TomBettle Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 Very very short notice, but if anyone out there has appropriate navigational skills (can plot a course on paper and plotter) and is prepared to take watches at the helm then the delivery trip of a lifetime is open for you to join in on. Troms Explorer will be leaving Poole (Parkstone Yacht Club) late on Sunday night or on Monday. Onboard is currently two Norwegian skippers and myself. To help us all maintain safe watches it would be lovely to have a fourth. The upside is the small boat voyage of a lifetime all the way to her home in Arnoy, way way up in the artic circle. Food etc will be covered onboard and, of course, your flight home (remember your passport). The downside, it's very last minute, we don't know if it will be Sunday night or Monday we leave, you'll be away for about 6 days, although we don't know for sure and they can't actually pay anything! If you have the basic skills (don't worry, you won't necessarilly have to park her) and fancy being part of a tremendous journey then PM or call me. Cheers Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 Would have loved to have joined you Tom But have the following two weeks off already so can not get the holiday. What a great experiance, I hope the weather is kind to you. Looking forward to her arrival at Poole and the chance to have a look around. Have a great trip, be safe Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprinter Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 Tom, I am interested. I have next week booked of from work as luck would have it with nothing more interestig than digging the gardern. I may be a little ropey around the nav table and electronics but nothing that some familiarisation couldnt fix. I have skippered yachts around the Med and Baltic for extended periods of time, although some years ago (10+), I am a Yachtmaster (well theory although i cant find my book) and much more importantly am in need of a mini advevnture, O i also have a passport and the wifes permission so give me a shout, unless someone else has beaten me to it my last little adventure was being mate and watch leader on a 56 foot gaffer on a trip from Santander Spain to Conwy North wales where the weathoer peaked at a quite antisocial and sustained F9, not fun in the Biscay. Number PMd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 i wish- but im working PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 Hi All, I have just had a text from Tom, asking me to thank everyone who has contacted him or posted about this trip. He is unable to thank you himself as he is in Padstow doing a few tweaks before waiting for the chance to set off for Norway and is offline. Martin B got in quick to take up the offer, lucky blighter. I am sure we are all very keen to wish them a good trip, Tom will try and keep us informed as to their progress. Unfortunatly the weather has already delayed them and the visit to Poole is probably not going to happen Bon Voyage [sorry I do not know any Norwegian] Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deep Sea Dean Posted June 26, 2008 Report Share Posted June 26, 2008 (edited) After leaving late last night to miss the worst of the weather Troms Explorer and crew have made it to Holland and are re-fuelling, wouldn't fancy that bill Edited June 26, 2008 by Deep Sea Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newboy Posted June 26, 2008 Report Share Posted June 26, 2008 After leaving late last night to miss the worst of the weather Troms Explorer and crew have made it to Holland and are re-fuelling, wouldn't fancy that bill bet it's a lot cheaper than it is in the UK...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Not sure why but my last two replies have not been added to this thread In Brief She arrived Tue night at the Club with some work to do before the long trip. She is a very big boat that has been built to exactly match the type of work they do in Norway. She has a large wheelhouse with seating for all ,excellent windows and full heating, [For the sight seeing] and a 1.5 meter wide access all down the port side of the deck for drift fishing [They never anchor] The boat left Poole at about 10 on Wed night using a gap in the weather. I had a message yesterday at 1300 to say they were 15NM away from Den Helder in Holland Last night I had another that they were 40 miles away from Elbe in Germany, so they are well on route. Just had a message to say they are sat in a lock at the entrance to the Kiel canal 710nm from Poole I had a look on Global Earth last night and searched by Troms Norway, If that position is their destination they have a long way to go north yet. Its a good job the generator, lights and heater were sorted out when it arrived in Poole. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 (edited) Sounds like a hell of a long trip. Would have loved to have gone, but work and home situation didnt allow. I'll load up google earth and have a look at the route! Edit: JESUS!!! 3 days and it looks like they have about 15 to go!! Troms is a hell of a long way north. I bet they wished they fitted auto pilot now!! Autoroute gives it as 6 days by road at an average of 60mph!! Edited June 27, 2008 by Adam F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 I had another update last night They are at Middlefart in Denmark, awaiting the engines first service at 55 hrs and about 900 miles from Poole, about half way. they have several hours in the baltic to go today and then about the same in open water and the forecast was poor. Tom phoned to say that spirits were high and after a few teething snags all is now going well. I am not sure what route they take north through Norway but it looks a long way on the map, makes the rips look very close Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 Another update They should now just be clear of the tip of Denmark with just over 200nm of fairly open water ahead of them prior to arrival in Stavanger in Southern Norway. Over half way now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted June 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 Hello from Norway! We (Holger, Oistein, Martin and me) are sat in Stavangar, just a little bored. We arrived at 09:00 this morning and it was cold, wet and grey, just much prettier. The boat has to be declared to customs on first port of call in Norway.... It's Sunday.... Holger phoned customs and they literally said (in Norwegian), "what the hell do you want me to do about it". Hopefully we will get a visit at start of work o'clock tomorrow morning so that we can continue on our way. Unfortunately, Martin has to jump ship tomorrow and will be home in time for Thursday's meeting, but i am going to do my best to go as far as possible. That said, it looks unlikely I'll get all the way to Arnoy as I need to be at work for Saturday at the latest . It's been a hell of an adventure, extreme highs and hours of real boredom. Lack of sleep and long watches, but hugely rewarding all the same. See you all soon Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Well i'm back on terafirma but Toms still enroute We left Poole at around 10pm on Wed eve after a few shall we say minor adaptations by the Norwegian engineer (clever chap). Crossing along the south coast and over the channel was fine and event free if not a little lumpy. We formed two watches ie English and Norwegian taking 6 hours a watch. Tom and I elected to do one hour each in our watch with the other assisting to keep the helmsman awake Headed up the French coast then Belgian, Holland, Germany. As the weather was forecast to get worse (as if it wasn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Nice one mate, I bet you are more than a little tired. Crossing the channel to the Islands will now be just a short hop. Its been great to follow your progress and I like you hope that Tom gets the chance to see the Explorer all the way to her home port welcome back to sunny Poole, I bet its warmer than Norway. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted July 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 I am typing this after tying up in Tromsoe town marina, Troms Explorer's second home (her customer pick up point). We arrived at out final destination at 20:00 local time after completing 2103 nautical miles and 119 running hours. Current position for all you boffins...: 69* 38.996N 018* 57.707E Knackered, but pleased to have delivered her safe and sound with great help from Martin and of course my Norwegian friends! Lot's of silly mishaps, fun and games on the way, carrying on until this afternoon. Some of which I shall tell you about when I get back. As a by the by, we didn't pass the arctic circle at 11.15. That was Holger and Oistein's little joke to lull me into a false sense of security. Actually we crossed at 20:30 yesterday in the middle of a stunning fjord. I was loudly awaken from my cat nap to the crash of pans and Holger shouting for me to get my camera. I was then dressed in a life ring and fenders (go figure?!!!) for my picture to be taken next to a landside monument marking the crossing. Oh, I have a catch report, but I ma not sure if it quite falls in to club waters. The first ever fish to be caught on Troms Explorer were taken in a 20 minute session whilst waiting for the Norwegian Electrical Safety Certificate man (we failed by the way). Whilst fishig alongside the harbour wall in Finsess I managed 6 Coalfish to 6oz and 2 codling to about 2lb. Not quite the Barents sea monsters I have dreamed about, but a first for the boat and a first for me.... See you all soon Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted July 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 Ps.... I don't fly back until Friday afternoon... What's the chances of blagging a proper trip out tomorrow??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 WEll done Tom glad you made it to the end See you when you get home for a pussy coffee (crew joke you had to be there) Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted July 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 WEll done Tom glad you made it to the end See you when you get home for a pussy coffee (crew joke you had to be there) Martin ...I've progressed to Norvegian Coffee now, but still with milk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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