Day 3 RBE - Rest Day at Brighton Wed 6th July 2011

I had to try very hard to get everyone to pose for this one - can you see Joey?

How many pints can you see?

Having spent the day and the night motoring from Queensborough to Brighton, we arrived at Brighton marine in the early hours and retreated to the local Wetherspoons.  I managed to convince everyone it opened at 7am, so at 7.30, finding I was wrong (me?  Wrong?) we retreated to McDonalds for coffee to wait until Wetherspoons opening at 8.

We enjoyed a lovely breakfast and were a little disappointed to find that they didnt serve beer until 9am (what is this wretched country coming to?!)

The beer at 9am was however enjoyable!

Does it look like Mike has been on night watch?

I think John must have had lots of sleep last night - how fresh faced is he!

We had a relaxing day with the crew cleaning the boat - I managed to get out of this job as I had to return once more to Wetherspoons to use the internet and create a blog for RBE!

A had a welcome visitor in the form of Sue Moorman who lives in South Heighton, not too far away - in fact as we motored along the coast into Brighton, I gave her a wave - it was only 5am so not sure she saw me!

The lovely Sue comes to visit

There is a 24 hr ASDA in the "Marina Village" so I couldnt resist stocking up on food.  The boat is now full - no storage room left, but far more satisfying than shopping at Waitrose!

Everyone tired and a bit tetchy (!) last night after our previous nights sail so we all headed to bed at a reasonable time.

Day 2 RBE - Queensborough to Brighton

What a long day!

No photos of Queensborough to show - as it was totally unphotographical (think thats a word!)  We departed in haste at 8.30 and motored on.

Skipper Duncan decided we might as well head straight to Brighton as stop in Dover and have our first taste of night time sailing (well - motoring!)

Interesting to pass by the windfarm at Kentish flats - remember my friend Andy telling me about its construction.  30 turbines in a row - seemed an age until we passed by them!

I've discovered that buoy is a North Cardinal.....so much to learn!

The 1st watch started at 6, Ive just completed my watch which started at 9pm til 12.  Its actually just into Day 3 now as it is 00:22 so Im going to sign off now and edit this when we are in Brighton in the morning.  Im reliably informed there is a Wetherspoons near the marina - and Im rather tempted with an 8am pint with my cooked breakfast!

Hard to photograph in the dark with the reflective strips on our kit.  Heres Pete

Can you guess where this is?

Dawn - somewhere near Newhaven

The first watch begins

A fantastic experience navigating and steering the boat in complete darkness, a great learning experience.  I've not yet read the chapter on colours of navigation lights, how to recognise different vessels and buoys so night navigation was a tad of a challenge.  One example, which also highlights, as usual, that I should trust my instinct - I saw a light ahead, it was green and I became convinced it flashed to red, then it stayed green and didnt turn red - quick check of the manual..........so I convinced myself that there was no such warning light, so I must have got it wrong.  This continued - and I realised no buoy would have sails....it was in fact another yacht and it was the starboard then port side (red light!) I wont do that again!

I also realised that trainers are not part of a useful kit when helming in driving rain!

Managed an hour or so sleep before the next watch began at 3am - the graveyard shift indeed!  However, lovely to watch the sun rise as we passed Newhaven by.  The wind whipped up and the sea became a bit lumpy and we soon found ourselves being pulled towards the coast - had to keep pulling portside (god, Im getting so nautical!!)

We neared Brighton and decided to let John, Chris and Mike sleep as we took RBE into the breakwater at Brighton - initial plan was for Pete and I to do this, but the weather conditions had deteriorated so much this would have been too much of a challenge and far too interesting - and probably the end of the trip............. no problem for Duncan of course!

RBE - first night on the boat and Day 1 Sunday 4th to Monday 5th July 2011

The first day of the Round Britain Experience is coming to a close!  The group met yesterday and enjoyed a lovely champagne luncheon and met one another for the first time.  Guests were invited and suddenly the boat felt most spacious as everyone left!

This gave us the opportunity to familiarise ourselves with the boat and "bond" with one another.

The evening soon arrived and we retreated to The Dickens Inn to have our first (non-champagne) meal together!  Let me introduce everyone....

Firstly - we have Chris.  A lovely lady who lives in Bristol.  She teaches maths and promises to help me with the mathematical aspects of navigations (yes Chris, you did promise that!)  I promise to take a better photo of you very soon!

This is Peter - he is married to Chris.  They both live in Bristol.  He teaches at the University there with people with Aspergers Syndrome.  He looks like a proper sailor - wears all the stripey tops and all that!

Hmmm... Well, what can I say?  This photo says it all - this is our skipper for this leg - Duncan, just out of the Navy (he blagged his way in there!) looks like a skipper with his ruddy complexion and sarcastic expression n'all!)

Well - this is Greta - she isnt actually part of the RBE but was the only good looking thing around the table (apart from me of course - but no one took my photo!)  She was our gorgeous waitress at the Dickens Inn!

The crew and skipper of the July-Sept 2011 RBE

Departing St Katherine Lock

Francesca and Dot - my daughter and surrogate daughter respectively come to wave us off - posh send off for a posh boat and posh crew!

I love this picture - and apparently, Peter doesnt like his photo taken - but he looks so much like a sailor already, it would be a shame not to photograph him!

Meet Mike - hidden depths here!  Quiet waters running deep and all that!  Chris and I are jealous of his lip colour!  An interesting guy who has walked more miles than he has sailed it seems!

The shopping list!

There is a serious aspect to this trip - apparently, we are all learning to be yacht masters!  Here Duncan demonstrates the checks we need to make to our life jackets (he has photogenic hands........which is more than I can say for the rest of him!)

I think Duncan shouldn't have shown us the whistle!

THE RBE!  How lucky am I!

Apparently, Im the 1st person to tell John he is photogenic!  I point the camera at him and he looks entirely natural.  It must be all those weddings he has been to - you see, he is a retired vicar, wonderful sense of humour and a cracking laugh (even if it does take him a tad longer to get the rude jokes!)

 A very natural looking photo of a crew around a shopping trolley.........

The Round Britain Experience Finally Begins

Finally here!  After months and months, people asking me if Im excited - well the honest answer was no as there has been so much going on in my life!  However - as soon as the taxi drew up at St Katherine Dock in London I felt the butterflies in my stomach and the excitement began.

The Round Britain Experience!  Thats the name of the boat and you can see Cal, Tash and Mick in the background.

A champagne lunch was provided and very well received. 

The Round Britain Experience starts right in the heart of London near Tower Bridge which can just be seen peeking through from the marina!

We arrived early (yes - me, early!) and Mick treated us all to a jug of Pimms - how civilised!

The boat is a Bavaria 45 and is brand new (well, almost!) spacious and fully kitted out- it even has an iron and ironing board - honest to god!

I have been appointed as the caterer for the first leg of the trip - they obviously spotted the domestic goddess in me and handed over the money for the 1st fortnight!  Such responsibility to feed 5 people you have never met before!  Maybe they will live to regret their decision!  Fussy eaters WILL be the first to be thrown overboard!

I will introduce the others later....

Finally arrive in London

Finally finished all my packing and headed off to London.

So pleased that all my gorgeous kiddlies came to join me as well as Mick!

The London Eye lite up in the Pride Flag!

That was last night - now its time to join the boat - Round Britain Experience (RBE!)  Oh my god - its finally here!

Final Farewell!

It seems I have been saying goodbye for weeks now - but last night was finally it (well, until October that is !)

I had a lovely evening with 11 lovely friends at Christopher's Restaurant - if you've never heard of it - its part of the Peel Hotel behind the eyesore that is Dominoes Pizza in Tamworth!

Thanks everyone for coming - I had such a fabulous evening - got a hangover to deal with now (thanks for continually topping my glass up Will!)

 The fabulously funny Frank

 The lovely Deb - one of my bestest friends and like a sister to me (thanks for all those left overs Debs!)

Big Willy (dont ask!) my next door neighbour and bestest mate!

Another of my bestest friends - the lovely Jayne - going to miss you babe!

Who is this hunky male with his arm around me?

A rather pensive picture of this gorgeous lady - Jess, lovely person, great mum and fabulous friend!

Jen!  What a fabulous lady, such a great sense of fun!

I love this picture - Danny and Tracy!

John loves me taking his photo (honest!)

Anyway , got last minute bits and pieces to sort before heading to London this afternoon ready to join the boat tomorrow to start my Round Britain Experience watch this space!

My adventure begins!

At long last - the packing over, and my boxes have begun their journey to Oz! I set sail this weekend to begin the Round Britain Experience which finally ends (once I've qualified as a Yacht Master!) on 8th October - I will then have a couple of weeks to find my land legs and wish Tash happy birthday - then fly to Oz and hope the contents of my boxes are all in one piece!

Now to continue cleaning..........