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I am raising funds for Cornwall Hospice Care which provides essential end of life care to people in Cornwall. Hospice care falls outside the mainstream NHS and can only survive by charity support. Every year Cornwall Hospice Care need to raise more than £5M which equates to about £11 per minute, and over 80% of their income depends on the generosity of people like you. If you have had relatives or friends who have received Hospice care you will be only too aware of the wonderful service they provide. You never know, one day we may need them!
To raise much needed funds I have now completed travelling around Britain in a Rib (rigid inflatable boat) as a member of the Great British Rib Rally (www.greatbritishribrally.co.uk) The whole journey was 2,000 nautical miles through all seas and weather around Great Britain. We started in Portland then on to:
Mylor, Cornwall, UK (home for the night!)
Baltimore in Cork, Ireland
Portrush, west of Galway Bay,Ireland
Burton Port, north west Ireland
Bangor, near Belfast, Ireland
Oban, west of Scotland
Portree, Isle of Skye
Stromness, Orkney Islands
Newcastle, north east England
Suffolk, south east England
Brighton, south east England
Portland, south England
The whole passage was be completed in just 12 days. We slept ashore each night but battled through the seas each day. I travelled with one my team mate Patrick Hugenholtz on his 10m Scoropion Rib with a single inboard diesel engine (Vovlo D6 370hp).
The passage times varied depending on sea state, and events. The trip from Mylor to Baltimore was one of the most testing. It started at 0600hrs whith a briefing and we left at 0630 in calm seas and litlle or no wind. Passed around the Lizard where there is always some swell but conditions were ideal. As we continued the wind and seas built continuously. At worst it was a force 7 coming from the North west (where we were heading!) with steep faced waves of 3-4 metres. One boat with us turned back 80 miles off Land's end, and this took some time to sort out.
The second boat with us sustained an injury to the crew 13 miles south of Ireland. We had to call the coastgaurd and a lifeboat crew to asist and this took another couple of hours. Fortunately the crew member made a full recovery and re-joined the rally for the last two legs. The weather and these challenges meant we didn't reach Baltimore intil 2200hrs, tired wet and very hungry!
In contrast the west coast of Ireland and the Western Isles of Scotland were blissful. Flat calm seas and full sunshine.... wonderful. All changed back to big seas around mainland Scotland with swell reaching 10 meteres (30 feet!) around the headland of Cape Wrath (aptly named).
We usually travelled for about 8 hours a day, averaging 25-35 knots, depending in sea state. Down to 15 knots in worst seas and upto 45 knots in flat calm. It was quite a challenge but the boat and the crew were up to the task. Can't say the same for my clothing, which failed me miseerably. For most of the north of Scotalnd I was wet through all day! (mental note to self; buy a drysuit next time!!)
I funded all the accomodation and costs of my trip, so anything you give goes straight to Cornwall Hospice Care. Thank you so much for supporting this very worthy cause.
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