Saving Old Seagulls

Into the final stages of planning the around Bruny non stop trip.

Just surveyed the course and marked it out on google maps. Pasted below.

Total distance is 74NM with some very exposed southern ocean stretches to cross.

A support vessel will be accompanying for safety reasons.

Entries to date: One, RIB Aquilaetta Silver Century or Forty 40+

Date Jan 2015

I'll post updates nearer the start date and may be try to organise a live feed from the support boat assuming we have the technology

AJ

Good Luck will be watching the weather down there, have you sorted out a fuel system?
Use a egg timer or something similar to remind you to top the tank up nothing worse than trying to restart in rough water.

John

There is an extended High coming over Tuesday/Wednesday but I won't be ready to cash in on it. But it is getting to the time of the year when the weather is settling down so there will be another chance.

Re the fuelling, I have done a couple of long runs with the 40+ that I intend to use and have a very accurate handle on the running times. Never the less I intend to shut down to refuel so will have to face the restart where and when.

AJ

I noticed that the course that I posted has disappeared into the ether so here it is again for those interested

AJ

Look at the way the Seagull racers refuel whilst on the go.

You can top up on the go using an external tank with rubber "Pump" bulb that you squeeze. The fuel pipe from the external tank is connected to a fitting on the seagull tank filler cap. Squeeze a couple of pints in and keep topping it up as you go along. Very cool actually. Plenty of pics about here I think.

Thanks re the refuelling tips I'll look into it. will certainly be simpler in the more exposed sections. So basically its a closed circuit so no risk of spillage. I'll check what's on the forum

AJ

All you need is an almost dead Seagull fuel cap & a 1/4" BSP tap & that should match most remote tank fittings.

Thanks Charles, Trolling through the racing posts right now

AJ

Do it mate we used a 22l outboard tank and fittings Pages 67 & 68 in the Whitworths catalogue.

https://www.whitworths.com.au/ecatalogu ... asp#anchor

John

Ill get on to it. by my calcs. I will need 20l for the round trip allowing a couple of hours spare, so a 22 lit tank is perfect.

AJ

Take 5 litres more in a separate tank for just in case. Looks like a long day

Up date: We are scheduled to start at 0500 from Great Taylors Bay on the 27th Feb. Weather looks favourable with wind wsw at less than 10 knots for the day not increasing significantly till the evening and, with the moon waxing we should have light all the way home. Out to the south of Bruny we are expecting swells of up to 2 meters but the seas will be below 400mm so its about the best we can expect. Doing a 20 mile non stop run tomorrow to check the engine, refuelling and general set up. No other takers as yet! guess it will be a one gull race....

AJ

AJ

if i could get the 23 foot Dorry down there i would love to go round the island with you, The plus has a long range tank.
Am following with interest, in particular how you will run for 18 hours with out an oil change.

Good luck mate, all the best for the test run.

This sounds like an epic trip, hope all goes well. I look forward to an update!