Saving Old Seagulls

Test run report: Made an average speed of 4.5knots over the full run. Checked the oil at the end and found no free water and a good emulsion. I have drained the box to check for settling but am very confidant that there will be no issues with oil.
Hot refuel system worked very well even in the early afternoon when strong winds and steep sea's made things a little uncomfortable as a southerly change moved through.
Engines now selected, a mid 60's LLS and the backup engine, a LS; both fit well on the back of the 3.5m inflatable. Both bog standard although I have fitted a hydrofan to the LS. Its four leaf clover has too much play in the bush and needs some blade rework.

Looking forward to getting into the Sothern ocean!! one thing for sure it will be less traumatic than watching England in the WC

AJ

Bon Voyage!

Check every nut & bolt before you leave & take a handfull of spares, as over the course of the day something will vibrate loose.

Don't forget a sharp knife with a lanyard attached as your countrymen love crab pots & set nets & hydrofans have a fatal attraction for floating cheap rope.

Wish I was coming for the trip & the sunshine!

Good luck with the trip.
Take yourself a trolling lures you will never know what you might pick up!!!

I've had Tuna from just north of there.

As noted in a previous post, the south of Tassi is a great recreation tuna fishery, and tuna is often available in the fish mongers and off the punts in Salamanca docks.

I intend to post photos and updates on the way round from the escort boat. There is a professional photographer coming along and my wife Allegra will be reporting.

My little inflatable will have two engines fitted a LLS and the LS as a standby. I will be using 50liters of 10/1 mix fuel. After studding the conditions and several test runs it appears that the best speed I can reasonably achieve constantly is 4.3 knots so I shall be out there for 19 hours. Ill try for nonstop but will undoubtedly pick up a bit of weed as we go that will need clearing. The Kelp is quite prevalent around the south coast and can be very tenacious. This means that there will be no oil changes. Not long now; the weather is still favourable and as we get closer should be more predictable. Forecasted swell is down to around 1.5 meter now so they have reduced a bit.

44 Hours to the off...

AJ

Good luck mate will be watching with everyone else.

All the best mate, me and the Plus, are with you in spirit. and maybe one day some of the oz gullers will join you.

Getting late in the day, all tasks nearly completed. 'aquilaetta' ready with modifications for a more comfortable ride. Have insisted launch off beach is 05.00 so support mates here at 04.15am.

if it was in the UK I would be there like a shot.

Good luck with the voyage.

I have been thinking of a long range trip that we could do in the UK.

Round Hayling is 20 plus miles, so no big deal.

Full length of the Thames would be good, Lechlade to Richmond 128 miles, must do that soon.

H-A

Best of luck A-J
hope it all goes well for you
I shall be watching eagerly



p.s Dont go doing anything silly out there. Tis a long way after all.

jon

Allegra reporting. Start was just a few minutes late, we lost him immediately. due to pitch black night. Found him gap between partridge island and Butlers Beach, all fine. He looks to be enjoying this. Wonder how he'll feel at 22.00. We are approaching Cape Bruny. Tough typing with the sloppy swell! II'll continue to post to his page.

Nearing the Cape, 07.30.

Crikey, Adrian is way ahead of schedule if my calculations are correct. Cape Bruny in 2.5 hrs rather than 8. I must be wrong. Maybe there is strong nor'easter which will slow the pace on the upwind northerly return. This could be an annual epic. The start was around 5am??