narrow boat across the channel

[Kevin]

Rolled out of bed and sifted through the myriad of rubbish and found this programme showing a narrow boat crossing the channel it was ok although not sure it looked too happy- not sure if it was discplacement over design that triumphed.

also had to laugh at the hen party trying to avoid collisions along some waterway they just struggled from beginning to end.

havent checked other posts so this may have already been brought up! not sure if it was a new programme or repeat.

It really did look out of place and even in the lake calm waters of the channel on their day of crossing was rocking harder than my parents at a Pink floyd concert.

Kevin

 

[itsonlymoney]

Rather them than me.
Not for a gold pig would I cross the channel in a ditch crawler.
ian

<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !

 

[halcyon]

It's a repeat repeat that's been repeated.
This summer working on the boat, look up and there motoring up the top end of the Penryn River was that narrow boat. He turned round and headed back to Falmouth on his Summer cruise down to the Scilly Isles.

Brian

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[Planty]

Is this the one who on arrival at French Port, promptly turned to Starboard across all the Fishermens lines, not mentioned on the commentary but one could see the annoyance of the French in the background shot. V Amusement. Paul

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[RocquaineBay]

Hi,
Are we talking narrowboat or Dutch Barge type thing? Got any links or piccies, I'd love to see this.
Mike

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[jimi]

There was an article in "All at Sea" about this, from what I recollect they waited a LONG tine for a suitable weather window.

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[peterandjeanette]

Saw the programme earlier this year. Crossing in flat calm with escort vessel. Took a fair while though, as the tide changed before landfall. "Calais always seemed the same distance off".( I've experienced the same feeling about the power station at Dungeness. I had the same view for hours on a run from the Thames to Southampton. It never gets closer!)

Only exciting bit in the programme was the Seacat departing Calais. I thought the narrowboat would break its back in the wash!!

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[robind]

Isnt this the chap that ownes lee sanitation?
Rob

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[malcolm2]

Am I the only one, or are there other people who think this guy is nuts. Not nuts in a nice sort of way, but frankly certifiably bonkers.

We are living in a world where like it or not, big brother will at sometime in the near future, decide that we all need compulsory licences, registration, insurance etc etc. to float our boat.

Pillocks like this are just going to add to the calls for this to become fact, sooner rather than later.

Visualise the effect on public opion. (and therefore the Whitehall manadrins that are just itching to slap another form of control, and stealth tax on the boating community). When on the BBC news headlines, we hear that a search and rescue operation has been mounted to save the crew of a narrow boat cruising in the channel.!

We are not talking about a bath tub transatlantic record attempt, in the british sea faring nation spirit of Francis Chichester, Robin Knox. etc

We are talking about a guy, who because he insists on using a totally unsuitable craft for a leisure purpose it was not intended, is putting not only his own life at risk but others also.

This guy might have gone to great lengths to ensure a safe passage. ( how many of us have been caught out by unpredicted weather, inspite of all the modern aids.) But the worry is how many others, less well prepared, or less willing to wait for the right weather, are planning copy cat trips.






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[Andrew_Fanner]

Would the vessel be nb Progress by chance? If so the degree of preparation and planning is very high, including an engine that is very overpowered by nb standards, proper sealing of doors and windows and IIRC the ability to fit additional stability/flotation by outrigger.

Don't forget that narrowboats do Sharpness to Avonmouth quite frequently and that's a similar distance to Dover/Calais requiring good passage planning and a seaworthy vessel. Less busy though!

Look at www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk to see tidal narrowboating across the Thames estuary.

<hr width=100% size=1>Two beers please, my friend is paying.

 

[Bejasus]

vessel wasn't Pilgrim, and program wasn't about them swanning around the channel, but leaving the UK to cruise Europe for an indefinite period. This was their home. On the other hand, there was also another couple doing a similar thing, but they were having their's moved by transporter to France. It's on in installments every morning at 09:30 on Discovery H&L Waterworld ch.133. It is a repeat, canal boat program.

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[itsonlymoney]

No your not the only one.......I agree.
Ian


<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !

 

[Bejasus]

Guy was shepherded across by an experienced?? person with a twin engined Pedro, in very benign conditions. Boat was fully checked out prior to making the crossing.
Not my choice of trip but obviously it was thought out before hand.


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[Bejasus]

Andrew, boat is called Phyllis May and the gy's name is Terry Darlington.

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[kimhollamby]

I suspect they used...

...Mike Oram for the escort, or his son Lance, both of whom are highly experienced Channel swimming pilots spending most of the summer out in the Channel looking after swimmers in the Dover Strait. If the boat was a tug lookalike Pedro called Aegean Blue that would have been the one.

I don't know about the narrowboat but the French went nuts a few years back when a chap turned up having done the crossing in...a domestic bath tub. Hasten to add Mike wasn't involved in that one...

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[BrendanS]

Re: I suspect they used...

Ha! See, people laugh at my profile, but........

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[itsonlymoney]

Re: I suspect they used...

Brendan
Just read your profile out of interest.........not all there really are you ?
Ian /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !

 

[Bejasus]

Re: I suspect they used...

not all of him anyroads

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[Bejasus]

Re: I suspect they used...

that was him. So perhaps not as foolhardy a journey as some would like to think.

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[Kevin]

Re: I suspect they used...

Maybe the crossing wasnt fool hardy but have to question leaving the potted plants on the roof, I know of no potted plants that like salt water!

Kevin

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