do a proper write up and reply to your posts I due course). I am so disappointed that team Indy do not get to take her over Breydon up the Yare to Brundall. Out of the whole trip that was the one leg I was really looking forward too, the icing on the cake, the reward if you like, the chance is now gone, never to be repeated. Four day terrible sea trip plus a maintenance weekend with all that entailed, just for the prize to be cruelly snatched away right at the death. Gutted Anyroadup, I wish Robin and volunteers a great trip tomorrow. Griff

Now we’re flying. 2500rpm on all three tanks which is exilerating but a bit tiring on our legs Griff

Back down to 4 crew. It was a brief appearance Griff

Back up to 5 crew. Conditions improving. Lots of fluid intakes. Zig zags in Dover harbour was me on helm waiting for a ferry to enter still can’t open her up anymore due to sea state. I’m very mindful Indy is white and not grey but she is handling it well Griff

Just approaching Sizewell B. Could do with some of their 240v Griff

Sorry for no updates. Had my hands full. Proper rough seas earlier, still somewhat of a nuisance now but improved to about yesterday’s level. 5 crew onboard, 1 completely out of it, 2 more were sick earlier but have recovered and now operational again. Auto pilot packed up hours ago so manual helming. Generator not delivering 240v either so no dongle AIS or backup electronics. No chuffin kettle - if I was brave enough Have been making poor progress due to having to back off. Now up to SOG 9knt+ on the limit for current conditions. Could not film earlier too rough When I get home I will sleep for a week - oops - work stops that one Griff

Night Navvibg. Sea state - well I’ve had it better. Had to play around with fuel balancing again- sorted. Can’t make owt more than 9kts due to sea state Griff

Underway at 0500 Griff

Bailed out. Alongside in Dover Marina Griff

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Nope just had ham n cheese rolls as too rough to risk getting the frying pan out. Although only me brave enough to make us all a hot drink Griff

Ok, sea state has increased to about 8ft, not a problem in itself. What is an issue is that we have altered course to 072 so the bow is bang on into the swell. Add to that the swell is short with sharp peaks ( and white horses). We were at 2’200rpm or SOG 12kts+. Too much crashing into next goffer, heavy spray over fly bridge, helm fwd windows no vis at all, most uncomfortable. So I have reduced SOG to 9:5kts. I am playing about with rpm’s and this is about the max but it is manageable. Sheila on her way home as planned, lucky for her Griff

The final fuel up will be at Goodchilds. We planned that way from the word go. So the final count up will be the same for all This mornings fill up was the biggest yet but yesterday we was running at 2400rpm. No chance of that at present. Griff

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It’s on now Griff

Underway at 1110 Griff