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Post by Cardiff Yacht Club on Jan 24, 2013 10:29:04 GMT
You know how this works....apologies for the delay.
Martin
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Post by sheila on Jan 24, 2013 13:05:51 GMT
Brian's last post on the Blue Bear 2012 thread is really interesting.
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on Jan 24, 2013 17:55:04 GMT
An Update on Parts.........They Have arrived and as far as I'm concerned in Good Time DHL tracking system EXCELLENT and were as quick as humanly Possible BUT International Company refused to take an International Bank card as Payment stating only African bank cards acceptable for Security reasons..... after many Phone calls a Simple solution was Offered Pay cash into the bank and send the Receipt by Fax..... they also Filled in a Customs Declaration with a Willing African Nationals Name and ID number to speed up the Process.....a Copy of our Ships Papers Passport and passport number would have done the same and tax problems and Payments would not have been Nessesary....The willing African was told by DHL it was Compulsory to use an Agent so he took it on himself to Act as one....Just shows how Great South Africans are :)thanks for that on Both accounts.... ASAP great Speed in sending Parts and Prices Great After Service proving very willing to help with My Problems BUT they removed YACHT IN TRANSIT from the Delivery address How can anyone down the line Know it is a yacht in transit.......the initial probable cause of our Problems.... Angry at DHL internationals refusal to take an international bank card I complained and recieved a Phone call they DO take compaints serious and Blame anyone and anything for thier Mistakes,, What Mistakes? at a risk of sounding Ungrateful to all the helpful People DHL Phoned me and I stipulated to them I was a British National Sailing a British Yacht Recieving a British part from the UK British Tax paid and asked for this to be added to the Customs Declration he did not he took his own Path costing another Tax Bill which will not be Retrievable the Parcel is now an Import by African National..... thankfully a low cost Item......Even Better ASAP refunded UK tax... don't know if this will cause problems in UK..... but Bottom Line still not safe to Import Expensive Items but I have my Part In Good time.... Working on a box of distroyed Electrical Items of which I have a load, I may have a solution to an autohelm can't wait to give it sea trials  |
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on Jan 29, 2013 6:08:09 GMT
 Waking up early morning A sight (above) makes sailing So far from home a Pleasure.... Bob SEA CANARY a local (Originaly From North Wales) took me to get new Ropes Yesterday, Southern Ropes supply Twin braid 12mm yachting rope for a pound a metre good time to change Halyards 16mm Mooring lines a little under 1 pound 50 metre Taking Scenic routes through the hills, and along the Coast LLandudno BELOW looks Charming even without a pier  The hills also have quite an Appeal  After a day driving around mostly in plesant surroundings, (we are also in Wine growing Territory) I still Prefer the sea Life  |
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Post by sheila on Jan 29, 2013 14:27:45 GMT
Wondeful photos Bri. Llandudno does look charming.
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Post by Martyn & Sarah on Jan 29, 2013 21:11:30 GMT
Hi Brian and Sue
The picture of the chap on the pontoon , is that one of the Welsh props on a pre six nations
training camp?
Following your adventures has been awsome mate .
Martyn and Sarah
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on Jan 30, 2013 10:25:43 GMT
Tempting To Stay here for the six Nations they love Welsh Rugby Here,
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on Feb 11, 2013 15:23:32 GMT
Moving on...... long Trip ahead where I will end up will depend entirely on the winds.... SA to Cape verde is an Incredible trip with the Uncertainty at the end of the trip,, we have to cross the ITCZ after around 3 weeks at sea If this Proves too Difficult .................we can take a Break at St Helena 14 Days but I would Prefer to be more west We''ll see.. Emergency Stratagy Brazil.....
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Post by simpleered on Feb 11, 2013 16:00:44 GMT
Brian and Sue, GOOD LUCK on the next part of your adventure. We will all be waiting for your next posting and will be toasting you at The Clubs Dinner on Friday 15 Feb..Brian King.
.
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Post by simpleered on Mar 21, 2013 19:41:24 GMT
Has anyone had any news of Blue Bear lately? It seems a long while since we heard from him. Brian King.
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Post by Cardiff Yacht Club on Apr 7, 2013 8:23:06 GMT
Hi folks. Capetown to the Cape Verdes is a little short of 4000 miles. Even if they ewere able to cross in a straight line, and average 100 miles per day, it would still take 40 days. They'd only be a week overdue now. I think their journey may well take a lot longer. They may end up calling in all sorts of West African port, probably with little opportunity to contact people.
I can't wait to hear from them, though.
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Post by Romantica on Apr 8, 2013 19:07:56 GMT
Martin
Thanks for putting it into perspective, it seems a long time since their last post.
Always fascinating reading.
I just hope someone taped the Wales -England game for Brian. ;D
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Post by allan on Apr 14, 2013 13:11:15 GMT
I have many tapes of Wales England, but I don't think Brian would like to watch them!
Between Cape town and The Cape Verdes is an area called the Doldrums, I believe that will be where they are at present.
Allan
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Post by Cardiff Yacht Club on Apr 15, 2013 6:49:42 GMT
Sorry, who is in the doldrums, Blue Bear, or the English rugby team?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2013 17:20:05 GMT
received today message from blue bear, message read 17deg 17.2 min N, 030 deg 47min W, proceeding north to cardiff... message realyed as of 16:48utc
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Post by duncanhall on Apr 21, 2013 14:58:15 GMT
So about 6 deg w of cape Verdi . He must be relitvly near to Allan!
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Post by sheila on Apr 22, 2013 6:22:17 GMT
I got my atlas out. On the home run!
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Post by sheila on Apr 22, 2013 15:29:56 GMT
I just checked Allan's position - they seem definitely to be in same area, but who knows how many miles apart!
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Post by Cardiff Yacht Club on Apr 22, 2013 16:58:47 GMT
According to my calculations they are around 200 miles apart. They will get much closer. Allan mentioned in a text this morning that he might see BB - as a joke. I think they could pass within 50 miles of each other, but they would need to be within less than 10 to see each other, and then have the sense to radio each other. What a story that would be!
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on May 21, 2013 12:10:55 GMT
The worst thing that can happen on a trip of such Magnitude is not to Myself but to another far better than I,,,,,,, I lost my Little Brother about 4 weeks ago hounded by the Benifit system for not being fit for work...... makes my trip a litte light compared to what some people endure in everyday life I hope You will leave this on the site as a tribute to a hard working (when hard Manual work was Available) helpful genuine guy......, helped anyone let down nobody........ AS ANYONE WHO KNEW HIM COULD AGREE WITH......... a Quote ringing in my Ears even as I write Ask DAI he'll help.......
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Post by Romantica on May 21, 2013 12:44:58 GMT
Sorry to hear of your sad loss of someone so close, when you are so far away from Home.
Good to hear that you and Sue have arrived safely !
You have been and will be in all our thoughts at CYC.
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Viv
Member of CYC 
Posts: 430
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Post by Viv on May 21, 2013 12:50:20 GMT
We were so sorry to about your brother Brian. Where are you now? Are you actually home yet?
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Post by sheila on May 21, 2013 13:44:16 GMT
Further to above from Vince, we are in Padstow Brian, heading for Ilfracombe tomorrow then Lundy Race at weekend, then home on Monday. If you are still at sea, almost home, call us on the radio, Volition (we have sold Alana since we last saw you).
As we said before, our deepest condolences on your sad loss.
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Post by Cardiff Yacht Club on May 21, 2013 17:24:33 GMT
Of course it will be left here, Brian. Such sad news. Our thoughts are with you and your family. Take it easy on yourselves, and we'll hopefully see you soon.
Martin and Louise.
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Post by vikingsmb on May 21, 2013 21:52:23 GMT
Sorry to hear of your sad loss Brian, My thoughts are with you and your family in this differcult time, See you soon Rob Ingram. |
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on May 22, 2013 8:21:20 GMT
The Trip to Cardiff Should take around 10 to 14 days with favorable weather but with a high to the North of me It seems Improbable that I will leave before Thursday.....But So Close Can't, but Must wait to get home I'm More Excited about Sailing to Cardiff Than I was to The Pacific Islands Apparently theres's a very Good Yacht Club, Great Fish and Chips from the Nininian area a good,,, NO!! great beer '"Brains'' And the Pies from Cowbridge road Butchers.......worth waiting for Huh......
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Post by Cardiff Yacht Club on May 23, 2013 6:23:58 GMT
15 Welsh in the Lions, Bri. Get a move on, mate!
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on May 23, 2013 6:51:44 GMT
Sunday looking best time Harbour master says it will not be good in this Marina when the winds change But Good Company here all long distance Sailors BUT French and for the most Part very poor English may leave Saturday and motor a few days will be making a very slow crossing (good at that) since I am unable to get repairs done here Pacing the Pontoon like a caged Animal...
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on May 25, 2013 11:20:49 GMT
The wind should Build within a few hours we have checked out and will leave In a Couple of hours Ready as we are going to be the last leg of our Journey, Cardiff next?  althougth that will depend on the Bristol Channel tide we'll be short of Diesel by the time we reach UK so no metal sails to reach cardiff....If we have to wait though, We'll fill up in Milford Haven......If It all goes to Plan..... If it doesn't who Knows Ireland, France.... ?? |
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Post by sheila on May 25, 2013 13:20:51 GMT
Brian, will you be doing all your immigration type things in Milford or before you get back to Cardiff? Have a safe trip, we will be keeping a warm welcome for you. Let us know if you can when and where you might go, we would love to come out and meet you and sail some way back with you, if only the Wrach channel!
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althougth that will depend on the Bristol Channel tide we'll be short of Diesel by the time we reach UK so no metal sails to reach cardiff....If we have to wait though, We'll fill up in Milford Haven......If It all goes to Plan..... If it doesn't who Knows Ireland, France....