Atoll's Adventure, Offshore in a Canal Barge!

[atoll]

last few,of traditional boats , castles and scary narrow bridges!

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by funjohnson

Really like the boats in photo 6. Amazing trip and great sight seeing!

If you liked those have a look at this video of the "little ships" that helped save the British Expeditionary Force at Dunkirk in WWII.

London Thames - Queens Diamond Jubilee Pageant - Dunkirk Little Ships, June 2012 - YouTube

[beneteau-500]

atoll you where lucky you didnt have tim spall onboard with you having seen recently on tv his adventures on his dutch barge boat you might not of made it

[tropicalescape]

really cool job you have!nice photos ...what about photos of the boat..DVC

[deckofficer]

Alex,

I'm late to the party again. I'm familiar with the area and the task of getting under powered bulk around in high currents. Not familiar with moving bulk that has almost zero off shore capabilities as to any kind of sea state, and for that I tip my hat to you mate. Working the currents and tides is taught at CMA, but taking a vessel such as that off shore isn't. Bet your glad it is over and just another feather in the hat for ya! Great job mate, just proves some people don't need no fancy assed academy education to be a sailor's sailor.

[Jeannius]

I used to think that my next boat would be a Dutch Barge for a trip through the canals of Europe. Having listened to your story and watched the Tim Spall series, I'm now not so sure. But,maybe the canals are really their natural home and I should keep on thinking about it? I think I've almost had enough of trans-Ocean stuff.

[nigel1]

Looks like an enjoyable trip Atoll, Yarmouth is always a good test, glad you made it on the slack.
Pictures look good, neatly timed for all the boats on the Thames, and the weather, been sitting out a F9 the past two days off the Shetlands.

And to place names, I always liked Vomit Point on the approaches to the Bristol Channel, and the Bitches in Ramsey Sound

[atoll]

Originally Posted by tropicalescape

really cool job you have!nice photos ...what about photos of the boat..DVC

here are a few of the interiour and exteriour, we never got use the lounge in front on passage,too noisey!,but the aga in the galley and wood burner in front warmed the boat nicely.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Jeannius

I used to think that my next boat would be a Dutch Barge for a trip through the canals of Europe. Having listened to your story and watched the Tim Spall series, I'm now not so sure. But,maybe the canals are really their natural home and I should keep on thinking about it? I think I've almost had enough of trans-Ocean stuff.

i would think one of the dutch barges would be much more suitable and sea kindly,with plenty of power to keep you moving.

this one was set up for the canals where the max speed is 4 knots,and proped accordingly,without a cavitation problem in flat water.

something like the one in the phoyo would be more suitable

[atoll]

Originally Posted by nigel1

Looks like an enjoyable trip Atoll, Yarmouth is always a good test, glad you made it on the slack.
Pictures look good, neatly timed for all the boats on the Thames, and the weather, been sitting out a F9 the past two days off the Shetlands.

And to place names, I always liked Vomit Point on the approaches to the Bristol Channel, and the Bitches in Ramsay Sound.

having on another delivery surfed into lowestoft sideways on full ebb in a 20 meter mfv with plenty of power,i have great respect for east coast ports!!

[atoll]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

Alex,

I'm late to the party again. I'm familiar with the area and the task of getting under powered bulk around in high currents. Not familiar with moving bulk that has almost zero off shore capabilities as to any kind of sea state, and for that I tip my hat to you mate. Working the currents and tides is taught at CMA, but taking a vessel such as that off shore isn't. Bet your glad it is over and just another feather in the hat for ya! Great job mate, just proves some people don't need no fancy assed academy education to be a sailor's sailor.

what my old man used to call "character building",and as the old pilots used to say"if you can walk away from it it was a good landing"

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Vasco

If you liked those have a look at this video of the "little ships" that helped save the British Expeditionary Force at Dunkirk in WWII.

we passed most of the silvers whilst they were waiting to go down river,and the mtb boat 102,and another similar roared past us near tillbury!
im pleased we passed through central london before the fun started!

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by atoll

what my old man used to call "character building",and as the old pilots used to say"if you can walk away from it it was a good landing"

You did a grand job, this is probably how I would have executed it.

[atoll]

@ bob,i had a great crew!

[deckofficer]

Expensive as lodging is in London proper, are you going to hang on the barge for awhile or get out of Dodge and back to your boat?