I have to put my hands up and admit to being a complete prat

D3B

D3B

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 Nov 2004
Messages
4,371
Location
Ely, Cambs UK
www.cutting-solutions.co.uk
This morning i left oostende bound for home via Neuiport <sp> for fuel with Sailorman and (sorry name escapes me for a moment) as crew....see i can get the raggies to try a mobo /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
they were just along for the ride and going back to Oostende by tram.

Duly filled up....actually overfilled the port tank /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif....said farewells and set off.
as you leave the harbour the bearing takes you straight to Cork Sand LV, which was my intended route.

forecast was E 3-4....but the wind was blowing much stronger and again i was taking water over the top.....not bothered....put the side forward quarter screen up and it stopped me getting soaked.

Then an alarm goes off on the starboard engine, so i hit neutral then switch it off. the panel shows....water in fuel.....how????????????

so i go down the engine room drain off the water in the pre filter.....then, diesel going everywhere....restart....then dies.....
This is the engine with the power steering......the only option was to return to Neuiport....


this is when i spotted something that was very very wrong.....

<<<<<<<<<<<the admission fits in here..........its at the bottom of my post.....>>>>>>>>

Then the port engine fails /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
checked the filters....nothing wrong.....so no option but a MAYDAY.
It turned out that Dover heard the call....relayed it to belgium who sent one of the police patrol vessels to investigate.....
they called a recovery vessel but could not get an ETA, but would stand on with me.... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

i decided to try the engines again.....starboard...nothing....port fired....so i called the police launch and informed i had power on the port engine but steering would be difficult. it was agreed that we make way for port and meet up with the recovery vessel.

eventually a short tow back into one of the marinas.
then the police paid a visit and checked all my documents were correct /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I am now hoping an engineer will arrive on Tuesday to get the starboard engine started....i have full port tank so can use the switch over and run both engines on one tank.......
I just hope the engine hasnt been cooked by the water.... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

The weather for the next few days is forecast to be $hite so i will hopefully return home on Thursday...



Ohhh....



The admission.....






I didnt put the cap back onto the starboard tank filler.....so the water i was taking over the top was going into the tank.......YOU COMPLETE EFFING PRAT!!!!!!!!
 
that must have been a very tough call to make, and I'm glad it has all turned out safely for you.

Even tougher is writing about it here. But if it stops anyone doing the same thing on their own boat, then you deserve a /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

and another
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif too.
 
Ring ring.
Hello Jim, CPD here. Have you heard from Dougie?

Jim: No, why?

CPD: Oh we heard a mayday, then didnt hear anything again.

Jim: Have you got his number?

CPD: No

Jim: I will call Dougie then and let you know.


Jim: Brrrrrrrr.Brrrrrrrr. Brrrrrrrr. 'ello,'ello, iz zat Dee Sreeee Bee?

D3B: ermm. Yes.

Jim: I heard from a mate that you *might* have had a call out?

D3B: ermm. Yes. (Sheepish).

and so the story comes out.....



Thing is, you just can't do anything this end of Europe without some YBW Forumite knows about it.

The brilliant thing is, that he is safe, and that is all that is important. Its ncie (but inconvenient) to know that there are people looking out for your welfare wherever you are.

The mickey taking comes a bit later. Ad infinitum really.


Safe journey home Doug, see you next weekend.
 
You can now see the importance of sails .. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif .. Glad your safe which is the important thing .. Hope all goes well with the repairs .. Diesels will run on most substances so lets hope its not to serious .. Have a good trip back .. Only joking about the sails .. Used our engine today .. As always why oh why does the wind always come from where you want to go .. Very lumpy seas .. Harwich to the Deben .. Very rock and rolly on the way in ..
 
[ QUOTE ]

I didnt put the cap back onto the starboard tank filler.....so the water i was taking over the top was going into the tank.......YOU COMPLETE EFFING PRAT!!!!!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

But it's absolutely certain you won't do it again. Unfortunately, the hard way is my chosen method of education too /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Besides, you singlehanded across the North Sea, that's no small feat, I reckon you should focus on that bit rather than one little cock up.

That said, a raggy would have never done anything that silly, certainly nothing as bad as running out of fuel just as they arrive at Shotley, or running aground in he channel, or identifying the wrong buoy thereby sailing over a sandbank and inducing panic as the sounder dropped to 0.4m

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]

or identifying the wrong buoy thereby sailing over a sandbank and inducing panic as the sounder dropped to 0.4m

[/ QUOTE ]

Shhh....

Don't forget our new phrase - "Rough? It was so rough the towel ring came of the wall!"... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Thanks Nathan
I had heard there were some adventures for others on returning to UK.

I posted this in mobo as well and there seems to be somone who does a locking cap....keep that key with engine key and you cant get it wrong....
 
Just remember worse things happen at sea - oh you were at sea! Glad you got back in safely.

Sailing to Calais on Friday we caught a F6 off North Foreland and were reminded of a few lessons that we should have rememberd anyway and that was in a heavy displacement 35 foot raggie! Still no one was hurt and no lasting damage.
 
D3B

Its the simple things in life that always catch us out, I promise promise promise if you make it back for Sat that i wont take the P*** for more that an hour or two.
 
Have decamped to the club house as the leccy keeps tripping on the pontoon....they are blaming me.....fridge, a few lights, battery charger, and laptop connected to 16A /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif


at least i thought i had the sanity of my laptop and checking posts on the forum.....

Unitl you came back from your holidays.....

Nice to see you back Nev....

cant wait for Saturday..... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
If it's any consolation you're not the first and most certainly won't be the last to do stuff like that. Many years ago on Canberra some plonker put 40 tons sea water into the bunker tanks, consequently the boilers wen't out followed very shortly thereafter by the lights. All this happened just off the Nab tower IOW. Made for an interesting couple of hours!
Glad you were safe and you found the problem.
Rgds
Bob
 
D3B

My confession from the weekend although not as frigtening as yours Doug was just as stupid

All packed away yesterday ready to drop the mooring at pagelsham wind gusting 23 kts ok dearest let go drop back a little off the mooring select forward bugger all, select reverse bugger all OH f*** got a sail up managed not to hit anything but no boat speed = not steering as such.

drifted till we hit the mud droped the sail then remembered I hadnt put the effin thing in gear after charging the battery earlier that day. Gear selected backed off the mud headed for home trying to get my heart rate back to some where near normal. Stupid things do it everytime.

At least your safe and hopefully nothing more than your pride damaged.

Hope to see you sat if all sorted

Nev
 
Ah.. I think I saw that as you passed me by. Wondered what was happening. I was in my dinghy going out to moondancer again.

Mind you here's a confession, on the Saturday I launched my Avon off the side of the pontoon with engine attached to the dinghy but the dinghy not attached to the pontoon. I felt very foolish as I watch the little Avon floating off down river. The bend meant that I only had to run about 1/4 mile and then wade out through knee deep mud to retrieve it.
 
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