Round Britain for the RNLI Blog

Lowestoft is the most easterly point on the trip and in fact the most easterly town in the UK. So I now really do feel that I am heading home now that I am heading west and it is then just the south coast to complete to get me home.

I really do hope that I don’t get held up for weather on this final stretch but rest assured that I will have no worry about staying put if it is not sensible to leave regardless of the delay. So far this journey has taken me 9 weeks and another few days will make no difference to me providing the trip is completed safely.

So now the weather improves… just as I am getting towards the end of my trip. The past few days have been glorious, warm, sunny and today with little wind. I suppose that I could look upon the fact that the weather has been so lousy as a blessing as it has made the trip very challenging and even more difficult than I had imagined but if I were to be honest I would have given up a few of the challenges for some F1s and 2s and a bit more sunshine.

The next few days look very good for my final few legs. Tomorrow looks like F2-3 variable with similar on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are a little less certain and less promising with F4s forecast but even then it might be fine to continue on towards Plymouth if no significant weather systems are forecast. We will see.

Tomorrow is a long day so I am leaving early, at daybreak, to beat the sea breezes and to give me the best chance of getting to Eastbourne in daylight. If all goes to plan I should be rollong in to Eastbourne at about 3pmish… watch Live Tracking to follow be across the Thames esturary and round the corner to start heading west at Dover.

More tomorrow before departure.

Well, except for the fact that my boat was hit several times during the past couple of days by other boats I have had a fabulous time here in Lowestoft.

The airshow was excellent with appearances from the RAF’s latest fighter the Typhoon, The Battle of Britain Flight, Fairey Swordfish, and my particular favourite the Vulcan bomber. The last time I saw a Vulcan flying was about 1974 and I will never forget that day at the Biggin Hill Airshow I think it was… the noise made my stomach wobble!

Yesterday evening was a real treat. Paul, the Deputy Launching Authority (DLA) of the Lowestoft Lifeboat, invited me along to a visit of the Gorleston and Great Yarmouth Lifeboat Station for a tour. It was a visit organised for the members of his berth holders club at the Lowestoft marina and I was made very welcome. I was picked up by one of the members and driven to Gorleston where we all met up. Paddy, the Lifeboat Mechanic gave a superb tour of the station and boat and I would like to thank both Paddy and the club members for a great evening.

Today should have started with meeting a member of the RNSYC staff who was to assist me with finishing off the refuelling by driving me to the local petrol station but I overslept! So my first appointment was with Mike Richford, the Lowestoft Lifeboat Station Press Officer, who wanted to have a chat and get some photos for the local newspaper and station records. In the end we discussed all aspects of the trip and lifeboat life in general and I drunk many very welcome mugs of tea which I have particularly missed on my trip (no fridge so no milk!). One particular story Mike told me was of his dog, a young Labrador, who likes to swim underwater! I have never heard of any dog swimming underwater but it must have given them a bit of a scare wondering if they would need to rescue their dog! Eventually though, at about 4.30 in the afternoon, we said our goodbyes and it was only then I remembered that I had still to finish refuelling! Whoops!

So to finish off this afternoon I took a trolley from the marina and walked the half mile or so the the nearest garage to top off two of my 30 ltr outboard tanks.

I would like to thank the RNSYC, the Lowestoft Lifeboat Station, Paddy at the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Lifeboat Station and everyone else here in Lowestoft for making my stay here so welcome.

Paul is nearly home! I still haven’t quite finished the window alcove, the front door hasn’t been replaced, I haven’t had the sofa resprung or the paving slabs sold or……oh well, I got loads of other stuff sorted out. It will be so good to have him home - we can enjoy Summer together.

I continued with the window today while catching up with the 20/20 finals along the way. I also fixed someone’s (who shall remain nameless) PC. Pushed the plug into the socket. Takes expertise you know.

I am planning a late night tonight. Andy Murray plays Nadal at midnight in the semis of the Toronto Masters Tennis.