Spots ?

Early run in the SAAB to take Oli to get his cast taken off. Packed with the leaves I'd swept up to take to the dump while he was in - it was closed at 8:00.

Then off to Clacton to drop him off. I was out that way so I decided to come back via Abbotts to check on Caterham progress.

Looked a bit forlorn in bits - but that where the E-type sat too and that came home fine. The bonnet was propped up in the office for 'safety'. Might get it back next week when the MOT is passed.

Then back via the Manningtree dump - also closed Wednesdays and Thursdays. So checked Ipswich and found it open.

Home and I washed the E-type, then used the rest of the clean water to wash the SAAB.

Returning to polish the E-type I found lots of small micro-blisters appearing on the bonnet. Ho Hum I guess I'll need another re-spray sometime.

Finally took the end of month millage - and found I'd not really driven anything except the SAAB any distance - Caterham probably won but I'll have to guess at that.

Still Stuttering on Zero

SAAB out to re-fuel (I put the old Alpine petrol in it to no adverse effect) and then topped up with fuel and got two gallons of 97 octane - from Esso that is supposed to have zero bio-ethanol in it.

Put that in the Alpine and it seemed ok - but still stuttering at 30 - or 25 as the chap in front insisted on doing for 10 miles.

Pack up and Return Run

SAAB packed up again - seemed easier.

Drive back was easier too.

The G2R to look at boat progress - small step.

Big Boys Toys

Went into the town and past this garage with a few old trucks.

Looked like at least one still worked.

SAAB pottering

Out and about in the SAAB camping.

Not a single nice car in sight.

Blue and Red

SAAB to 'La Vie en Blue' - at Prescott hill climb. Not sure what I expected but it was a much smaller event. Looked like one of those that only people who know the competitors might attend.

Early rain eased and let me take a few nice shots - I especially liked this Alfa.




... and a few Austin Seven Specials.

Packed full and off

SAAB fully packed and setting off for just shy of 200 miles and a 5+ hours drive to Worcestershire camping.

Seems I can cram more in than I thought - but not sure the suspension liked it though.

G2R again

Down to the boat for a short day sail.

In the rain at the end.

That does not look nice

I got up still sad and mad about the Alpine.

I went to see the tank repair people and told them the problem had returned. They thought it was odd and told me the seal was permanent and would not move once baked on.

So once back home I bit the bullet spent an hour getting the car safely up on the rams. Then I took the union off - wow - petrol flooded out !

So good and bad news. The tank was not blocked after all...

I tidied everything up and wondered what to do next. Then I looked at the petrol I'd captured. It looked very milky - and there were some bits in the bottom of the catch pan too.

So I drained a lot more and it was clean although a few bits came out -not many. So my conclusion (hope) is that I'd got water in the petrol and it had made the car misfire.

Ethanol will absorb water and look like that I found after research so perhaps it is.

I'll add new clean petrol and test it again next week.

Bloody Hell - what now ?

SAAB for jobs first thing.

Abbots called to say the steering rack on the Caterham was a LHD Metro unit and needed a re-furb so was going back to Birmingham to be re-conditioned.

I decided to get the Alpine out to go to the Rootes meeting in the evening. Well, funnily enough a mile from home it started to loose power and miss-fire - again.

I assumed that the fuel was blocked again as it felt like it was running out so I turned back quickly and dropped it home - swapping for the SAAB again in dispare.

Alpine Out

Alpine seemed better, but it was only accelerating.

Then the boot popped open again on the run home. So I tried to tighten the bolts up so we'll see if it makes any difference.

Still sounds as if something is knocking from underneath.

It needs a clean inside and out

Ferrari out in the late sun and noticed how dirty the inside is as well. I must clean it this week.

Or next. Or at least before I take it to the Flywheel festival.

SAAB pressed in to Service again

Off to WWW (weird and wonderful wood) the expectation that the SAAB would be needed to carry something for Oli and Lucy.

Turned out it was needed for a large Pine dresser ! Fitted fine though.

Alfa Male

Caterham to Abbotts first thing for the MOT.

Saw a very nice Alfa race car on the trailer on the way in and a nice saloon sitting outside.

They (plus the Disco Volantie I saw a few years ago) belonged to a chap who came to chat to me.

He recommended the VSCC as a place where the older sports cars go to be sold - £50k would buy you a nice one...

So I left the Caterham - which obviously got jealous as it flunked the MOT - on emissions (ok it's an old car with DCOE 45's - but more worryingly on the steering that had a lot of play on one lock. I'd not noticed that the other night unless that was what was moving the car around the road ?

Anyway - SAAB for jobs pm.

The Brazill Edition

Up early and washed the Mk2 Golf. It was just dusty and covered in pollen really. Then took it round the block. The oil warning buzzer sounded, but I stopped to check the oil and it fine and did not come on when I re-started the car.

Then I 'blacked' the bumpers etc. Looked even better Then took it round the block again - this time the rev counter stopped again. Ho Hum. Tried to fix the bumper too and did some good.

Came in to pick up the post to discover the E-type is a cover star.

Then I looked inside to find my La Mans artical across six pages. Nice.

Then Alpine to pick up Oliver - goes well - most of the time. But the boot keeps popping open now ?

New Clamp Needed - and a visit from bomber command

Washed the Caterham for tonight and tried to fill the gaps in the exhaust to stop it blowing - MOT Friday. I also found that the lower pipe was loose and the clamp I had left was a bit old.

Moved the Alpine and swapped the cars around though. Then SAAB to Silk Street for errand.

Nice evening drive to the pub to meet up with the Caterham club, baring the tram-lining on the ruts. Three cars in the row with a chap looking at them appreciatively.

The looked at the nose. I was lucky as the bird splatter missed me.

Wash and brush up

Alpine out and work on the bonet again. I cut off a sliver of metal all the way but it still wont close with the rubber strip in place.

Then a wash and a bit of filler fell off.

Took it around the block to dry off and got a appreciative look from a chap in a Macalren.

The Alpine is still hesitant at 30 - perhaps I should get it re-tuned ?

Then I took the Ferrari to get a new clip of the Caterham exhaust, fitting it when I got back. Seems better but I'll test it out tomorrow.

Wow - That's Gorgeous !

... said the man - and I assumed he was referring to the E-type and not me.

The day started by taking Oli to Ipswich General in the Mk7, then down to Frambridge and back to collect the SAAB where it has sat for a week.

Still dirty - but still there.

So to finish off with a late sunshine run in the E-type to the marina to put the equipment back on the boat for another day was relaxing.

Newcastle to Holbrook

The day is taken mainly up with a journey of several stages to get home. We swap details with Barrie and confirm we’ll aim to do the Caledonian Canal leg in 2019.

We all leave the boat, then take a taxi, train1, train2, a coach and eventually we reach Ipswich to be picked up by Oli and Lucy in their car.

Home at last.

Newcastle

A slow start and heavy rain over night but we’re tucked up in the cabin. Then we have our showers before breakfast and a bit of a clean we bid farewell to Karen who is leaving this morning – we wish her well for her trip. After a bit more work we decide on tonight’s celebration – fish and chips in a pub.

We walk to our recommended pub via a bit of culture (for Jana).

We arrive at the packed Low Lights Tavern.

We sample the beer it brews and find that it does great fish and chips and Steak pies. A large group of young lads arrive with a guitar and start to sing at the top of their voices. We meet up with the remaining crew from CE and join the singing. Our contribution is adding Delilah to their repertoire.

We walk back and chat about the week before bed.

Grimsby to Newcastle

We need an early start to catch the best of the tides so we are up at 04:15 and by 5:00 we’re leaving Grimsby behind as the sun and moon both rise together in the East over a calm sea.

By 07:00 the engine is off and we’re sailing under jib alone but doing well in the 17 knot winds.

All day we are able to sail, only putting the motor on around 15:00 to top the batteries up. The wind and waves are getting stronger and by 17:00 are averaging well above 20 knots so we put two reefs in the jib.

There are lots of sea birds by now and we see out first Guillemots (small fat bird) and Gannets (large muscular bird) and then at last a Puffin or two fly past with their distinctive beaks.

The wind continues to rise and we see gusts of over 30 knots of wind (just below gale and into a force 7) and the boat tops 8 knots through the water. The waves are getting tricky and 3 meters high blocking out the horizon behind us. Around 23:00 the sea is calmer and we shake out the reefs. We see very few ships but eventually spot a large brightly lit object far away which we can’t recognise.

Overnight we have decided to do two hour watches to try to avoid getting too cold. Our first real watch being the 21:00 to 23:00 one and Jana and I do 30 minute spells on the helm. I’m finding it hard to keep warm even with all my layers on and can’t get much sleep when off watch as I am just lying in the cabin.

Jana wakes me at 01:00 and I need a few minutes to get up as I have been dead to the world. The wind is still around 18 knots but the sea state is getting easier to manage. The large object we had spotted two hours earlier is still ahead of is and turns out to be a large tanker at anchor off the coast even though the water is over 50 meters deep. We sail past in near daylight as their lights are so bright.

We finish the watch and catch a bit more sleep, this time I lie down properly in the aft cabin and get some rest. At 05:00 it is my turn to be awake and have to shake Jana a couple of time to raise her. The wind has dropped to 8 knots and we are under motor as we approach Newcastle.

By 05:30 we are though the breakwater and heading for the lock. A 6:00 we berth in the North Shields Royal Quays Marina, tie the boat up and go to bed. It has taken 25 hours to do 143 miles (give or take the log error) so we averaged around 5 ½ knots.

Grimsby

When we wake around 9:00 skipper Martin has already contacted base and a new throttle cable is being sent up by courier – it is due around 14:00. As a back-up he has also contacted a marine engineer locally who is also bringing a cable. After a shower in the Humber Cruising Association showers and breakfast on board we are asked to move the boats by the Marina office and again Barry acts as the remote throttle as we gingerly move pontoons.

We then help Martin take off the old unit and investigate where the problem occurred. The throttle control cable is in fact a complicated fixed length sealed unit made up of a thick wire encased in metal, which runs inside an outer protective sheath – this has crimped ends which terminate in threads that screw into units on either end – one into the Morse throttle leaver and the other to the engine. Our unit broke about 10 cm from the throttle at the point it bends most.

While we’re taking everything apart to remove the old cable, Karen goes in to Grimsby for more provisions. She returns some hours later with a tale of a post-apocalyptic landscape and describes trying to rescue a fox cub on wasteland that had a crisp packet stuck on its head – luckily the mother fox appeared and they ran off.

We have lunch and wait for the cable. A man arrives and tells us an engineer is on his way. Where we sail next is determined by the time we can get the cable fitted and the tides. There is still a chance to get into Whitby, but only if we arrive two hours each side of high water. We wait for the cable. We are also low on fuel so need to fill up – but having dismantled everything we can’t move the boat. Barrie suggests we top up using the spare fuel cans each boat carries and refill them at the pontoon which we do. We wait for the cable.

The courier with the cable arrives around 16:30 – the marine engineer never did. We lay the two cables next to each other and discover the new one is about 2 meters longer than the old one. We later discover that the old cable was fitted as an earlier repair when the longer one was not available. After an hour of work threading the cable through the boat via a visit the bottom of the rear locker to thread it through the steering mechanism, it is ready to be fitted to the Morse. The split pin is so small that it keeps popping out so I lie down and reach in holding it down while the skipper lies next to me and fits the unit. Done.

However it does not look right. Skipper Martin looks at the photo of the old one he took and discovers we have fitted it incorrectly. There is a clip that is in the wrong place meaning there is too much movement. Martin starts to dismantle the unit again and I locate a bigger split pin – in twenty minutes it’s all back together and working correctly.

For some time now Barrie has been cooking supper and it’s almost ready, but we need to undertake sea trials. Supper is put on hold as the boat is manoeuvred off the pontoon and tours the marina – reporting that the cable action is smoother and better than before.

That evening the sun was warm and we eat on deck, have a G N T and a glass of wine and celebrate our team work and the result. The time we needed to fix everything has determined our next leg. We have to have an early start with another overnight sail up the coast to Newcastle over 100 miles away.

The weather is looking more challenging too with wind and rain peppering the forecast.

Lowestoft to Whitby (Grimsby)

An early start today as we had a long run to Whitby of about 30 hours with the overnight stretch to come, so we were up at 5:00 for showers and then a 6:00 departure.

Again we had sun but shy winds to start with. We motored past wind turbine arrays and up the coast across the Wash, meeting a few commercial ships as we went.

About 16:00 the winds had strengthened to 15 knots and were from the East so we set the sails and retired the engine again. The silence is better anyway. About 18:00 the wind was almost directly behind us so we deployed the Cruising Chute again and sailed up the coast and into the darkness.

We had decided on 3 hour watches over night and Jana and I chose the early one as it got dark - to be followed by the 21:00 to 00:00 watch and then the 03:00 to 06:00 coming into the light.

About 22:30 we were still sailing south of Grimsby, it was now calm but dark and becoming bitterly cold and we were getting ready to furl the sails and motor on to Whitby. Jana was on the helm and we were skirting a large anchorage looking out for buoys and moving commercial shipping. The wind had dropped considerably and we decided to start the engine and round up to drop the sails. Jana tried to turn but could not get the Morse into gear and there appeared to be no power from the engine. So we’re bobbing about just outside the busy anchorage with no steerage from either sail or engine. Ummm.

Skipper Martin and I then tear the boat apart. Engine cover off. Two of us trying to diagnose the issue while Jana holds onto the wheel looking at the approaching coasters. The crew members sleeping are forced aside in their bunks as we have to open the access covers to the engine and delve into the machinery. As for me I’m looking at it like a car engine – where are the gears and throttle linkage. CB spots a ship nearing us and contacts them to ask them to give us a wide berth which they do. She is still motoring on and eventually loses sight of us in the dark.

I stretch into the engine compartment behind the gearbox and can manage to force the boat into reverse and then neutral – so it can be manually controlled into gear. There is still no power to steer so I trace the throttle cable and the two wires near the injectors. The first seems to be the accelerator but the second is unknown so I pull it – bugger that kills the engine. We re-start it quickly and I use my thumb to give Jana revs while the other Martin puts it into gear – so that part of the controls still seems to be working and we realise it is the throttle cable that is broken.

As my thumb is getting a bit stiff and the fumes from the hot engine are filling the cabin I decide that we need a bit of help keeping the power on. No thin screwdriver is available so I find a large flat metal cooking spoon and jamb it into the mechanism. Success – we have about 1000 rpm and I can close the engine cover.

The spoon falls out a few minutes later and the revs drop. I refine the technique and use a smaller spoon which fits better. Skipper Martin is looking for a course and ports we can make for that will still have water on the falling tide. Several are considered and in the end Grimsby looks the best - even though it looks like it will be close to low water as we get to the lock gates. The chart actually shows it drying - with little other information – but it seems our best bet.

Barrie is evicted from his cabin and helps us diagnose the problem whilst Karen is rudely evicted from hers and moved to the forepeak. I’m looking at how we control the engine revs – a small or a large spoon is not really a good long term solution. The problem is that to work the mechanism we need to pull it back towards the stern, but we only have access from the front. I work out that we can use one of the fittings in the engine compartment to act as a pivot and we use some thin twine rapped around it to act as a throttle cable.

This snaps almost immediately.

Luckily Barrie finds some thin rope which is stronger and we thread it through the fitting only for that to jamb, but re-routing it a second time gives a smooth control. We tie a loop in the rope to hold on to (another use for a bowline) and we can now work the engine manually. In order to maintain the revs without holding it we tie a screwdriver to the rope, and wedge two more under each end.

By about 00:30 we have it sorted and having now stabilised the revs we add a pack of cards under each screwdriver for more power, eventually we add two more packs for the 2000 rpm we want as we motor towards Grimsby. CE had lost sight of us but eventually finds us in the dark after some signals from the torch and falls in closely behind.

Jana has been on the helm all this time and is getting chilly whilst I am very hot having been in front to the open engine and crawling around. At 01:30 we both go below for an hour to try to get some sleep. We resume our next watch at 03:00 as we near Grimsby and discover that the next problem is that none of us speak the language. We’re told that there is no water, the gates are shut and we’ll have to be locked in. We assume that means we’ll have to wait until morning. There is also something about ropes – which we also can’t translate.

We find there is plenty of water as we approach the lock at Grimsby - which the chart does not seem to show. We realise that the ropes will be thrown to us if we go starboard side to and enter the small lock. CE rafts alongside and together we bob around as the outer gates shut - narrowly missing the stern of CE and as I fend off we gently tap the closed gates with the anchor in the swell. They open and we’re through, still rafted up to CE who helps manoeuvre us to the visitor’s pontoon with skipper Martin shouting instructions to Barry below who operates the makeshift accelerator cable by hand.

It is 6:00 and seven hours after the engine fault and we have sailed just short of 140 miles. We tie up and after making sure everything is ok by 7:30 we are all in our bunks to get some sleep.

Shotley to Lowestoft

An earlier 6:00 am start to get a shower then we set off at 7:30 and headed into the unknown. We seem to pass the river Deben very quickly even in the light winds and soon we were heading into seas we had not tried ourselves. We have to motor again as the wind is light and mostly behind us. Aldeburgh, Sizewell and Southwold are soon passed and the winds starts to strengthen to 10 knots around 15:00.

We deployed the Cruising Chute and turned the engine off at last and for about an hour we sail on until Lowestoft is in sight and we have to turn in. We tie up at 17:00 – rafting up beside CE. Another sunny 55 miles under our belts (give or take).

A walk to Asda for food via the A12 crossing did nothing to make Lowestoft look better but it was nice to stretch the legs. Supper on board again, a quick pint together and we turned in – not forgetting a visit to the polished brass of the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club toilets though.

North Frambridge to Shotley

A civilised start at 7:00 for a shower and breakfast on board, then after some photos of the boats and crews we set off in the sunshine and very light winds at 9:15.

It’s about 20 miles down the river Crouch to the sea and it gave us time to get familiar with the boat. It was a full day but an easy ‘sail’ that was mostly motoring to Shotley and we arrived before 18:00. The ship’s log said the best we saw was a 3 knot wind and we travelled exactly 50 miles, but we suspect the log is over reading a bit. It felt a bit odd to berth opposite Fidra, in our home marina and only 10 miles from The Beeches and a nice en-suite.

We have supper on board (discovered Barrie could not eat onions) and after the washing up was done, had a pint with the other crew and go to bed early.

Sailing Trip - Day 0

I have seen things you people wouldn't believe.

Well, OK not exactly attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion, but a few sea-beams glittering in the dark off Grimsby ... and we did see a Puffin, a Gannet and a Guillemot in the wild.

So wind back to late afternoon on Sunday the 6th May and we’re in the SAAB driving to North Frambridge, down through leafy Essex country lanes to join Kingfisher: a Beneteau Oceanis 361 (36 foot) cruising yacht. We parked up and have supper in the Ferry Boat Inn around 6pm (it was closing early for food even though it was a warm and sunny bank holiday) and discover it has no draft beer left. We eat and then join the boat and meet the other crew members who are saying their farewells on the pontoon. Odd meeting people like that - cold - with few introductions and not knowing what is actually expected. Lots of open questions - probing the background, income, status, religion, politics, married status and age. Oh and sailing experience. We got through that part fine.

Kingfisher was one of two boats, Charlotte Elizabeth (CE) being the other, doing the Round Britain sail for the McMillian Cancer charity. It was organised by Premier Sailing, although the charity aspect was a bit lost in all the instructions.

Our other crew members had a wide spread of experience: we had Barrie who was a very experienced sailor, had owned many boats over the years and had ventured as far as Denmark and Karen who was very much a novice and was getting her first taste of real sailing ahead of crossing the Atlantic with her brother in the summer in a trimaran. The Skipper was another Martin who was a qualified Yacht Master, trainer and very experienced in boats big and small. So that night we had an awkward pint in the pub with both crews (Rob 1 [Rob 2 joining in the morning], Steve, Frank and Skipper David from CE) crawled into the fore-peak and sleep on the boat.

Unexpected treat

Was reminded that it was the Ipswich Felixstowe run today. Was given a lift to have a look round in the park before they set off. Nice selection.

Bumped into some fellow Alpine'ers - one with a spare seat - so I hitched a ride all the way.

Stopped to let another car catch us up and spotted these nice buses coming through.

Nice to be driven - although it must have been the hottest May for many years - and not worry about the car. 

In fact the Alpine I was in had webers and although sounded quieter due to the air filters it still ran a but juddery at slow speed.

Five go sensible in Suffolk

Warm and sunny so treated most of the cars to a run, errands or just round the block.
Alpine to the marina - went well but still a bit juddery at 25.

Then Ferrari to shops. The load just fitted in the car. Amused a car driver though who saw me taking the picture.

Then Aston to the recycling - again. They must know me there by now. Looks odd with the boot up.

Then E-type round the block - it might be my imagination but I was followed by a BMW most of the way. Anyway, they do sit well together.

Finally Caterham back out into the sunshine - and fitted crook lock while we're away.

That small red bar on the drivers door.