TCM trip updates

Uhmm, boat won't need crew till Monday, so back to families and homes. If he needs any top ups for next week? - I've already asked, and no response yet, so assume they are going back out. They'll probably be able to post here by this evening and answer directly.
 
Thanks A. Yes, looks like the window they had for past few days has closed down a bit.

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By the way, anyone know any 'Brest' jokes. Have had from matt, they are in 'Le Clevage", not a restaurant, more a Brassiere. Also, storm in a C cup. I've done the one about blonde in Brest stroke race complaining when she came last that other used their arms.

Short and txt'able please! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
He can always tell the locals that he's lucky to be stuck in Brest, France, rather then in Les Joux-Derriere, Suisse. ( "Joues" being "cheeks")

And console him with the fact that he is stuck in Brest, weatherwise, untill the 20th at least:25-40 Kts W-NW. Long term prognoses (don't bet your life on them) give a three day window after that, as the Azores high is moving to north Portugal.
 
The marina is miles out of town and you have to get a bus. It's a long diversion up the rade to Brest and normally not worth the bother IMO. If it wasn't for the MAN engineers I'd go to Camaret by choice.
 
wow, this is mad!!

Ok well Jim and I are home now so I shall attempt a potted update!!

As above blasted to Dartmouth Sat hugging coast with the plan of filling up to the brim an heading as far South as poss, things were going well if a little bouncy till we were near the entry the Channel De Helle(crap spelling I think) when the bilge alarms sounded. On inspection we found several 10's of gallons of Diesel in the bilges so after some replanning we selected Roscoff as the nearest safest bet. We got there on one engine and they agreed to let us moor up in the fishing port which is extremely tight even on 2 engines, Matt did a fantastic job of manouvering on the one lump I have to say! My contribution was to climb the very scarey ladder at the bottom of a 10 M tide with the ropes! While on the way in Jim and Phil investigated the problem on on arrival found the offending part.

Anyways, a few phone calls and a pleas for an engineer in the morning was followed by a nice walk into Roscoff followed by dinner. 8am sharp the nice engineer turned up and took the ofending pipe away (main fuel feed pipe). By 10:45 they were back with a rubber replacement which we did not like the look off so we waited for them to make up a new metal pipe, we were on our way by 12ish.

So.....heading south again all seeming well when I (ok it is all my fault) suggested that we should have a look below and see that all was ok........erm more diesel!! No where near what there was the last time but this time the engine room was full of diesel mist so more investigation required.... Jim and Phil again assumed the position, and found that this was a different fault which the traced to one of the injector pipes at the union to the fuel pump which was cracked. We headed for Brest and arranged for a 'MAN' man to meet us there, we managed to make decent speed as although the pipe was leaking it was only when going at full cruising speed so we went easy on the stbd engine. The weather and sea was great so it was a fairly east passage in the sunshine.

We got the Breast and within 30 mins the 'MAN' men were there and agreed with out dianosis, they stripped the pipes from the pump some more and found that one of them was blocked by a bit of metal, they concluded that they could not just replace the pipe and the pump had to come off and go to Bosche for repair/recalibration.

This is where the story so far concluded, the engineers took the parts away yesterday and we suspect the earliest re start will be Monday/Tuesday. no1 Moose and Phil are flying back tomorrow with or with out Matt leaving the boat where it is. If the repairs are carried out next week the plan is that Jim and I will head back out and complete the trip if all goes to plan. Oh yeh we had more foods and wine in Brest and toild all the best Brest jokes and played a marathon game of Nurdle Drurdle!@???$$!!
 
Latest update. Matt called me this pm for weather outlook for next week (there is a possibility boat will be ready Friday, but Mon/Tue more likely)

Told him there are near gale or gale warnings for Biscay in next 24 hours (low coming south from Ireland over UK, is pushing a cold front through Biscay), and things don't look like settling down till probably next Wed, when there looks like a few days window.

Matt quite happy with this, as with there no weather window eg over weekend, then no pressure to go, and boat can be given shakedown cruises near Brest before any departure.

Di pm'ed after I spoke to Matt, and said he is likely flying home tomorrow with Phil. So he can give an update when he gets back!
 
Weather report Antibes

Thanks for the great updates Studgies, and Brendan. Good luck for part 2. Here's what awaits you Studgies and fellow crew. These pix are the Cap D'Antibes at 8.30am this morning - not a cloud in the sky!

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Re: Weather report Antibes

Dear oh dear. How boring /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Now I realise why I love wet raining UK, and going out in a blow cos I'm cabin fevered! Am I allowed to say Git?
 
Re: Weather report Antibes

Tee hee. "Git" charge accepted. I was a cracker of a day though. I'm now back in grey London, but weather so good I'm going back on the 6pm flight tonight :-)
 
Re: Weather report Antibes

Umm some life style, boating med am, london pm, back to yacht pm, lucky swine. I had to make do with cleaning seagul s--t off my canopy all morning (in the p-ss--g rain!).
 
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